Tightening My Heart Strings

14x14 Drawing Paper

Charcoal Pastels

I choose to do a study on pastels by originally trying a realistic portrait using reference. I continued on with the idea of the idea of women mixed with guitars. In this piece I feel the only factor that bridges the two is the fact that there is a guitar scene but it seems more decorative than interactive. However I do like my execution of technique in this piece as I become more comfortable with charcoal pastels, though this will be my last large piece for a while. I'm quite happy with the results.

I choose a Violet and Yellow color scheme for the skin tone; Green and Red colors are used to distinguish the eyes and lips from the rest of the piece. The hair was done in layers of red, brown, yellow and black. The flowing drapery was added at the end with green and red contrast; an orange hue mixed in to mediate between and white to highlight. Originally a green background to compliment the red but that made the image to 'busy' so I chose to do a half blended black to give a sense of indefinite space.

The context of the scene was a scorned lover plotting vengance at the man who played with her heart.


***[link] Lauren Calaway does not approve of this image reference***