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I know the last time I posted this WIP of Lincoln I said I was going to walk away from working on the face and move to his torso. As you can see, that didn't happen. I did lay it aside for a couple of days...but when I came back it was like an addiction...I had to work on the face and get it more complete before I could move on. So...here he is.

I narrowed his face on the right somewhat and was able to lift some color out of the left eye lid. I've added more wrinkles on his forehead and increased the shading on the left side of his face (even though the photo shows it washed out)...I felt the added shadows would help to 'narrow' his face...and should have been there if not for the use of harsh lighting.

I've also worked on that odd shaped mouth that is 'Lincoln'...still not quite sure here. I have really struggled here. Lincoln's mouth is such a 'signature' in all his photos...the lower lip is fuller on one side than the other...urrrgh!!

NOTE: The photo is a little on the dark side, not a lot but some. I see several things that could be improved upon. I'm anxious to here what you have to say...extra eyes are always good.

I'm looking forward to your critique again . This is the last WIP post I made and the reference photo I used...my first posting is here.

This has been a big project. I so appreciate your comments and personal emails...both the critique and the encouragement. Next time there should be some shirt and jacket to see....at least I hope.

Sincerely,
Marsha

A Quick Update: Heard from the person who commissioned this portrait and he has a newly published article from the Smithsonian Magazine that has a better more detailed photo showing the shirt and jacket. (I'm really winging it in this area.) I'm to receive the reference tomorrow, so going to lay this aside until I get it...darn, this was my last day at the drawing board this week.

Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment Read More

The Story Behind the Image: I love the smell of a good cigar. The cigar and drink have been "Perfect Companions" for years. I had a special friend who enjoyed his scotch and his cigar...and to this day when ever I catch the pungent fragrance of a cigar I think of him. He would have enjoyed this drawing.

I've always enjoyed drawing glass. The secret is to NOT draw the glass and it's contents but to draw the shadow shapes seen in the glass. I generally use graphite for glass and other reflective objects because graphite itself has a reflective quality and will add this to the drawing. Even when used lightly graphite always has a shine. This is especially noticeable when placed next to carbon or charcoal. In this drawing I used graphite's qualities to my advantage...applying graphite with various blenders until the shape of the glass and the liquid began to take shape on paper. For the cigar, I used carbon pencil. I applied it directly to the paper for the darkest areas and then blended to show the grain and texture of the tobacco leaves.


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

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Lincoln is ready for 'his' first critique. This has been a challenging portrait for me, for several reasons. First, just try to find a good reference photo. I took this one at the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Ill. (I knew I had this commission and couldn't find the reference I wanted to use...almost got thrown out taking the reference photo I'm using!)

I wanted to depict him as he looked at the age he was when he was a lawyer in Illinois...prior to his beard...a younger Lincoln than we are accustomed to seeing.

Drawing someone so familiar to the world has proven to be quite a challenge. That and just the size of this portrait. I'm used to working much smaller and have had to adjust some of my techniques. Everything except the darkest areas were applied with blenders and brushes.

There is still a considerable amount of 'fine' work to be done on his face, (I need to add more lines to his forhead and 'ruddy' it up a bit), but so many of you have ask to see the progress of this piece...thought I would post this photo before I head to the drawing table today. The hard part is done.

You can see the reference photo here...and my previous WIP post here. I still have the torso (shirt and jacket) to complete...hope to make some serious headway on that today. I've worked on Lincoln's face long enough, need to step back for a bit and focus on something else...don't want to over do it. I'm at a place where (when working with carbon) any marks or shadows are permanent...don't need mistakes here.

So I ask: I know the photograph doesn't pick up some of the finer detail...but have I captured the 'presence' of this great man? Do you see the worry and determination Lincoln's face as he considered the future of this great nation? Do you feel the intensity of his gaze?

Well people, Lincoln is all yours. I'm very serious about my questions. I don't want this to be considered just another portrait of Lincoln...so many have been done. I want the viewer to see the 'person' not the drawing.

It's time for some lunch and then back to the drawing board.

Sincerely,
Marsha


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment Read More

I really like the composition of this drawing...I used both charcoal and carbon pencil on the shoes in order to show the different tones and textures of the dark leather. The rest of the drawing is mainly carbon pencil. The socks have many, many, many, layers of carbon, blended with a chamois square and tissue.


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment Read More

So you ask...What is Squidoo anyway?

Squidoo is a website hosting hundreds of thousands of "lenses", or pages. Each lens is one person's look at something online. Your lens is your take or opinion on any subject you like. You are the authority.

Think of it like this. Look closely at the Magnifying glass pictured above.  When you look through the lens of the magnifying glass, everything you see within the lens is bigger, sharper, and more defined.  This is exactly how it is with my Squidoo Lens...it's about a very defined topic and is explored in full detail.

The lens is easy to build and it's free...yes, I said FREE! and totally non-techy. You can link back to your website. If you have a blog, Squidoo will even grab your latest postings and display them on your lens.

I first became familiar with Squidoo while visiting Katherine Tyrrell's website, Making a Mark, when I clicked on her Artist Resources link.

In January of '08 I set up my own "Squidoo Lens", Drawing Techniques: using carbon, charcoal, and graphite. My lens is just a baby compared to the information for artists found in Katherine's lens. ..yet the traffic this one lens generates to my blog and website just doesn't stop. I can only imagine what Katheryn's group of lenses does for her.

Many of you have ask so here's what I did...
My thought process as I developed my lens.

• I chose the subject I'm ask about most by my customers.
• I kept it simple,concise and interesting.
• I associated appropriate photos and art.
  
• I linked back to my website and blog liberally and I put links to my new Squidoo Lens on my website and blog...(at the bottom of every blog post)
  
• Most importantly...I included the "module" on my lens that contains an RSS feed. This means that every time I update my blog my Squidoo Lens is also updated with a link to my new article. This not only keeps my "lens" fresh in the eyes of search engines but sends people back to my blog to read the article!
  

The Best Part is...The Results
This year to date, there's been a total of 5,185 visitors to my lens.

In the past 30 days the "most important" stats are as follows:

• Referrers: Visitors coming directly from: My Website, 68...from The Extraordinary Pencil, blogspot, 218...visitors directly from Squidoo, 53...visitors, as a direct result of blog articles I've written, clicking the provided Squidoo Link at the bottom, 72.

• Clickouts: Squidoo visitors clicking on links back to my website and blog: In the last 30 days alone there have been....356 clickouts to my Website and 125 clickouts to my Blogspot.

The beauty of my Squidoo lens is this...I never have to do another thing to it. It updates regularly via the RSS feed from my blog just keeps sending people my way through the links I provided.
My Squidoo Lens is my "E-Bunny". It just sits there working for me. I'll admit that although easy to do...it took a some thought and some time to set up. I probably spent most of one weekend writing it, but the final statistics can not be ignored. Definitely time well spent.  So I only have one question this week...Do You Squidoo?

Thank you as always for your support and encouragement.

Sincerely,
Marsha

Links:
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


Make a "Point"...leave a comment
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I may not purchase enough fine art to be called a "Collector"...but I do purchase original pieces for myself and as gifts.

I found the perfect piece today for a friend. THERE WAS NO PRICE LISTED...I will not chase an artist down to find out the price of their work.

True, the price if listed, could have been more than I wanted to spend and the sale would have been lost anyway...but don't make me contact you and wait for an answer and don't make me embarrass my self if the price is more than I can afford. Pricing your work allows me to make this decision before I contact you.

Think about it. If you were car shopping and found what you thought to be the perfect vehicle...Would you want to chase down a salesman and then wait for him to contact you with the price.

How about those new shoes or the jacket you found at the boutique. Lets just say that the clerk said she would have to contact her boss to find out the price and would send you an email in a day or so.

Tell me, is this the way you would like to shop? The situation here is no different. If you are in the retail business...and want to sell your art...pleeeeease put a price on it.

• Do you still question whether you should post your prices? Are you having difficulty setting your prices? Check the links below.Allison Stanfield's Art Biz Blog...art pricing
  Clint Watson's FineArtViews Blog...post your prices

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FINAL THOUGHT: Will posting prices increase your sales? I can only say this...today, it would have increased the sales of one artist in particular. Were you that artist?

Just so you know, I'm still shopping for that gift for my friend.


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment
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The Story Behind the Image:  I did this drawing as a gift for a dear friend.  She faithfully helps me all summer long set-up and take-down for my art fairs...no small job I might add.  She is originally from England, still has her accent and is just a pleasure to listen to.  You never visit her home but that you are offered a cup of tea. 

I love drawing glass because of all the complex shadows and highlights.  Carbon pencil was used for the darks and mid-tones, blending with a chamois square into the lighter areas.  I used a #B graphite pencil for the reflective portions of the cup to bring that area forward.  Graphite has a natural shine even when used very light.  This is especially noticeable when placed next to carbon or charcoal.

Afternoon Tea is all about shadows and reflections...the more you look the more you see.  The shadows of the cup and saucer on the table and the light they reflect back into the tea.  The shadow of the teabag on the left side of the cup, the small tea leaves that have floated to the top of the tea bag, and the way the string moves down the side of the cup into the saucer...even the tiny tag on the end leaves a shadow on the saucer.  Lastly, and not to be ignored, is the handle on the cup...poised and ready for you to take a sip.  It's amazing how something so simple as a cup of tea can be so multi-faceted.


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It's so easy as we look at other blogs and websites to become discouraged by what we perceive as our competition when in fact the only competition is ourselves.

When discouragement raises it's ugly head you need to "set yourself down for a good talking to". You are a unique, one of a kind creation. Each piece of art you create is just as unique as you.

Learning from others is a good thing and giving yourself the freedom to make mistakes while you develop your own style is also a good thing. In the beginning I through away the pieces that didn't meet my standards. I now keep EVERYTHING. When I'm having a bad studio day and think I'm not progressing, I pull out these rejects and immediately see how far I've come!

Your Style and Your Story is what will set you apart from all the others. Art stimulates the "emotions" of the viewer. TELL YOUR STORY...talk about not only how you created the piece but why you created it. Let your customers know WHAT INSPIRES YOU.

If you find talking about your work difficult...start by writing about it. From the beginning, I've included The Story Behind The Image with each new piece that I post on my website or my blogs. I also include it on my Certificate of Authenticity. The format is casual...telling a little about what inspiration was, the method, and materials used.

Let your story be a little personal, it's OK. There is no one else like you in the world and it's just as important to sell your story as it is to sell your art...after all your art is an expression of your inner self.

So I ask: Do you get discouraged with your progress as an artist? Is talking about your art difficult? What is your story?

The "Chat Line" is open...I look forward to your comments and please feel free to comment on what others have to say. Remember...when you share, others are blessed.

I've always admired with envy those of you who have a degree or are associated with large well known galleries. Will I ever have a degree?...no. Will I ever be associated with a large well known gallery?...possibly.

My story is a simple one...My talent is God's gift.

Sincerely,
Marsha


Links:
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques
The Story Behind the Image


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment
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The Story Behind the Image: This was a particularly enjoyable piece do do...not only because of the subject but because of the story that lead to doing this set-up.

My daughter and I were preparing dinner and my grandson (then around seven) wanted ice cream. I said "dinner will be ready soon, why not have a piece of fruit instead". As boys will be boys...he picked up a fork from the table, "stabbed" the pear and said "I choose this one"!

I later set up the experience from memory as you see in this drawing.

I purposely chose a pear that had been knocked around some. I liked the texture it added to the drawing. It was a great subject...notice how the skin swells around the tines of the fork, the smooth texture of the fork in contrast to the bruising and marks on the pear.

The background is done in carbon as is most of the pear. I used some graphite on the fork to bring out the highlights and enhance the shape.


Links:
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques



PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment Read More

The internet has caused business to change the way they market themselves. The old "bricks and mortar" establishment is no longer enough...not enough for Starbucks and certainly not enough for us as artists.

We are living in a time of "instant gratification"...we no longer have to get into the car and travel store to store to research an item before purchasing. All this can be done over the internet or through catalogs. Why wouldn't this also apply to purchasing art?

I understand that the collector of high end original art will no doubt want to see the piece in person, but many customers today are simply decorating their homes. In today's economy, these customers are going to be looking for lower priced originals and prints. Lets face it, most artists never get into the higher end markets...but this doesn't mean we can't experience a reasonable amount of success and produce a viable income for ourselves.

I've always believed that the collector wanted that personal connection with the artist. I believed that if they were interested in purchasing art from my website that they would contact me. I'm no longer "certain" about this and I KNOW not everyone who buys my art is a "collector".

I have a few customers that I would categorize as "collectors", but the majority of people who purchase my art are commissioning special pieces or decorating their homes. They buy because they like the image and they have the perfect place for it...it "matches their sofa"! I know it's hard to swallow, but it is true.

So...what am I going to do. Well, after much deliberation within myself...the BuyNow buttons are going up on my website. I never liked the way they looked or what they stood for...feeling those obnoxious buttons lessened the perceived value of my art. 

But you know, I see "buy now" buttons on more and more artists sites.  I see how other artists are using Ebay, Etsy, and other internet retail sites to sell their art.  Times are changing and I want to be part of the change not stuck in the past wondering someday if it would have worked.  Yes, I believe this is a step forward.

So I ask: Are you changing with the times? How have you diversified your internet marketing? Have you succumbed to the instant gratification of the "Buy Now" button?

I look forward to your comments and please feel free to comment on what others have to say. Remember...when you share, others are blessed.

Sometimes change is difficult...sometimes we think change is impossible...but we must always remember that it takes change to move forward.

Sincerely,
Marsha


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment Read More

The Story Behind the Image: I had this image for some time before I actually took the time to lay out the drawing. It was one of the more pains taking drawings that I've done and has proven to be one of my most requested prints. In fact I could have sold the original time and time again.

Viewers comment over and over that The Fork and Spoon Club reminds them of when their children were young and responsible for emptying the dish washer...and I can totally relate.

I used mainly carbon pencil in this drawing, applying it directly to the paper in the darkest areas and using a blender to apply the softer shadow areas. Graphite was used where I wanted to pull the subject forward...as in the reflective bend in the handles and some in the reflective 'bowl' of the spoon.

The drawing "The Fork and Spoon Club" is on cream toned fine art paper, and presented in a double mat. It is also offered as a Limited Edition Print...check my Portfolio for availability of the Original and prices.


Links:
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques
"The Fork and Spoon Club"...learn more Read More