Black and Whites

This is a collection of some of my favorite black and white pieces I’ve done. I have done pencil, pen, and charcoal. Even some digital/digitized pictures. Most of my pictures are done without color, because I usually just have a notebook and pencil with me. Because I don’t have to focus on anything else, the image usually turns out really well and detailed.

Q: How long have I been drawing?

A: I have been drawing pretty much since I could hold a pencil. I remember sitting in church with a little spiral bound notebook, trying to draw my horses. I spent a lot of time as a kid drawing, I had to spend a lot of time sitting still or waiting in doctors’ offices, I couldn’t carry a lot around and my family didn’t have a lot of electronics. I discovered I had a bit of a knack for it, so I kept doing it. Now I like to draw before bed to relax. 

Q: What is my favorite thing to draw?

A: Over the years what I like to draw has changed. When I was little, I liked drawing things around the farm. Particularly my favorite animal, horses. I also drew my dog a lot. Over the years my focus has shifted more to people. I love the wide flexibility range for faces. Every piece can be so unique, but still realistic. 

Q: What is my favorite medium to use?

A: If I am casually drawing, I like using digital or pencil drawings. If I am working on a detailed color piece, I love colored pencils. It also depends on the subject. I really like painting when I make landscapes. I don’t use oil a lot because it takes so long to dry.

Q: What supplies do I use?

A: Although good art tools are important to professional artists, enough skill can make do with cheap things. Because I am a poor college student, I tend to take the middle road. I splurge on my favorite/most used mediums. For example, colored pencils are one of my favorite things to use. So, I like to use prismacolor pencils, they are a very good, credible brand. I get my paints from Hobby Lobby, and most often use the brand Master’s Touch for paint and brushes. They are good quality, but not too expensive. Supplies are one of the reasons I’m starting to love digital art. After buying the iPad and Apple pencil, it costs nothing. 

Q: What is the hardest thing to draw?

A: It varies artist to artist. For me, people, which is also one of my favorite things to draw, is also the hardest. Making poses and limbs look natural and not stiff is very difficult. I would also say it is hard to draw faces and bodies in unconventional poses/angles. We aren’t used to see them that way so it can be hard to visualize it.

Q: How much do commissions cost?

A: Obviously it varies depending on the size and complexity. Rather than doing hourly, I have decided to base it off of size, material, and complexity. For example, a simple to medium 14inX16in acrylic painting would be around $100. Oil painting of the same size and complexity would be close to $150 because oil is much more expensive and harder to work with. Colored pencils on an 8.5inX11in would be around $50-$75 depending on what it is. Black and white pieces are under $50 unless it is exceptionally big.