This is a marker drawing of a woman wearing a hat. The portrait was drawn in 2002 with varying shades of grey and black markers. A thin black pen was used to sketch in eyes first, then other facial features and proportional marks for the hair and hat were drawn next. Light shades of gray marker were then layered in broad strokes. Drawing from light to dark, shapes and forms were built up to define the shadows and highlights of the woman’s portrait. Alternating values of dark and light areas, or chiaroscuro, help to create the illusion of surface structure in the drawing.

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This colorful abstract drawing of a woman’s profile was sketched with markers and white acrylic paint. Thin blue pen lines were initially used to sketch in her profile. Layers of blue and black marker where then used to fill in patterns and shapes in and around the woman’s face. Sometimes the shapes indicate shadows, or define contour, or they are just expressive mark making that affects the composition of the art. White acrylic paint was used to add hot spots and highlights. In some areas of the drawing, the black marker started to fade out while blocking in thick lines, which also adds to the rough unfinished feeling in the art. And the portrait drawing is honest in its mistakes and successes, from the boldness of the initial sketch to the transparency of the finished drawing.

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These three pen sketches and drawings of women’s portraits were drawn in 2002. Each portrait was drawn in a unique style, using pen with washes of water, and grey marker. The first woman’s face uses the grey marker to block in abstract shadows and shapes, giving the impression of a bright light source. The second portrait is a girl with her eyes closed, sketched with shakily drawn lines and a wash of water to add shadows and soften the image. The third portrait drawing utilizes bigger shapes of darker ink to block in eye shadow and hair. The contrast of the stark white of the paper with the deep shadows pop the face forward on the page. Also, the relatively accurate placement of facial features helps to define the structure of the face with minimal value changes and shading.

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These are 2 portrait drawings, one sketch of a male and one sketch of a female. Both portrait drawings were sketched with black pen in the year 1999. The drawing of the woman’s face uses minimal lines to highlight the placement of the most recognizable features of the face, like the eyes, nose, mouth, and hair. No outlines were used to define the structure of the face or jaw, which allows the drawing to breathe a little more than usual.

The portrait of the man was drawn similarly, with minimal lines, and sparse definition of facial features. More attention was paid to the shadows and lines of his suit in order to contrast with the open face. And the piercing eyes of both the man and woman were drawn with tiny pupils to enhance their minimalistic cold gaze. Very little value was used as well, with minimal washes of water applied to soften some the hard pen lines in both portrait sketches.

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These two expressive abstract portrait drawings of male faces were drawn in the year 2003 with markers and a white paint pen. Each portrait was drawn with quick energetic lines and multiple vibrant colors. Unorthodox colors encourage putting extra emphasis on the shapes, planes, lines, and contours of the male face. And artistic strategies other than value changes must be used to define the structure of an easily identifiable image, the human face. This process can help expand the creativity and visual language available to the artist.

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