Head of a Woman in Conte & Charcoal - Art by Sarah Myers

Head of a Woman, Sarah Myers
Conte, charcoal on toned paper

    Having finished this sketch this morning I thought I would post it here - the drawing of a face with luminous highlights pouring over rounded forehead and cheeks and leaving a spark in the iris of each eye, while outlining layers of curls and beaded ribbon above. The forward tilt of the head leaves the woman's neck in shadow; lower down the light falls very simply.

The hairstyle is a fantastical one inspired by the Italian painter Fra Filippo Lippi, but the portrait itself tends more toward the tradition of eighteenth century drawings and the mediums used are similar; conte in white, red and brown; charcoal, and toned paper of a light brown.

Head of a Woman, detail.  Sarah Myers

Dancer with Scarf - Sketch by Sarah Myers

Dancer with a Scarf, Sarah Myers
Charcoal, white charcoal, red conte and pencil on brown paper

    Here is a dancer with a scarf. The folds of her robe and the folds of her scarf ripple across the air in hurried curves as she sways to unheard music.

    This sketch was inspired by Renaissance or Mannerist art which shows dancers holding scarves or ribbons – images that were in their turn inspired by late Roman art. My vision grew more modern as I drew, lines scattering over the paper to portray the quick movement of body, cloth and expression.  

Two Faces on Dark Paper - Drawings by Sarah Myers

Face and Doorway, Sarah Myers

     Creating drawings of this type is very intriguing, as the basic technique is almost opposite that of a usual sketch. Here, the ground of the paper must be used as the shadow, rather than the highlight. It is the density and strength of the pencil that determines the brightness of the glow. Because I have purposefully left the white charcoal unblurred and unblended, you may see in the details the myriad of tiny lines that form the face's shapes and expressions.  

Head in White Charcoal, Sarah Myers

Face and Doorway, Sarah Myers
Detail

Head in White Charcoal, Sarah Myers
Detail

Rabbit - Art by Sarah Myers

Rabbit, Sarah Myers
Charcoal and Conte

Some mornings back this small rabbit appeared near my window, eagerly nibbling stems of tumbleweed. From a snapshot I took, this charcoal drawing was drafted later in the evening – a picture larger than the young animal it was created from. Natural black charcoal, white conte on grayscale paper, it was a gift for my Mother's birthday.

Rabbit, Detail.  Sarah Myers

Woman's head, sketch in charcoal - Art by Sarah Myers

Woman's Head, Sketch.  Sarah Myers

A sketch in charcoal and white conte on toned paper.  I have used a technique here atypical of my recent work - in this drawing I have rubbed the charcoal across the surfaces to create a softer and more diffuse shading on cheeks, neck and forehead.

Woman's Head, Sketch.  Sarah Myers.  Detail.

Face - Drawing by Sarah Myers

Face in Near-profile, Sarah Myers
Charcoal, conte, pencil, cut paper

    This is a drawing in charcoal, conte, and pencil; after the sketch was finished on light brown paper, the face was cut from the original sheet and backed with white bristol, projecting a sculptural effect.

Face, detail
Sarah Myers

Hands Drawing Leaves - Art by Sarah Myers

Study of Hands Drawing Leaves, Sarah Myers

Charcoal and white conte define these hands against the grey paper. Is the right hand sketching a stem and leaves held by the left?

Hands Drawing Leaves, Sarah Myers, detail

Simple Profile, Drawing by Sarah Myers

Simple Profile, Sarah Myers

     This large profile is in charcoal and conte on grayscale paper. Shading and highlights I have worked with a light hand. The piece is simple - the head of a woman turned almost to full profile (not absolute - there is still a glimpse of the far eyelid and lashes, and brow and chin are softened imperceptibly in angle). Her glance is downward and to the side away from us, but there is still a hint that we, the viewers, are present in her world.

Simple Profile, Sarah Myers, detail

Simple Profile, detail

Water-bearer in Charcoal and Conte, Sarah Myers

Water-bearer, Sarah Myers
Charcoal and Conte on grayscale paper

This drawing of a woman carrying an ornate water pitcher and a flask of perfume is related to a sculpture recently completed in clay.

Water-bearer, detail

Water-bearer, detail, Sarah Myers

Plenty - Drawing in Charcoal and White Conte

Plenty
Sarah Myers, charcoal and white conte on grayscale paper

Allegorical portait, "Plenty", with wheat, grapes, loaves of bread and vine-leaves.  This drawing is in charcoal and white conte on medium grayscale paper.

Plenty, detail

Plenty
Detail, basket

Inspiration, Drawing in White Conte

Inspiration
Sarah Myers, white conte on near-black grayscale paper

In white conte touched with charcoal - Inspiration and a harp...

Inspiration, detail
Sarah Myers

Face of Peace - Charcoal Drawing

The Face of Peace
Sarah Myers, Charcoal and Conte on Grayscale Paper

Olive branches, a dove with outspread wings, and the face of Peace.

Face of Peace, detail
Sarah Myers, charcoal on paper

Drawing, Ocean Figure

Drawing for the Margin of an Antique Map    S. Myers, Charcoal and Conte on Cardboard

   This quick charcoal-and-conte drawing was constructed from three or four studies used for my much larger painting - my new one, which I will introduce in a future post
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   Brown, aged paper is very good for showing conte well - my stash having disappeared temporarily, I requisitioned the top of a strong packing box before inspiration disappeared in the same way as the paper.