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AthenaTT — Simon Sees
Published: 2006-02-09 08:27:28 +0000 UTC; Views: 14130; Favourites: 484; Downloads: 797
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EDIT: 3/26/06 Drawing is now in the private collection of =darthmarlan .---------------
I couldn't sleep. (What's new.) So I asked one of my favorite DA photographers, =darthmarlan , if I could sketch his self portrait "Observed" (it's one of my favorites of his many wonderful photographs). Check it out: [link]
Happily, he said I could, and here is the resulting sketch.
Thank you, Simon; I love this pic. It was so very fun to draw.
2 hours, graphite.
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Comments: 369
Only TWO hours??!? incredible my ass!!!this draw is like a photo lol!!!!i'm impressioned i want to draw fast like you!!!!i m so long lol
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It looks amazing. I've never really worked with mechanical pencils before. (Usually Derwent) Is there a specific kind you use? I'd like to try them. And do you purchase them online?
And I love the reply you gave to Dale. It was very inspiring.
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I have so many different ones; the kind of pencil isn't important to me as much as the size of lead; I only use 0.5 mm lead. You can buy them anywhere, epecially at stores that sell stationery stuff, or school supplies, or of course you can buy them at art stores.
And I am so glad you found a little inspiration in that "don't pay attention to art teachers" remark; it's so discouraging to hear people say as if it were biblical fact "you can't do this or you should do that because my Art Teacher said so." For pete's sake. They're just a human with an opinion. There's really no right or wrong in how anyone does anything when it comes to art, and if there are any rules, you should be encouraged by an art teacher to try to break them, if anything! That's what sets "brilliant" artists apart from the mundane everyday artists; they're rule breakers!! ^____^ So go out there and defy some art teacher, you'll be a better artist for it. *grin*
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Athena, you have a problem... you are too good! Two hours for this photograpic realism? I am not able to discern the difference between the ref photo and your drawing -save the texture in the background!
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LOL you're so sweet. It was easy to do fast because A) it was fun and 2) there's not much to it!!
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OH MY GOSH I LOOK AT THE PHOTO AND IT WAS SOO GOOD I HAD TO FAVE IT AGAIN AND SOO GOOD THAT I AM SCREAMING IN CAPSLOCK AND IT IS SOO GOOD THAT I HAD TO S P A C E O U T M Y L E T T E R S T O T E L L Y O U H O W I F E L T A B O U T I T !
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THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! YOU ROCK!!! ^_______________^ LOL
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A W E S O M E N E S S that is soo good it looks like a black and white photo!
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sheesh. how come something like THIS never sees the light on the front page??
excellant reference! excellant EXECUTION! you have napoleonic skillz athe!!! heh.
i lurrrrrrrrrrrve it!!
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2 hours huh? Man o man do you have me beat with the turn-around time. I'm so friggin slow. 
Oh, and another thing I've always noticed but forgot to mention for some unknown reason, I really like your signature. 
Ooops, I made this comment about me instead o you. How selfish! Sorry! 
Good job again!
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Everything in this sketch was drawn with mechanical pencils filled with B, 2B, 2H, and F lead. As is most of my art. ^__^
As for the siggy... well, I have to sign my name a LOT. Many times a day every day. Have for years. It's gotten to where it looks like a messy unreadable movie star sketch (you know, cuz they have to sign their name so much). As for if you should sign your work or not... sigh. That sigh was over art teacher. Oh, how I hate them so. There is truth in the old addage, "those who can't do...teach".
Most art teachers are so full of themselves, and are so prideful about having their students do things their way that I believe they actually end up warping and stiffling minds that should be set free in this very open field (the field of art). I was very lucky and my first art teacher was about 70 and was quite the hippie. He believed each person was unique and the art that flowed from them was just that. Art. He felt the only thing that could really help anyone grow as an artist was studying the works of other artists, getting a basic grasp on perspectives and proportions (which then you could later tweak to bejeus - think Picasso and Escher) and above all, the only thing that really made a good artist was lots of experimentation and practice, practice, practice.
The first day of class he told us this pithy advice: "Don't ever take anything an art teacher tells you as absolute fact." He said many art teachers love to dish out crap like "if you do this, it's not right, you must ONLY do it this way" yada yada yada. Opinions are like anuses; all art teachers have them, and they all usually stink. "Real artists don't draw from photos." "Real artists don't draw celebrities." "Real artists don't sign the front of their work." REALLY? then why do all the Masters have their big ol' names sprawled across the front of their paintings? Why is it that paintings are far more valuable if the art is signed on the front where you can see the name??? *snort* That teacher needs to watch Antique Roadshow once or twice to see the difference in value between a painting signed on the back and one signed on the front...or, god forbid, one not signed at all (practically valueless).
Art is completely subjective. Do what YOU want, do what feels good to YOU. If you want to sign the front, do it. If not, great. There is no right or wrong with anything in art, it's all good, and it's all in the eye of the beholder. For as many people who have told me they love the "photorealistic" quality of my work, there's just as many who have said I shouldn't draw like a photo, that my work is "trite" and "kitsch" and "blandly and cheaply commercial" or, even more funny, that it's not "realistic enough". LOL I ignore them all and do what I want. So should you. Do you want to try a more realistic style, just to see? Then go for it. Wanna get a more anime look to your artworks? Do it.
Besides the first thing he told me, I always keep in mind the last thing that old art teacher said to me on the last day of his class when I was fretting about my future in art, and all the "rights and wrongs" I thought there were. He said, "Hey, just enjoy your gift. There's no right or wrong in art... but there is in brain surgery. So be glad you're not a brain surgeon, and go have fun. And for god's sake... RELAX." ^__~
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=darthmarlan is responsible for the comp, didn't he do a great job with that photo?
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2 hours?! You're a speedy little thing! Love the eyes!
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very nice! it looks like a photo itself!
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Thank you! you're such a fantastic artist, I am honored by kudos from someone as talented as yourself
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It was a great pic! Thanks my friend
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I cannot draw like that. Not with pencil. Not that clean. Hence why I stick to pen. Coz my hand always fucking smudges everything. Amazing detail on the eyes and lashes. Reminds me of *nykolai , actually. Awesome work with the brow lines too. And negative space. You're indeed one I am in awe with. Excellent work.
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Awww Thank you! Is that what Nykolai looks like? Wow, he's a cutie too then! Thank you again for all your encouraging words.
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I don't... really know if this is what he looks like. But this piece reminds me of a piece of his that he's taken down. If you want I can email it to you :]
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Oh, I see! Sure, yes please, email away ^__^
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Wow 
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Thanks! What a great compliment
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it's so well done! just a perfect job!
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you not only have a big and cool talent at drawing, you also have a very photographic kind of seeing things 
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Is it just me... or are you actually getting better? That's illogical. :]
I hope you sleep better!
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LOL I'm not getting better. Yet. But I will
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i really like how this picture looks. first of all, it's an interesting picture. second, your drawing of it is really good. thanks for looking at my photos!
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really cool pic.. i wish i could produce something this good when i just cant sleep..........cow
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Bravo!!! Excellent work!!!
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Beautiful. Excellent work, I especially like the composition, partials have always appealed to me. Nice.
BTW, my coffee poster that you liked is now available as a print.
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Thank you! I can't take credit for the composition, that's all =darthmarlan . ^__^ WHOOO HOOO PRINTS That's great!!!
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Awesome beautiful work, interesting framing, very uncommon in portraits, great work
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Thank you! I can't take credit for the composition, I just copied the photo. Thanks for looking and commenting
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yes well it was a good choice.
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