Friday 18 September 2009

KaQin in a Car (by Alex)

(Click to Zoom)
(Outline stage)
(Light shading stage)
(Hair detailing stage)
Moleskine Sketchbook(5"x8")

Here's a drawing of my baby niece whom I absolutely adore. We are not that close because I am working in Germany, and she's in Malaysia, and I've only seen her twice in 2 years for no more than 4 weeks in total. She's 18 months old now, and growing up real fast. I am not sure when is the next time I'll be seeing her again, but I know that it won't be soon.
This is the first time I am drawing my family member, and I've got this pressure all the time telling me that I won't be able to do it well enough to their approval(and I still have that). But I really hope that they'll like it. And I'd like to tell everyone here that I love my family, I love my nephews and my niece, and I miss them a lot, and I am sorry that I've been away.

24 comments:

  1. Oh my what a cutie. Little people are so hard to draw but you've really nailed it. Excellence!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahhh... She's just beautiful as can be!!! I love those doe eyes!! I'm a mom, so I'm telling you, if this was given to me I would bawl...(with happiness) so she will treasure it always!

    I'm sorry you are so far away from your family it's got to be hard....

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a precious little face! I love those big eyes and that whispy hair gathered in the barrett. They are going to love this adorable portrait!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Alex.

    What a beautiful child!
    Your drawing is very expressive.
    I especially like the eyes
    and the shading.

    Surely your family will
    treasure this drawing.

    I also know how difficult it is
    to be so far away from a loved one.
    My 10 month old granddaughter
    lives in Israel.

    All the Best

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, she is so sweet! Perhaps you will see her sooner than you expect to - I hope so. They grow up so quickly. I do like to see the stages your drawings go through and much admire the end results.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful sweet picture. It shows how much you love your nieces and nephews. I feel the same way about mine and I only see them once every few years and each time I do I am amazed at how much they have grown.
    Thanks for sharing your beautiful work.
    Kelly

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alex, I am absolutely blown away by this portrait. Her eyes seem to really capture your soul, and her hair is very realistic.

    You shouldn't feel pressured at all--- your work and thought you put into it is clearly conveyed.

    My favorite work.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Alex, you've done an excellent drawing of a beautiful child. I agree with Gary - children are hard to capture for me because their faces are so smooth with fewer shadows. I would cry too, if someone gave me such a beautiful drawing of one of my children or my grandchild! Well done, my friend. nancy

    ReplyDelete
  9. Alex, this is a wonderful portrait. The hair, the way you captured her expression, her eyes, so expressive and the details of the car dashboard and I really enjoy the WIP. I hope your family sees this, they will want the original for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really liked the result. Specially knowing how kids never stop, you must have a great memory to finish it so well later.

    Congratullations!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh Alex...she is the most darling thing! Her parents are going to be so thrilled to receive this as a gift of love from her uncle! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ditto, ditto, ditto on all the comments about it being nearly impossible to draw youngsters. This is just beautiful - you've captured her innocent interest, I think. As a parent I would treasure this drawing too. And, by the way, you are truly a citizen of the world, aren't you? In every post you mention a different country!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Alex, your portrait is Love in Action. In your composition you've captured the natural, the everyday with her personality - her arm hidden by what I suspect is a treasured toy or blanket ending with her hand (outstanding). I'm sure you email, share photos, speak on the phone regularly and consistently (because it is another thing to hear a voice). While not the same as Being There, if these are the best memories you can make right now, I'm certain you are too aware and sensitive not to make them consistently. I often wonder about times past when communication took weeks, or even months...if they ever arrived at all. How terribly difficult to send a loved one away not knowing, or expecting to know, their fate. How fortunate we are today. Well done on so many levels. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. OH... a bunny... I just enlarged the photo. Lovely & subtle!

    ReplyDelete
  15. so cute! i like the details in the background. tried myself on pencil drawing yesterday but it´s so horrible difficult.
    so thumbs up for your beautiful work!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Everyone has nailed what I would say in their comments, most definitely her parents will treasure this! And you know I love drawing the inside of cars!

    I lived in Boise, ID for eight years, a long, long way from my family. It was difficult at times. You miss them so much!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Alex.. This is such a beautiful portrait..amazing! I love the expression that you have captured in her eyes..and the lovely details in the background! Very very very beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh well done- she is very cute :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Now I KNOW I posted a comment about your wonderful drawing a day or two ago. I can't see it now. But I remember what I said. This drawing is just so full of charm and shows the softness and innocence of a young sweet girl. Just beautiful, Alex. Your work is always wonderful. This girl is just adorable and your drawing is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  20. it is very common to feel pressurised when you do the portrait for someone close to you ;p. But you have done it very beautifully. Her eyes are very nice, sweet and innocent. you have captured the light very well... which i have always wished i could master.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I can tell you love your family by the way you drew your niece. She's adorable, and you captured her child-like quality - not easy to do. I'm very impressed.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Drawn with love (and talent)- it shows. You have a great gift. As you niece grows, she will remember and love you more and more. It is not always the amount of time, but the love that she will remember.

    ReplyDelete
  23. She's adorable :) She'll know you're there because she can see how you care about her that you draw for her so often...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow! I agree with your commenters! What a beautiful gift you have to capture your subjects likeness in your artwork!

    What a beautiful gift for her parents and your niece. ...and extra special since it was created by you, her uncle :o)

    Blessings & Aloha!

    ReplyDelete