Orange E

Orange E   charcoal/watercolor   13.5 x 11

is our wonderful 7-year-old grandson, whose snaggle-tooth grin could not be ignored.  This drawing is, and was intended to be soft.  It is rendered in charcoal on Rives BFK, a highly-rated paper, usually used for printmaking.  It's soft surface and weight was perfect for this project.  At the end, I decided to use watercolor for his sweatshirt, as E.'s favorite color is orange, which he frequently wears.

In terms of photo references, I will admit that the lighting was not perfect, as the photo was taken during a Facetime chat...an amazing process, that I could never have dreamed to be possible.  We take what we can get these days.  Of course, for a dramatic rendering, where shadows and lights create a more interesting patterning on the face, a studio set-up with lighting and a more considered picture-taking process would have possible. 

I believe that, in this case, the softer presentation of everyday lighting worked out well.

And....btw....those baby-teeth-hangers-on have now been replaced with some emerging larger pearly-whites.  I love this age.  Enthusiasm.  A lightness of spirit.  Hope.