Whalehead Ink

7. Artichoke heraldry

2010-04-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

No comment. It works though it may be a bit crooked when I post this.

6. Whole Woman

2010-03-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

This is approximately what the drawing looks like though I have to admit I am getting disgruntled about the scan quality. I see I need to go to the Apple store for a lesson on how to make these look more like the original.

Bear with me, and thanks for stopping by. I'm actually very pleased with this picture and not just because I have low standards.

A woman's neck

2010-02-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

I wish I could figure out how my scanner works. This is an extreme closeup of an image done exclusively in ink. The original image size fits in a 4x6 frame. I'm not a stickler about details because I find set up boring and end product boring. I like the execution part. It's not that I don't plan ahead or care about the finished piece.

I would love if someone would just block out some 3 and a half by 5 and a half rectangles for me to draw in. I would judge whether the finished product was good enough to have my name attached. Good enough: post it. Not good enough: crumple it into the recycling box for the trash men. My ideal assistant would then scan the good enough projects so that you can see more than this pretty woman's neck.

She is a pretty woman. She is somewhere between 48 and 55 years old. Its a good age. The whole thing should show up next weekend. I'll have my people work on it in the meantime. That means me. Don't get your hopes up.

Thanks for stopping by.
WK

5. Pipe smoker

2010-02-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

I rather like this portrait. Not sure who it is because I don't really pay attention after I do a light pencil sketch to start the show. Most of these famous pipe smokers are famous in their field, so if you are interested in astronomy or physics or Arctic exploration, you wouldn't know them anyway. I haven't found an archive of everyday, regular person pipe smokers, but I haven't really looked. I'm not lacking for material at the moment but it would be a nice change of pace.

As usual, this will fit in a 4X6 frame, something you can hang in your bathroom. I particularly like the framing device on the bottom with its collection of oak leaves and stars. What's OX? It could be a hug and a kiss or this gentleman could be a beast of burden. I'll leave the interpretation up to the viewer.

4. Pipe Smoker

2010-02-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Back to the pipe smoker theme. I've started a bit of a more naturalistic style using a 005 nib for the features. This one was done with a 01 nib so it's not as subtle as more recent work. I thought the 01 was a little heavy on this and that's why I went smaller afterward. I drew this about two weeks ago with the idea of expanding the pipe smoker theme.

I've got a collection of pipe smoker portraits that I'm using as reference but only in the brief sketch phase. This looks nothing like the model except for the position and wardrobe. I don't remember who was the inspiration. I thought this would be a nice switch from the more stylized pieces I've posted so far. I enjoy being more realistic and it takes a bit more time, especially with the finer pen.

This will fit in a 4x6 frame, filling most of the space. I haven't checked to write this, but I believe the image itself is 3 and a half by five and a half.

3. Corn Girl

2010-02-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

A series of young ladies with corn featured in the border. Not exactly what you would expect in Iowa. The blue in the original doesn't seem to have scanned very well. The original is 5.5 x 3.75 inches. Pen and ink.

I tried another pipe smoker today. I wasn't happy with one item of the composition I'm featuring this drawing that I finished about two weeks ago. I'm not breaking any new ground here, but I rather like it.

2. Pipe smoker

2010-01-31T14:52:00.000-08:00

I like the hat and the jutting jaw matching the angle of the nose and pipe, also the hat brim. No exact angle matches because this is really done freehand. This seems to capture some pipe smokers' moods but that is something only a pipe smoker can tell you, and their day is twenty-four hours long like anyone else's.

This is 3 and a half by 5 and a half inches so that it will fit in a 4x6 frame.

I drew it this morning and I think I am getting closer to what I see when I think about this image. I don't know how much more density/modeling it needs. It works well as is.

1. Pipe Smoker

2010-01-24T14:22:00.000-08:00

I rather like the design and I will be working on variations of this. It's simple, but I like a simple design. I also like crosshatching, though this isn't the best example. I like the way the smoke came out. This is the second version of this theme. I wasn't as happy with the smoke in the first.

4X6. Ink on paper.