Portraits and Faces Series 1 – Impressionistic Oil Pastel Drawings

April 19th, 2008 · 37 Comments

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.

Impressionistic Portrait Drawing of an Old Man's Face with Oil Pastels

Abstract Expressive Portrait Drawing of a Face with Oil Pastels

Oil Pastel Portrait Drawing of a Face

Portrait Drawing of a Face with Oil Pastels

Abstract Impressionistic Portrait Drawing of a Face with Oil Pastels

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Tags: Abstract Expressionism Art · Abstract Impressionism Art · Character Art · Expressionism Art · Impressionism Art · Portrait Art ·

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37 responses so far ↓

1 Anonymous // Jun 4, 2008 at 7:58 pm

These are so kool!!!!
2 MDE-ART.com // Jun 10, 2008 at 11:39 am

Thanks Anonymous.
3 umesh // Sep 6, 2008 at 2:34 pm

Wish someday i cud just little of wat u do!!! I like the depth in ur ART…It’s just…..WOW!!!! Gud Luck for all ur efforts….
God Bless!!!!
4 MDE-ART.com // Sep 6, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Thanks again umesh!
We all have unique talents, and effort and appreciation certainly helps them grow to fruition. Good luck to you as well!
5 rosie // Sep 21, 2008 at 11:46 am

hi, i was thinking of doing something like this for my art GCSE if that ok?? could you tell me the name of the artist please?
6 MDE-ART.com // Sep 22, 2008 at 10:33 am

Hi rosie,
My name is Michael Edens. Check out the “Biography” link on the top navigation for more information. Good luck with your artistic pursuits.
7 becky // Oct 6, 2008 at 4:10 am

Your artwork is amazing and utterly inspiring. I don’t hold any particular talents myself but hold many dear friends that do. Just wondering where your based?
Love your work
Goodluck for the future!

God bless
8 MDE-ART.com // Oct 6, 2008 at 1:32 pm

Hi becky,
Thanks for your kind words! It’s great to hear you are able to provide support to close friends. That’s a blessing in itself, and I believe it to be a talent as well.

I’m currently based in the Houston, TX area, but draw inspiration from all around the world.
9 subani // Oct 19, 2008 at 3:25 am

hi, after looking through the work, i was really inspired, i was thinking of producing inspired pieces using this style. How can i do it? do i start of with the ‘wiggly lines’ or colour first?

do u make copies straight a person or is this done using your creativity? if it is, that is sooo cool!
10 MDE-ART.com // Oct 20, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Hi subani,
Thanks for your interest in my work, I’m happy to hear you are inspired!

The style is very raw and emotive, and these were not planned or copies from faces. They are creativity!

Sometimes I start with a feeling, and try to express it in the eyes. Or pick a color that gets my attention and lay down some patterns or shapes. It’s an “organic” process, different every time. The drawing doesn’t always turn out the way I originally intend, so I work with what is created in the moment. Playing and pushing lines and color around until… well, I haven’t quite figured out when a drawing is “done”!

Usually I just stop if I can’t think of anything else to draw, or get interrupted. Sometimes it just “feels” like the drawing is done. It’s difficult to explain with words. However, here is one portrait where I just kept drawing, continually melding faces of line and color.

~Michael
11 adam // Nov 16, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Hi there michael,
I think these are fantastic, I mean really good. I am an A level student in England and I want to emulate some of your work for my critical studies, I was wondering if it would be possible to get some digital images of the same size as these (perhaps in an e-mail?), without the mde link at the bottom for my sketchbook. It would be really nice to have the clean thumbnail and obviously I wouldn’t take any credit because it would be a page about you

I would really appreciate the five images here if that’s ok, I’m afraid all I can give you is my word that I won’t redistribute them

Adam Hughes
12 MDE-ART.com // Nov 16, 2008 at 8:32 pm

Hi adam,
I appreciate your interest in my artwork! I’ve emailed you further information about your request. Good luck with your artistic pursuits.
~Michael
13 Anonymous // Dec 8, 2008 at 4:25 pm

SWEET
14 MDE-ART.com // Dec 8, 2008 at 7:20 pm

Thanks Anonymous!
15 art fossil // Jan 8, 2009 at 8:35 am

you have a style that is cool. keep it up.
16 MDE-ART.com // Jan 13, 2009 at 8:08 am

Thanks, art fossil!
17 Artist Anika // Jan 26, 2009 at 8:32 pm

These are amazing. I love how you have designed the face to fit, but not quite disappear into the abstract-ness (is that a word?) of the rest of the piece. Very well done.

I’ve never been good at abstract art, I tend to see the world in a more literal sense, but I really like what you have created.
18 MDE-ART.com // Jan 27, 2009 at 11:09 am

Thank you Artist Anika! I like your critique!
19 ANNA // Jan 29, 2009 at 4:31 am

very cod drawer
20 MDE-ART.com // Jan 29, 2009 at 10:45 am

Thanks ANNA!
21 Evie // Jan 30, 2009 at 6:44 am

your work is amazing, i have an art exam this year based on, “I, ME, MINE,” and your work style is going to be one of my inspirations

one word awersome !

xx
22 MDE-ART.com // Feb 3, 2009 at 9:36 am

Thank you Evie! Good luck with your artistic pursuits!
23 JESS!x // Feb 5, 2009 at 7:14 am

your work is amazing!
i’m doing a gcse thing on “i, me, mine” and i want to use your kind of work i like all of it, and wondered if you had any ideas you could help me with ?
24 MDE-ART.com // Feb 8, 2009 at 9:12 am

Thanks JESS!x,
You may use my artwork for GCSE. My drawings are the “ideas”.
Good luck with your artistic pursuits!
25 karlie // Feb 17, 2009 at 8:58 am

wow , im speechless ! you are so talented .
26 MDE-ART.com // Feb 22, 2009 at 10:10 am

Thanks karlie!
27 Pat // Mar 22, 2009 at 6:01 am

Hi mde-art.com
I am Pat from Thailand. I really like your artwork,it is very interesting.
28 MDE Art Blog // Mar 24, 2009 at 3:22 pm

Thank you Pat!
29 Cheryl // May 30, 2009 at 6:07 am

Wow, i came across these looking on google, for my art exam. So glad i found these, because they have really inspired me for my exam. They are amazing peices of work just WOW!
30 MDE Art Blog // Jun 2, 2009 at 10:32 am

Thanks Cheryl! I’m glad to hear you’ve been inspired!

Good luck with your artistic pursuits!

~Michael
31 karam // Jul 16, 2009 at 7:28 pm

hi dear michael
what can i say that really amazing i don’t belivie f i can do it , in spite of i drawing pic
micheal can u helpe me if u can answer me in my email
thank u so much
32 MDE Art Blog // Jul 17, 2009 at 11:54 am

Hi karam,
Thank you for your compliments. I encourage you to explore your own artistic talents and have confidence in your strengths. Good luck with your artistic pursuits!
33 Chesea // Sep 8, 2009 at 9:28 am

These are very orginal. I really like them! Very well done

I might even be influenced with these for my higher art!

The eyes on the fourth one are fantastic!

I feel like you could create one of them and the outcome and colours would be heavily influenced on your mood at that time.

Once again, these are great
34 MDE Art Blog // Sep 10, 2009 at 10:10 am

Thank you, Chesea,
I appreciate your compliments, and am glad you have been inspired by the artwork! The faces were drawn intuitively, however, they were not particularly representative of my “conscious” mood at the time.

Good luck with your artistic pursuits!

~Michael
35 Anonymous // Oct 13, 2009 at 7:44 am

OMG i luv ure work and like jess i am doing a project for art me myself and i and i would like to make u mii idol for the project!!
if thts okay with u!
i am now in love with ure work.
36 LP // Oct 30, 2009 at 3:51 pm

I just bought my first box of oil pastels. Your work inpired me to get started! Thank you.
37 JS // Jan 30, 2010 at 12:22 pm

Hi Michael….i truly love your work. it’s so beautiful with a slight hint of genius!

Art is a passion of mine and clearly yours too. I’m thankful to the web as it lead me to accidentally finding great artists such as yourself!

I am unable to respond to all comments individually. Please contact me if you have questions.

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