Pencil drawing on paper
It took me less than 15 minutes to make a drawing on the paper. For me the pencil marks are the ‘bones’ on which to lay the ink on. I didn’t want to make a drawing using the ink with no guide as I think it would be a big failure. My tutor would now tell me my next mugshot portrait should be made with the ink going straight onto the paper! Fifteen minutes is good for me because as I’ve said before I normally spend a long time drawing an image. I felt a bit tense when making this drawing because I was clock watching. I had allowed myself an hour at the most to complete the portrait but finished in 50 minutes. I’m putting these time restriction on myself to keep the portraits fluid.
Vera Crichton mugshot on paper in ink and chalk
I think the way I was feeling does reflect in the marks on the paper. This has made me think that a portrait is not only a reflection of the sitter but also the artist. These portraits are about looking deep inside these woman to reveal their hidden emotions, their vulnerability, their anger and pain. I don’t want this work to be comfortable viewing. When I’ve made several portraits I could book the white space at university and display them altogether to photograph or film to see how the drawings work as a group.
