When people ask me to draw someone...

People on here, Facebook, etc often ask me to draw a certain celebrity for them, because they really like that person. If it’s someone I have been planning and wanting to draw, but have yet to draw, I will consider it BUT ONLY IF I can find an great reference photo of that person. If I don’t like the celebrity, there is no way I’m drawing them, and it is usually for their core beliefs, although I have made exceptions in the past. If I’ve never heard of the person or do NOT feel “inspired” to draw them, I also cannot bring myself to draw them either, as I will not enjoy it, or do my best work.

Here are the reasons why...I invest between 7 and 10 hours of my life into each drawing, and it’s always my “free time”. First of all, I have NEVER run out of inspiring people I want to draw myself. In fact, at any given time, I have several dozen photos saved of the people I want to draw next. Why would I want to draw someone I don’t know, when I always have so many photos that I’m dying to draw? I don’t think folks realize that an artist needs to be inspired by their subject to do their best work, but also in order to enjoy the process. I can tell you that the act of merely drawing is not enjoyable for me. In order to get pleasure from drawing, it MUST be a fantastic reference photo FIRST, and secondly, I have to at least admire the subject. When I have BOTH a great reference photo AND an inspiring subject, I can do my best work, and it is pure bliss for me. If I have neither, it’s a painful JOB, and the whole time I’m drawing, I am wishing I could be drawing someone I really do want to draw. I’ve experienced this only a few times with commission work. In fact, now when I do commission work, I MUST find a way to be inspired, or it will be a dreadful process, even if the photo meets my requirements. See my Commission Guideline for what I mean regarding reference photos [link]

By the time I get finished with a drawing, no matter if it’s my favorite actor, I am tired of drawing that particular drawing. You can only imagine if I was forced to draw someone I could care less about, how laborious it would be?

So, I made this document to share with people who constantly ask me to draw a certain person. Hopefully this explains it so that they understand, and don’t have hurt feelings?

~ Your Pencil Buddy ~
Rick
www.DrPencil.com

I can NOT believe that 2,000 want to Watch my drawings!?! That blows me away!! I really appreciate all of your support and comments! I just wanted to say THANKS MUCH!!

Our son had a song (The Ladder) on Vampire Diaries on 9/14/10 and now his song "IN MY VEINS" (appropriate title) will be on this weeks epi 11/4/10

Here is a FAN made video of scenes from the show, set to this song: [link]

As most of you may or may not know, my amazingly talented singer/songwriter son, Andrew Belle (stage name) was named the MTV VMA Breakout Artist for Chicago 2009, along with many other accolades, and although he has a Promo company, manager, etc, I can't help but be a proud dad and send out a message on all the social networks when he has a song on a TV show, or a major Movie ("Something Borrowed" with Kate Hudson and John Krasinski - out in 2011).

So, with that said, listen for his song "IN MY VEINS" on "Vampire Diaries" this Thursday (11/4) 7pm Central time on the CW station!!

He has already had songs on Grey's Anatomy 4 times this year, including the finale, as well as 90210, Vampire Diaries, Real World, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars, Kardashians, Ghost Whisperer, Rookie Blue, etc!

Listen to IN MY VEINS now [link]
Official Music Video for "STATIC WAVES" [link]
Listen to THE LADDER now [link]

www.AndrewBelle.com
www.Myspace.com/AndrewBelle
www.Facebook.com/AndrewBelleMusic

Your pencil buddy ~ Rick (Mr.Pencil)

I decided to create a journal entry for Random Tips, which will get re-sent as I update this entry in the future.

(9/13/10) TODAY'S TIP:
I try to draw as small as I possibly can. Why? To save time of course, so I can get to the other 50+ I have lined up to draw, ha! The drawing I just started is Reese Witherspoon. I'm drawing it REALLY small, because her EYES are very are large in the reference photo. When I design the SIZE of EACH drawing, I make several determinations about how large to make it. Since I do not frame my work, my object is NOT to make them as large as I can so they look good on my wall. I keep them in display books, which have plastic sleeves to protect them. I am forced to draw some larger than others, and usually larger than I want, because their EYES are too small, so I have to print a larger ref photo. After all, that is where I spend the most time (eyes), because that is where a person looks MOST like that person? Remember this, a drawing that is even 20% larger will take 50% more time to complete! If you have all the time in the world, have at it! If you are like me, and have a short attention span, and you get bored fast, you want to spend the LEAST amount of time possible BUT be able to get the MOST amount of details into your drawing. Each photo I use as a Reference Photo, has to be considered individually, depending on HOW I choose to crop it, or if it's a close-up, which in turn determines the size of the face you can fit into the drawing space on your paper. To do this, I set my printer to Draft Quality, and print 2 or 3 various sizes that are THE SMALLEST possible, but YET allows me to draw the details I like to draw. I then compare the Draft Prints to OLD DRAWINGS in my display books, because  I can remember how long they took to draw, and based on those estimates, I choose a final size. Then I re-set the print settings to a higher quality, and print my reference photo on Presentation Paper, so it is as much like a photo as possible. Of course I print Black and White, so I can more easily "see" the tonal values. (I first convert all of my reference photos to B&W using software). I hope this tip allows you to consider drawing smaller, so you can complete more portraits, or finish in less time?

TO SEE THE STEP SCANS SO FAR OF REESE, go here:
[link]

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(8/24/10) TODAY'S TIP:
I always start with an outline! I use different methods for measuring the distance between facial features. I NEVER just guess the distance! It became painfully obvious to me early on in portrait drawing, that there are precise measurements involved? It's a critical part of making a person look like the person that they are! For example, you can guess the distance between the eyes, so can I. But it will save you lots of time, frustration and improve accuracy and proportions if you measure the distance.

You can use rulers, markings on scrap paper, grid paper, etc. There are a TON of methods out there. The outline is not a fast sketch either. If you don't get it right, the whole drawing is off!
   

I've decided to send out RANDOM Drawing tips.
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(7/4/10) TODAY'S TIP:
I hope you get the meaning by how I word this, but I always remind myself to get TONE BEFORE DETAILS!! In other words, BEFORE I work on all the details of a certain part of the face, I make SURE I FIRST get the tonal value correct BEFORE I draw in the little details. Other wise, I end up smearing them if I have to keep blending that area darker and darker, and having to draw them all over again. Does that make sense? HA!

TODAY'S TIP 2/1/10:
Instead of tossing out your DARKER pencils (B, 2B, etc) WHEN they get too small, I save them for doing JUST the black and darkest areas of a drawing, when all you are doing is just filling in dark areas. While they may be too small to have that familiar feel in your hand, I hold them sideways for dark areas anyway, so it works nice and lets me get the most mileage out of my pencil money!

HI EVERYONE!!!
I wanted to send a quick journal note to the 912 artists that watch me, and the 429 artists that I watch, and let them know a few things as they relate to comments on both my drawings, as well as theirs.

1) Due to my very limited time, and because I watch over 400 people, you can imagine how many new deviations I get each day. I sometimes get overwhelmed with comments on my own drawings (like Clint Eastwood). I logged on today and found over 1,200 new comments! Yes, over 800 were favs, and watches, but it will take me some time to give thoughtful replies, and I always reply to them all because I appreciate them very much!!!

2) I feel guilty that I cannot spend more time to give comments on all of the great works that I get each day from you. Just not enough time in a day, not to mention, Twitter, Email, Texts, Facebook and Calls each day lol. Oh, and not to mention I have to make a living, ha!

3) Again, due to my limited time, I cannot comment on photos. Sorry, but I do look at them, and they are all just great! One of my daughters is a professional photographer, and since all of my drawings originate from great photography, I appreciate them!! Check out her site? www.MaggieFortson.com

4) I don't even know if everyone will get this, because I do not select journals when I Watch someone. Just too much!

5) Don't feel you need to comment on this journal entry. It defeats it's purpose LOL.

Anyway...thanks for all of your support and love yall. I greatly appreciate it!!

~Rick
www.MrPencil.info

Why I no Longer Draw for Commissions

First let me say, that the ONLY exceptions to the below are good photos, and the right price, ha!

I've had to write this letter in response to the many requests I get for drawing. CURRENTLY I am not accepting commission work, for the following reasons. I hope none of these answers sound arrogant; they are simply my honest feelings.

1) Inspiration: Drawing is my main escape from all the stress and pressures of life. It's my down time, my ME time, my time to enjoy one of the few passions I have found this life. Just like everyone, my free time is very limited. When I find time to draw, I want to make the most of it! First of all, I discovered that I am FIRST motivated to draw by INSPIRING Photos! I am FIRST attracted to HIGH RESOLUTION photos that offer a WIDE RANGE of CONTRAST, light sources, and TONAL VALUES. The SUBJECT also inspires me, but on a secondary level. HOWEVER, when I set out to find a quality photo of a specific person (that meets the above description), and I am unable to find such a photo, either because it doesn't exist, or is too small to print for a reference photo, then I must find someone else to draw.

Needless to say, if I hold myself to these standards, when making a yes or no decision to draw someone, what are the chances that someone will give me an inspirational photo? Sadly, it’s very rare. Besides hopefully improving my drawing skills over time, I know I have gotten MUCH better at selecting reference photos from the Internet. I got tired of people giving me uninspiring, boring photos that offer no contrast, or were too blurry, too small, or had poor light sources, etc, etc, etc. Never mind the fact that I am uninspired to draw a stranger. The ONLY exception I have had to date is my daughter Maggie's photography at www.MaggieFortsonBlog.com because she takes the kind of photos of people that hit me right in the face and makes me say, "I MUST DRAW THIS!!!" She just has a gift that way?

2) Time = Money: I never started drawing with the idea that maybe I could make some money. Thankfully, I have never drawn because I needed the money. Even the class I teach is just for fun, the challenge, and because everyone I know thought I should do it. On another note, I draw very small. I NEED to. I can cram a lot of details into a small space. But who wants a small drawing? A larger sized drawing affects my techniques, wrist movements, etc and even a 5x7 inch drawing takes me 5 to 10 hours to complete (details, hair, etc contingent). Up to now, I simply cannot bring myself to charge the amount of money it would take to make it worth my time? And I understand why folks would not want to pay $150 for a 5x7 drawing. Just a 20% increase in SIZE equals a 50% increase in time. Bottom line, I would end up making minimum wage or less, so as for income, I am better off investing that time into sales and using my drawing time to draw what I want to draw.

3) Pressure: I hold myself to a pretty high standard when it comes to doing my best effort on a drawing, but there is no pressure, just a self-imposed challenge? In the past when I drew for someone, I found a pressure on me to do my best, but a fear that the client would not be satisfied.

You may have heard the phrase, "do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life". That would be true for me, if some corporation hired me to draw celebrities for a living, but that's not the case (haha). When I found that I had a true passion for drawing, in October of 2008, I later had the thought that if I drew for money, it would become work, which is exactly what I discovered when I drew for commissions. The WHOLE time I was drawing for someone, I was wishing I could be drawing some other great photo I had just found, or was fearful it wouldn't turn out good, etc.

So, as I think this all though, I would be open to commissioned work in the future, but for now, the ONLY exceptions would be if the client were to provide me with AMAZING photos, and be willing to make it work my time. Again, I realize this must sound arrogant, but I wrote all of this to explain my thinking on the subject, and to give a little better explanation rather than just telling someone NO?

I knew I was going to be teaching a 2nd portrait drawing class, at a local college this summer, but I got an email YESTERDAY, that my class started YESTERDAY!!! NO PREP TIME!!! WTF?!?!?

FIRST, let me say, that I had the opportunity to teach a non-credit portrait drawing class at a local college last fall, all because a stranger in a store saw my work and told me I should. They had no such class, so I made one, ha! Loooong story short, I called Waubonsee college near me, and I ended up designing and teaching a 5 week Portrait Drawing class last September 2009. We only met once per week for 2 hours (10 hours total) but I took 8 students through the basics, as well as advanced techniques. We ended up completing 2 portraits. Well, they did at least

It turned out good LAST NIGHT. A total of 6 women students with a variable amount of experience. Last night (1st class) I explained my goals for the class, my background, etc, passed around my display books with ALL of my original drawings, explained the tools I use, and then I had them introduce themselves and tell us what their art background was and what they wanted from this class.

We finished by drawing some eyes, and then decided WHO we are going to draw first, which will start next week. The 2nd portrait we draw, I will let them choose who to draw, and then I will find worthy photos on the web, print them and bring them to class, then help each one start to finish. Cool huh? The thing that freaks me out is, I have NO teaching degree, and NO art degree. 100% self taught and I've only been drawing for 18 months haha! I dunno, that just sounds funny to me Just thought I would share...

Here is the ad I created for last fall's class

Sorry, but I just had to share this!

I was just contacted today (4/14/10) by Rosebud Magazine in California, USA (www.Rosebudmag.com) They offered to buy a digital copy of this William H. Macy drawing for use in an upcoming article on William H. Macy! How exciting! Just knowing that Mr. Macy will see my work is thrilling! I told them that I would even be happy to send Mr. Macy the original at some point. They also mentioned me possibly doing other drawings of celebs for future articles. They have distribution of 100,000! HOW COOL IS THAT?!? I never started drawing with the intention to make money or changing careers, but who knows?

[link]

Our son ANDREW BELLE officially released his new LP "The Ladder" on itunes today. So far, his CD has remained #1 for "Singer/Songwriters" category, and as of 2/24/10 he has moved to the #29 for "TOP DOWNLOADED ALBUMS" for ALL categories and genres on itunes!!! HOLY @#$T!!!

He is offering his 10 song CD "The Ladder" this week only for $5.99 on itunes. You can also listen to all 10 here www.myspace.com/AndrewBelle
OR buy the physical cd at www.AndrewBelle.com OR go to itunes here: [link]

Hey, just thought you may want to check out the "sit back" slide show of the 10 step drawings I did of Kiefer Sutherland on my home page. It's cool to watch
You can go there or go here
[link]

OMG! I have been taking digital photos of my drawings for the past 1 year. I realized when I got my new all in one printer last summer, that I never tried scanning my drawings. Well, I spent the last 4 hours SCANNING ALL OF MY RECENT DRAWINGS, specifically my FEATURED GALLERY.

This is GREAT!! Now I don't have to wait until morning to take a photo, which means I can easily do STEP tutorials now. Not to mention, I get ALL of the details that are in the original drawing, consistency and CORRECT CONTRAST. I realize now, that a lot of my photos were over contrasted, due to an "auto-enhance" feature in the PhotoSuite software I used to use to adjust my photos.

Have a look and see if you don't see DOUBLE the details now in the drawings in my FEATURED GALLERY?

Taking a good Photo of your Drawing

After a drawing is complete, I use a "workable spray fixative" by Krylon. Besides protecting the drawing from smudging and yellowing over time, it reduces glare. I use a digital camera to take a photo of it, and I NEVER use a flash. At first I used a scanner, but it lightened the drawing, and I could not see all the details.

I take the photo in the daytime, in natural lighting, on the floor near a window, but careful NOT to put it directly in the sun. I also rotate the drawing, so the light source in the room is the same as the direction of the light source in the drawing

After I take several shots, I upload them; pick the best one, which is usually the one where my name and date are IN FOCUS. Then I crop out the borders, and I also REMOVE the SATURATION, which removes any color that the camera picked up, turning it back to pure black and white.

I learned not to settle for a bad photo. After all, you invest hours of drawing time to get it just right, it makes no sense to rush through the photo process? Hope this helps

One thing that just came to mind, that I thought I would pass along, is how we are actually training our eyes and minds to detect minute details in shading and features.

Here are a few things I do to help me try to notice the differences between my drawing and the reference photo.

Sometimes I rotate the drawing sideways and upside down. It helps me see things I don't normally see?!? Especially when drawing eyes, and when I'm trying to determine exactly where the eyebrow borders are. I don't need to tell you how a few hairs in the eyebrows can make all the difference in the world?

I sometimes tape it to my desk too, because the edges of the paper curl up, and it effects my pencil strokes?

Holding it in front of a mirror helps too.

But the MOST effect way I detect differences between my drawing and the reference photo, is when I think I'm finished, I take a photo of my drawing (before I spray seal it) and then I view it on my computer, side-by-side in THUMBNAIL version, next to the reference photo. For some reason, seeing them in thumbnail format helps because they are both smaller versions of what you've been staring at for hours.

Better yet, I view them back and forth very fast using "Windows Picture and Fax viewer". You will be amazed at all the differences you can now "SEE" that you could not see before?

Hope that helps?

I'm a BIG believer in Goal Setting!

I have all different categories, but I'm just showing my Drawing goals here. But if you want to set goals, you should break them into categories...like these

1) Personal
2) Financial
3) Fitness
4) Relationship
5) Business
6) Drawing
7) Spiritual
8) Friendship
9) Short term goals
10) Long term goals
ETC

Then make goals for each category.
* Be Specific
* Set a goal completion Date
* Don't give up!


MY 2010 DRAWING GOALS
1) Complete a minimum of 2 drawings per week
2) Teach 2nd portrait drawing course at Waubonsee College
3) Draw at least 1 commission drawing per month
4) Push my skill level by trying more difficult lighting conditions
5) Try 3 new types of drawing papers
6) Improve on drawing ears and hair
7) Complete 1 marketing idea per month for drawing

Hope this both helps and encourages you to SET GOALS!!!
HAPPY DRAWING

12/28/09
I just completed my FIRST drawing with "Strathmore Bristol Vellum" paper, and I AM SO GLAD I DID!!! I have used Bristol Smooth for the past 60 portraits.

Although "Bristol SMOOTH" is still MUCH better than the thinner papers I first started drawing with, the downside was, I noticed that I could NOT get the same special effects (specifically, when I use a nail and scratch the paper for hair, and white whiskers, BEFORE applying graphite). The SMOOTH just did not "scratch" well. But now I CAN again using the "Bristol VELLUM". The Vellum handles blending SO much better than Smooth too! I will probably never go back to Smooth again?!?

TRUST ME...give Bristol Vellum a try and you will be hooked! I just finished drawing my identical twin daughters this weekend. I drew the first on Smooth, and then got some Vellum for Christmas from one of my daughters, and drew the second on that. WOW!!! You will see the difference in the hair lines! Too bad I could not get good crisp in focus photos of them with my new camera!
~Rick

Addendum 1/2/10
After drawing a few on Vellum now, I have come to realize that I cannot get the black areas quite as dark as I could with smooth?

Random TIPS:

* One of the last things I do is add fine, stray hairs, if applicable, to the edges of the hairline. I also take a sharp F or HB pencil, and make very small and short hairs along the forehead, where the hair meets the forehead (if required).

* Whenever I think I'm done, I sleep on it. Invariably I notice something I swore was not there before.

* Most every artist signs their work, in some form or another, but my dad gave me the idea to DATE each one as well, so that I could remember the order that I drew them.

* I also use a "workable spray Fixative" by Krylon, to seal the drawing when it's complete. It prevents smudging, keeps them from yellowing and also takes down the shine from the darkest areas of graphite.

* When I use clutch pencils, I no longer use a hand sharpener, which I used to string around my neck. I use a "Lead Pointer Tube" sharpener, which also holds the shaved graphite.

* I use an old paintbrush to remove graphite dust, etc from a drawing surface. It keeps me from rubbing it off, or spitting on the drawing when I blow it off. I didn't notice one time, and accidentally spit a minute amount on the surface, and when I rubbed over it with my blending stump, it smeared, and I could not remove it!!

* Taking Photos of your work. After a drawing is complete, I use a digital camera to take a photo of it. I first used scanners, but they lighten the drawing, and you cannot see as much details. I take the photo in the daytime, in natural lighting, on the floor in front of a window, careful NOT to put it directly in the sun. After I take several shots, I upload them; pick the best one, which is usually the one where my name and date are IN FOCUS. Then I crop out the borders, and I also REMOVE the SATURATION, which removes any color that the camera picked up, turning it back to pure black and white.

* The brain can be fooled to believing that what it THINKS it sees is real. One of the best illustrations of that is when I noticed that blurry, out of focus backgrounds, in some portraits, made it look like a photo.