Study

Prince

007

James

Rihanna

Drug buster

Presidente D30 of the Philippines.

Debussy

Classical Biggies

I 

Neason

Zapata

Weird Al

Charcoal on 9x12 toned grey paper.

Jimmie

Jimmie Vaughan. Charcoal in toned paper. 9x12". 

...to this:

From a rough study like below.

Andy

An old pencil work on a smooth bristol vellum. Lately, I learned that smooth paper, either vellum, newsprint, or any kind of smooth paper works best on graphite and charcoal. 

Quick study. 

Emulating master's work

Inspired from the works of Casey Baugh in charcoal. I tried to differ from his work so I created a little alteration. I tried to copy his technique from using his powder pouch down to the values. I had so much fun and learned a lot.

More study of Matt in ink

In ball point ink on 4x6 inches sketchbook. I'm trying to define lights and shadows in a different medium, constantly in search for s much more effective articulation. 

I purposely did this on a much smaller scale mainly for quick studies. The way to etch a particular tone and angle is essential for such articulation. I'm on this stage of experimenting with this medium. 

Matt D

Charcoal study of Matt on toned gray paper. 9x12 inches. 

I am so fascinated of the wonders of what black and white charcoal can do on my works. I am constantly looking for a way I would prefer of articulating the light and dark sensitivities, and of space. Different approaches on different papers. 

I just have to get more familiar to it.  

A new look at my work

Matt Damon in charcoal. 18" x 24". I wasn't really impressed with this one, but  I was proud of how I rendered this portrait with, again, a different look. I'm always looking for something that is more effective in defining what I was trying to communicate with my art. Different techniques are what I'm looking for.

 

Eye in color

I used the carbothello pastel pencil on this one. 

 

Study of the eyes

Charcoal on gray toned paper.

Snap out of it!

A montage of my previous works I created to remind me to where my focus should be. It's a no spin zone, as Bill O'Reily would phrase it. 

I don't know why Paul McCartney is there in the mix- he looked so not sure he got me. Lol!

Pretty face

Charcoal on white paper. I finally figured out how to treat the grove of this special charcoal paper. A stump will fill the gaps in between but you have to be extra careful. Never press the pencil so hard lest that you will deform the texture of the paper.. 

Jim

Jim Croce, American folk singer. Quick sketch.  An old fav of mine, and listening again to his music is such a treat. 

Paul

Pastel on gray toned paper. 8x12. This piece was inspired by the method of artist Luong Nguyen. 

Jimmy K

Charcoal on newsprint. 12x18. This is my version of Late Night Show host Jimmy Kimmel. 

David

Charcoal on 12x18 newsprint. Another early morning sketch of actor David Schwimmer. 

Prince RIP

This is my own little tribute to the musical genius of Superstar Prince. A big loss for the modern music genre. 

In progress

Sanguine on toned gray paper. 18x24". 

I'm on a stage of learning that one doesn't need to lavishly use, in this case, samguine in every line and make them all look heavy and popping out. Mostly they need to fade out to give the airy feeling around the face. Just let the ones you want to focus on have more define outline.

Étude of a Lady

Sanguine on 18x24 inches of gray toned paper. This piece was inspired from the camera of Leroy Skalstad. I was watching a Susan Lyon trailer of her tutorial in DVD and she pretty much showed the basics of her technique. So I was inspired to do my own version and this is what I came up with. 

A teaser

Sanguine on 18x24 inches gray toned paper. 

Étude in graphite

Quick study in graphite. From the camera of Leroy Skalstad. It's nice to get back to my easel after the long day's work. I have been looking at the works of artists like Prokopenko, dela Torre, Lipking, Baugh, Kassan, and some others, trying to pick up their styles and way of interpreting light on portraits. This is my version of it. My main goal here is staying in focus on area of interest and yet keeping it loose.

Sir Paul

Living legend Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles, is one of the greatest composers/musicians in the modern music.  Charcoal on gray toned paper. 3x18 inches.

Marley

RCharcoal on 18x24 inched Strathmore 400 series. 

Good Ol' Al

Al Pacino. Charcoal on 12x18 inches on paper. 

Bale

Charcoal in 12x18" paper

#k48 Ted

Charcoal on newsprint. 12x18 inches. The subject is a caricature of Ted Cruz.

I just learned that smooth newsprint is better that the rough one that I've been using for soft or medium charcoal. The marks are finer which is big. I always want the biggest pad that I could get for flexibility on the size that I want for my subject. 

#k47 Bond's Iron Lady

Judi Dench. Charcoal in 12x18 newsprint.

# k46 girl with a painted face

Charcoal on 11x18 Inches of newsprint.  This is actually my daughter Meg. She had her face done in a birthday party. This piece of artwork is copied from a picture. She was lying down to her sleep when it was taken. 

At some point of my life I diverted my focus away from my first love. I was young and I got the urge of validating myself with other strength and its limits. Then I thought of going back and did a lot of catching up. It felt like I got this map and know exactly where to go. It was long and arduous and it meant a lot of work and sacrifice. Until I came to hit the desert and don't know how to move forward. A turning point on how to step it up and adopt. I reckon that this is another challenge to fine tune my craft. I know there's a lot in my plate to digest, and I  feel that force of what I am capable of. It's only a matter of time, I  told myself, and it's there for the taking. Another year has passed and I look back at the road I've been on. I would think of the ways I could have done better. I turned around again and look at the new road in front of me. Yes, this is where I am now and that's the road I am taking next. Then I took the first step.