Uncle Bill and Aunt Nellie

[Toni]

This is my husbands favorite Uncle and Aunt. Uncle Bill passed away a year or so ago, Aunt Nellie is still with us. This is a surprise for his favorite cousin - one of their sons. Deen is the only Cousin who didn't come to our wedding, but has been a constant part of our life ever since. LOL. Yes, I tell him that all the time!

The refrence photo really sucks, because it was smuggled to me. LOL. Beggars can't be choosers. Even enlarged and manipulated it sucks. Because it's a portrait I'm not going to make up what isn't there. The detail that is here is it. Is there a likeness? Yes. More so because of the life and love these two shared for so many years than the exact number of wrinkles on their faces. I'm happy with Bill for now, Nellie still has some facial problems I'll work on after the BG is in.

Uncle Bill was born and raised in Arkansas, as you can see, you can take the man off the farm , but you can't take the farm out of the man. Always wore overalls, and a crooked hat. His passion was growing tomatoes, and gardening in general but his tomatoes were his pride and joy. I've decided to add tomato vines to the background for this reason.

11x14 vellum Bristol
prismacolor pencils

here's the refrence photo

[Toni]

So here is the WIP, as it stands now. I've just gotten back to work on it.

TJ

[Arlene]

Toni, I can't wait to see this finished.

[Gemma]

He Toni,

This is going to be fantastic, I just love it so far!:clap: :clap:

Gemma

[Bill C]

Yeah, we're waitin on an update! :devil2:

[Toni]

Ok ok ok..

finally and update! There really is a little more on the bottom that what I scanned. I got lazy.

TJ

[Bill C]

Looking great TJ! I love the colors you've added to that "blue" denim!
Watchin and waitin! :D

[Meisie]

The sepia with just a touch of colour is great Toni :clap:

Meisie

[CPSr4Me!]

This is outstanding, Toni! I love your work! :clap: :clap:

:bye1: Sandy

[Genine]

TJ, it's amazing to me that you can pull all that detail from this reference picture. You're right, it sucks but your rendition is wonderful and alive with feeling.

Thanks for posting this.

[Arlene]

I'm waiting! and not too patiently!!!:crash: :judge:

[Toni]

Good Morning all!

update time..

Thanks Bill and Sandy!

hey Meisie! thank you. Is the effect still working?

Thank you so much Genine. It means its working!!! Yay.

Arlene...yeah yeah yeah whatever......... :p :D Don't you know patience is a virtue? LOL. :D



I'm still layering in my values, and sticking to a very limited palette. I've taken and lifted her chin again, working on that area so don't pick on it. LOL. Still tweaking facial features - this is more about "feeling" like them than being an "exact" portrait.

Any questions just ask, or if anyone wants to see a closeup just lemme know where... hehe yes meisie, I mean you too.

TJ

[Bill C]

Lookin great TJ! CPSA is just around the corner :bangin:

[Arlene]

Keep working! patience? what's that?:confused:

[larsnip]

Man!- You are becoming the Master of Soft Realism! I am in Awe.

So when is that deadline? ;)

Dave

[Meisie]

Less is soooooo much more!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Meisie

[Toni]

Yes, Cpsa is closer than around the corner.. thanks for the reminder bill! :p

hahahah arlene...


Shucks Dave! I'm tryin.. deadline for the postmark is March 31. Got one to enter?

Meisie.. thanks! Then it's working? Yay!

thanks for lookin everyone - off to get some more layers in.

TJ

[Toni]

A quick update..... keeps me honest lol

TJ

[Arlene]

wonderful so far...what will be happening behind their heads?

[celia]

Hey TJ............ Bill and Nellie are looking wonderful these days........... I'm in awe of the soft, yet realistic look of the limited palette......... you've dun good, Girl........... I just got home......... daughter's okay, I turned into a mess......... blood pressure went off the charts....... I saw the Dr yesterday and am being treated to bring it down....... planning on being there on Wednesday.......... it's sooooooooo nice to be back home.........

celia

[ArtWench]

This is gorgeous! You can really see the wonderful personalities of these two sweet individuals.

[sultry]

Hi Toni all I can say is wow this has such sentimental appeal to it besides being so beautiful.

[Gemma]

Oh Toni,,,, this is incredible!! Ok,,, your drawing close to the finish line,,, you go girl! Will you be able to get it photo'ed in time? Geez, I hope so I just love this.
Gemma

[marilyn h]

I must have been sleeping when this one was posted.

I am so fond of your style and love this piece so very much. You have so much life in your drawings. Your talent with people is such a gift.

I am so happy to have an association with your work and you. I have learned so much. Just watching your work in progress is an honor. Thank you.

Marilyn h

[Shelleya]

I love you use of colour - the soft limited palette makes it feel very sweet and nostalgic

[one who sees]

beautiful.......as i was looking at each update the first thing that struck me was..each piece stood on its own as a finished portrait.....
i know we all strive for realism in varying degrees....but sometimes it doesnt always have to be taken to the inth level of photorealism to be extrordinarily beautiful.....
you use a wonderful muted palette....very pleasing to the eye!...beautiful portrait

[Toni]

Thank you everyone for the comments.

I've got some updates that I scanned while ST was down, but no time to post them this morning. I promise I will soon though.

hahaha arlene.... i wanted to say "white paper of course!!! :confused: " but you know better now. LOL :p

thanks celia... see you soon

angela, sultry, shelleya, thank you. i'm glad those things come thru for you to see.

hey Gemma, thank you. all done, pick up slides today - then off to the post office :rolleyes: , nuttin like pushin it to the limit?


Awww marilyn! Did I forget to put yer check in the mail? LOL. You and I have been sharing for quite a while huh? Wow...at that other site before that other site!!!! :eek: I think we've both grown quite a bit since then!

thank you OWS, this is certainly and experiment in progress. Not only in the palette choice and the mood, but the effect of an intimate portrait without all the details. To make it appear simple and realistic, yet it isn't really!

Promise to post the last updates soon.

TJ

[Dee]

Anxious to see the update.

As others have said...it's looks wonderful already. :)

[Meisie]

Eagerly waiting for the updates....tapping foot on floor....;)

I love suggested realism (but I love tromp l'oueil(sp!?) too!!!) looking at pictures of Michelangelo's sculptures, I'm totally impressed by his polished pieces, but find myself enjoying looking at those unfisnished ones, they have promise and an energy about them...they are still happening. Everytime you look at them, you finish them yourself. That is why I like this kind of 'less is more'.....

Meisie

[lene]

Hi Toni
what a faboulous gift :) It is so beautiful and filled with story and mood :clap:

[one who sees]

a'yup sometimes i think it takes much more work...trying to keep some details out.....than putting everything in!..but really is coming out beautifully....sensitive...cant wait for those updates! :D

[Toni]

well here is one of em..... the last one isn't scanned yet.

Meisie LOL Patience child patience!! I love those types of images too! This one has moved beyond that, but that was always my intention with the form itself. The color is another matter, sort of an odd concept.. but I think it's working here.

thank you lene!

Ows... you too.

TJ

[ArtWench]

Toni, it is gorgeous! Just gorgeous!

[Genine]

Beautiful layering of colors and values!

Very subtle. Look at that background...wow! Really demonstrates how not duplicating every detail can make the picture once your technique is down and your values are right.

:clap:

[Arlene]

one thing bothering me...the tomato by her shoulder...it's too bright.

so where's the last scan? huh? huh?

[Brenda]

This is so unique! I really, really like it. Toni, your skills are to sigh for... (I would have said "die for" but if I'm dead, I can't draw anymore!)

This is going to be a wonderful blessing to your husband's cousin. (That's right relative, isn't it?) Anyway, I just know they will treasure it for many, many years!

[Meisie]

:rolleyes:

:D

Know what I see? I see that they are past their prime (those fallen leaves at their feet) yet they have lots to offer...a bounty, for those who care to share it (the tomatoes) I know this was not why the tomatoes were included...but that is how it 'spoke' to me today....
yes I know....she's over the hill now....even hear voices in paintings? :blushing:

Just beautiful Toni! :clap:

Meisie

[SilverFeather]

This is beautiful Toni. It seems to capture their personality or makes me feel like I know them...know what I mean?
I love your style and color palette!

:) Carol

[Gemma]

Oooohhhh Toni, I just love this. This is definitely a winner! I am so interested in the pallet you use I will be picking your poor little brain when we're in Chicago!
:drool: :dance2: :D
Gemma

[Ivy]

This reminds me so much of my own childhood, growing up in the garden at my grandparent's house... **happy reminiscent sigh**

It's absolutely beautiful TJ.

What a treasure you have captured here!

:) :) :)
Ivy

[Terry]

I hope my husband and I will look like that when we are their age. I can just picture them handing out tomatoes to everyone because they grow so many more than they can keep.

[marilyn h]

Toni! What a wonderful setting and gift. Love your tonal paintings. A master at will.

[larsnip]

:confused: somehow I missed this. Its beautiful Toni, Just Beatiful. I am a big fan of your soft style
I think you have a winner


Dave

[bmac]

Love your style! This one is beautiful too. :)

BTW, what kind of reaction did you get on your last one...I believe it was "Skwishee"? I love that one too! :)

[Toni]

Thank you thank you thank you everyone.

Beth I added the story to the skwishee thread.... http://scribbletalk.com/showthread.php?t=58&page=1&pp=15 so you can read. lol.

I found a little tweaking I needed to do on this one, before I post the final. No time to do it for a couple days though, but I will, promise.

TJ

Gemma, yer assuming I've got important stuff in there? ROFL to funny!!!

[knelson315]

This is gorgeous - so special for your aunt! Is the paper white or cream? Also, can you give us a list of the pencils you are using on this?

Great job!

[Moo]

I just cant get over the amount of detail and life that you acheive in your paintings,they are amazing.Im sure that this will be a cherished piece you have really bought these two people to life.
Moo :clap: :clap:

[Belinda]

absolutely beautiful .. i love the soft colours .... :)

[Toni]

Thank you everyone for the comments.


Lookie who finally got around to doing the final tweaks on this one..... :rolleyes:

Actually I had set it aside, not quite happy with it. Then I put it back on the easel the other day, and after quite a few more hours I'm officially calling this one finished.

I finally showed our Cousin and his wife, he was speachless and she cried. *sigh*

Now it's time to deliver it. Always sort of a bittersweet feeling, sending one of your own out into the world, never to see again lol... (ok so I'll see this one because we visit lol :rolleyes: )

Sorry about the ickky digi photo, if anyone wants a closeup of something just ask.

Now... back to "indulgence!!!!!!" :D

TJ

[larsnip]

Beautiful!!

Sometimes its like losing a child, letting our drawings go, after we have invested so much of ourselves into them

You've done a beautiful job on this, as always

when do we get to see the next one? hmmm?

Dave

[Meisie]

Good on you girl!! Nice that you'll see it again too :D

Meisie

[Brenda]

I have loved this since I first saw it many moons ago. ;)

It reminds me of my grandparents. He was famous for his "maters" and gave them away by the bushel. This is a wonderful memorial piece for a gentleman who seemed to have been a giving and kind man.

As always, Toni. You took an ordinary subject and made it shine! Beautiful...

[Angela]

I can not believe I never saw this one - I thought for sure I had gone back and checked every single thread since ST started, I guess I didn't. I definitely would have remembered this one.

This is outstanding, beautiful work. Has an almost airbrushed quality to it. Gorgeous!!

[brynmr]

This is cool Toni! I really like it. What color did you use for the foundation layer or underpainting?

[Toni]

Thanks Dave, I agree! Next one? LOL.. Did I tell you we are moving to Tucson? Between house hunting and baby sitting, I'll have to do something. I did put "Indulgence" back on the easel already, gimme time to get enough work done on it and I'll post an update. Slavedriver.

Thanks Meisie!

Thank you Brenda. Yes, he had a passion for his maters, and the rest of the garden too. Always a charachter. I hope that shows.

Thank you Angela. Then today you had a surprise! ;)

thanks Tommy. I always start with light umber.

thanks for looking

TJ

[scottb326]

Wonderful Work! I love it!
-Scott

[Orian]

Outstanding! :clap:

[brynmr]

Toni I assume some colors won't go so well with a Lt. Umber value layer (still looking for a proper name for it). I found this was the case when using French Grays as a value layer.

[larsnip]

Tucson, good for you. Ive always liked Tucson, has more character than Phoenix and its cooler too :rolleyes:
Were going to be selling also . The value of our house has risen 100K in the year that we have been there, gonna cash out and get a condo on the east side.

So your moving and babysitting, no excuse to not work! ;)

Dave

[Bill C]

wonderful! :clap: :clap: :clap:

your my hero :D

[sally]

Hi Toni!
This work is remarkable!!! You captured such a likeness of both of them...and with such a special touch...
So much TALENT and love...
Smiles..
Sally :bye1:

[artfulscribe]

This is so beautiful, Toni. So warm and touching, too...I'm sure it will be treasured.

Roxana

[Denise]

This is wonderful, Toni! Your cp portrait work is so beautiful....I'm sure this will be an instant family heirloom.

[Katydid]

toni - what a beautiful gift - not sure how i missed this!