I found this drawing in an old 5″ x 3″ red stripe covered note pad whilst clearing out my studio of clutter. I well remember doing this as I had borrowed a old “B” drawing pencil from my Mother’s office and sketched my cousin on her birthday.
Not forgotten
I had almost forgotten I actually still had this and it is so poignant as this is the only image of Anne. I always remember her serene and still quality, so noticeable when I drew her that day. We’ve been unable to find any photographs in the family of her and it still makes me so sad that she died so young and just a few weeks after my little sketched portrait. She had a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy which led to complications. I know only too well the anguish of life being a sufferer of both Dystrophy and Motor Neuron, though I still manage to express my art – so quite an emotional trip for me here. I had posted this on another web site “Pencil and Line”, but had to close it down as being unable to continue it as I wanted. But that’s another story.
What a treasure trove this little memo pad turned out to be as I found about a dozen or so more old pencil drawings I did and simple as they are, I have to admit to being modestly impressed by the talent I showed even then (I’m biased of course!). But I have always loved pencil drawing and not just because equipment wise it simply requires a pencil and piece of paper, but because it is so immediate – a quick hand sketch at, and of, the time and can never be repeated, certainly as portraits go. It’s drawn in maybe no more than a minute or two – and it’s done.
Funny how in painting you can end up titivating and tinkering away on the thing sometimes for days or weeks even and yet with a pencil drawing – look up, draw, check again, more quick lines and shading and – done!
And doesn’t pencil last so well! Apart from the spotting in the paper, the drawing itself is just about as fresh as it was on the day I sketched it. That’s probably why diaries survive so well and in so many ways they portray the same as the sketch – immediate and at the time and of the time.
This is a lovely drawing. You were showing great talent as a young artist. As much as I like to look through old sketchbooks and photos, sometimes it is hard to do so. It opens a portal to bittersweet memories. And yes, there is an immediacy to drawing that doesn’t always work with painting…maybe it’s all that time waiting for paint to dry!
Many thanks for your comment – appreciated. And yes – memories – they can pull you in and can makes it hard to move on.