6/100: Katie (...her alter ego)

Okay, there's some background to this one. So, my roommate Katie is very quiet as first. But then as you get to know her, you realize she has this really "spicy" side to her. One day, out of the blue, she asked us, "So, do any of you have an alter ego?" To which most of us replied with awkward blank stares.

"Nooo.....do you Katie...?"

"Yes!" She then described her imaginary alter ego as this wild jungle woman with a leopard mini skirt and top, complete with a garter around her thigh holding a foot-long dagger.

We got a good chuckle out of it. But later I thought it would be fun to create a visual depiction of such a woman while trying my hand at cartooning. I used ink pens and watercolor. Lesson learned...I'm not meant for cartooning. I think I could get better at it....but I think I'll stick with more realistic imagery. But I won't lie, this one was sure fun to do! 

5/100: Beatris

This is a painting of a girl I taught in my mission. She was a less-active member, but not because of lack of desire, but because of an abusive and controlling parent. We grew to love her and grow really close to her. She is such a strong spirit! Love her!!

4/100: Andrew

In honor of my Lake Powell trip, and my little brother, I decided to do this simple depiction. I wanted to attempt to do a simplified poster-esque kind  of piece, as I'm trying to experiment with different styles, and this style seemed to fit the subject. 

Okay, so here's the dealio...I'm going to Lake Powell this weekend...with no computer access...so there won't be a portrait this week, but I will post TWO for next week after I get back.

Hugs.

3/100 Nathan

Okay, this week I had to cheat and use a portrait I've already done. This one is of a guy who I served with on my mission--Elder Anderson. Way cool kid. I was looking for a picture of a guy that was looking at the camera, but had a more serious expression, and he had the perfect one. I based the style off of a previous self-portrait I had done--I applied an ink background (with India ink) and then did the portrait with charcoal and conte crayon, mostly conte crayon.

Sorry I had to cheat, but it's been a CRAZY week (...I just got called to be the R.S. president...I think you'll understand that my weekend has been busier than usual). I promise a real one for the next one.

Hugs!

2/100: Ella

This is my sweet 3-year old niece! I love her to pieces and when I saw a photo of her, I knew I just had to do her portrait next. Since children are so bright, I thought it only appropriate to add lots of splashes of color to represent childhood. Oh, and it was so cute--when I was still only in the drawing stage of this piece, my sister and her family came over. I showed her (my sister) the picture I was working on, and she excitedly exclaimed, "My baby!" She showed Ella, and asked, "Ella, look! Do you know who this is?" Ella exclaimed, "That's ME!!!!" Then, throughout the whole night, she kept picking up the picture so she could look at it. It was adorable. 

For the piece itself, I used my most familiar medium (besides graphite)--acrylic. I then outlined most of it in ink. 

Things learned: depicting children is hard! Like, really hard! Also learned: keep paint bottles away from the piece...because one might just be covered with a lot of paint all over it and fall on the painting you've just painstakingly worked on... at least it came off pretty easily.