These pen and marker drawings are part of an abstract expressionistic body of artwork entitled Portraits and Faces Series 2. They are a series of three faces drawn with energetic and expressive shapes, blocks of color, and frantic lines to produce abstract portraits that appear to be emerging and constructing themselves from the ink and paint mediums on the surface of the paper. Prominent facial features are emphasized, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, so that amidst the predominantly abstract compositions it is still possible to make out the faces peering back. The chaotic atmosphere builds the structure of the faces by utilizing techniques such as layering and chiaroscuro to produce varying combinations of opaque and transparent color. Each piece of expressive abstract art is roughly 9″x12″, and a unique mix of emotions are portrayed in each portrait drawing.

For more colorful portrait art, view the abstract impressionistic drawings entitled Portraits and Faces Series 1 - Impressionistic Oil Pastel Drawings, or this Colorful Abstract Drawing of a Woman’s Face.

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These oil pastel drawings are part of an abstract impressionistic body of artwork entitled Portraits and Faces Series 1. They are a series of five faces drawn with energetic and expressive lines and colors to produce abstract portraits that appear to be emerging from the oil pastel medium and the surface of the paper. The structure of the faces grow fluidly from the chaotic drawing medium by utilizing techniques such as smudging and scratching to produce varying combinations of gradient colors and stark contrast. Each piece of expressive art is roughly 9″x12″, and each subject conveys emotions unique to each drawing. Emphasis is placed on prominent facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, so that facial recognition is possible amidst the predominantly abstract compositions.

For more colorful portrait art, view the abstract expressionistic drawings entitled Portraits and Faces Series 2 - Abstract Pen and Marker Drawings, or this Abstract Drawing of a Face.

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This artwork is both a drawing and a painting of a Leopard that is approximately 9″x7″. Mediums used are brightly colored pencils, pens, markers, watercolor, and a silver paint pen. A few light sketch marks were initially drawn in for reference, and then varying combinations of mixed media were applied in layers. Eventually the shape of the leopard started to solidify amidst the energetic lines, and the silver paint added a reflective quality that is not apparent in the digital reproduction of the drawing/painting. Similarly to the way a leopard can blend in to the jungle environment, the animal’s form is not immediately recognizable in the artwork as it blends in with the chaotic colors and busy line work.

More animal drawings and paintings can be found in the Animal Portrait Art Gallery.

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This is a charcoal drawing and acrylic painting of a skull attached to a skeletal corpse. The artwork was initially sketched in 1998 with black charcoal. Then black, white, and brown acrylic paint was energetically brushed onto the canvas board with a palette knife. The dark colors reflect the morbidity of the subject, and the way the paint colors are pushed, pulled, mixed, scraped, and twisted around the canvas add a tension and unexpected life to the art. The composition of the skull on the skeleton, with eyes slightly above the horizontal midpoint, help suggest that the subject was posing for a portrait.

A variety of stylistic approaches have been applied to other skull drawings, such as this Skull Drawing Still Life, and this Painting of a Skull.

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