A Jaunty Portrait

Specifics
This is one of my Mom's characteristic expressions and I'm torn between describing it as effervescent and jaunty. :)

This is a very straightforward drawing without any of the distortion I've been playing with. I was thinking of using my final technique for the distortion and even the storytelling.

Technique
I found myself missing the soft waxy colored pencils when drawing this. I've never loved graphite for drawing. It smears, which means to me it is the art medium equivalent of a child that will not sit still!

I will of course be completely covering this drawing with other media.

Enjoy! :)

Finally Drawn

Not a sketch, but hey it is here to see. ;) This is the final drawing on the surface I will paint and collage onto. It's full size out to the wood is 18 by 18 inches. Enjoy!

Idea Building

These are a few thumbnails I've done for an idea I've been playing with for a full illustration.

It was built on an image I took from an old cemetary I visited in Pennsylvannia. The statue's weathering made it feel more human in an odd way, I wanted to pair it with a real person and show some tension.

These are just a couple compositional variations.

I hope you enjoy them!

Just a test...

I just put this up on my other blog. I might import this blogspot to replace it. This should be easier to follow. ;) If you want to see the fuller post, check out this link: http://www.ambergoulet.com/ambers-blog