This is the very beginning of a pencil sketch that I am working on of Johnny Depp’s famous character Captain Jack Sparrow.  I have done this piece a few times on different media - a bar stool, 2 pieces of 1/8 inch cedar, an iron on transfer for a book bag. 

I have enjoyed each one of these drawings and projects.  This is one of the most famous poses you will find this character in.  I start out with a soft woodless graphite pencil and begin with the outline of his features.

I used to save the eyes for last, but I think if you begin with the eyes, you will notice the drawing “pop” earlier.

After I get the intial outline done, I take and begin with the darker corners of the subjects face and shade in those area’s - for this I used a woodless charcoal ebony, and then I use several sizes of “tortillions” to get the charcoal to move where I would like it.  I have often seen artists use their fingers, this works well if you are not working a porous surface as the above serving tray.

I begin to add a little color just to put it into perspective for myself.  In the piece above, I did not care for the shading on his nose, so I did go back through and lighten up the nose to make it more broad as it truly is.

More on the finishings to come…

Happy New Year

This is a finished copy of a bar stool that I auctioned off in 2007.  I decided to repeat the process and share with you as I go along the pictures of how I drew a pencil sketch of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow the one, the only Pirate of the 21st century! Well, I am sure Mark and Annie would have something to say about that.  This piece  had an inlaid piece of jewelry within Jack Sparrows Dreadlocks.

The piece shown is a copy that I turned into a book bag for my mommy, I again produced the stars and celestial effect using photoshop, but the original circle image is what was created on the bar stool  With a gloss finish on the top and a flat black on the legs of the bar stool, the contrast really was quite interesting.

The picture on the right is now floating around Wauconda, Illinois or a near suburb as someone’s ass end is sitting on Johnny’s face drinking rum no doubt, no horror in that ladies!  

In the coming days, I will share with you the beginnings of a serving tray that I am working on with a very similar picture of our beloved Captain Jack Sparrow! 

Soul to Soul

Susie

As I sit and watch the Chicago Bears - I ponder the question, how long will it take for the Chicago Bears to trade him? Would it surprise anyone? Will they see dollar signs and think he is trading material?

I certainly hope not, but it wouldn’t surprise me!

This piece was done on a vintage window, I sprayed the front with frost and sketched with white and black charcoal pencils the Chicago Bears Logo - for my brother in law.

I also want to thank Koz for recently donating several autographed photo’s of the Chicago Bears players for our 15th annual Christmas party - due to weather conditions - the attendance was down this year, but I was able to raise $200.00 and donated it to The Assisi Foundation in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  I was amazed at the phone calls I made to organizations, I wanted to help out kids that were not going to have any gifts under the tree, and never got any calls back.  Thanks for your concern - so the money went to an organization that needed and appreciated it!

We adopted our two cat’s Carly and Stanley from Assisi over the last two years, and I would recommend them highly.  The Cat thats afraid of Scissors!

Share your likes and indulgences - get to know your fellow bloggers!

New Years is approaching all to quickly - planning on staying in for most of the weekend, its pretty typical Chicago-Style weather, dreary, ugly and I am waiting for Summer!

What makes us all tick, what makes us happy? With so much death and distruction in the news and all around us, I’d like to take this time to open up the floor for comments and conversation.

Things that make me happy or put a smile on my face these days:

1 - Stevie Ray Vaughan - any way shape or form (I know..its getting old)
2 - My new Chicago Bears Office Chair - even though they blew off the entire year, but  they swept Green Bay!
3 - Fresh Clean Sheets
4 - Playing Nap on a cold day
5 - A purring cat in my lap

Whether its a corn dog at Coney Island, or a ski lodge filled with laughter - what puts a smile on your face?  Go for it, even if it involves your nasal passage - what a funny conversation that was over at Bloggeries Forum!

This particular pencil sketch was done for Becky - for those of us who know her, we know there are no others like her, Diana, the comment box is waiting for you….

I drew this on a rainy sunday afternoon knowing Becky’s birthday was coming.  With plans to go see Sting in concert I thought it was a great way to send her off for her weekend adventure to Washington. 

I first started out with several pictures of Sting, and have one where he sat solemly on a set of city stairs, in one quick view it looked like him, but this one captured his essence, it captured something celestial that Becky is all about with a little bit of help from photoshop, I added the moon in the background.  This pencil sketch was done with a woodless graphite pencil HB.

When I first met Becky from what I heard of her, I was not sure we would get along, it was.. Becky - The Woman, The Myth, The Legend all in an hour and a half interview.  I did not know whose shoes I was filling nor did I know if I could stand in them and walk with as much grace.   I never imagined what a true and honest person that I was about to meet.  I owe alot of my knowledge on SEO and Internet Marketing to her, and her thirst for knowledge was a driving force in my insatiable quest as well.  A friend that I will carry with me, no matter what road I choose to travel.  No strings, no judgement, and NO DOUBT!

Soul to Soul ~