Rick Corbett Art

#wip #graphite #realism #prismacolorturqoisepencils

My artwork, “Momma’s Pride” 9x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Smooth paper, “Jazmyn” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper, and “Let Me Take a Selfie” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper will be on display at the Reading Art Association’s Annual Fall Art Exhibit on November 7th & 8th at the First Congregational Church of Reading.

Show opens at 7:30pm and runs from 7:30pm - 9:30pm on Friday (award ceremony is at 8:30pm)

Here is an update on my self portrait drawing, “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on @strathmoreart 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

I’m working on my pinky finger, building tone and texture using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils with Pentel 4H, 2H, H, F, HB, 2B, and 4B hi-polymer graphite.

Here is an update on my self portrait drawing, “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

Here is an update on my self portrait “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on @strathmoreart 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

I started to work on my ring finger. I am using @pentelofamerica P205 mechanical pencils with 4H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, and 4B Ho-Polymer graphite also by @pentelofamerica

I always start by laying down a light layer of graphite using 4H graphite with light hand pressure. I like to fully exhaust the tone before moving up to the next graphite grade. This helps me to slowly fill in the tooth of the paper without damaging it too much. I also added a bit of the shadow in between my fingers. This will help me to create and adjust the contrast on my finger.

Here is another update on my self portrait, “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on @strathmoreart 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

I worked a little bit on my self portrait drawing, “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

As I continue to work on this, the demons from my past continue to haunt me. The voices in my head trying to convince me how much of a failure I am. I am fighting the urge to tear this up as I wonder if I’m good enough. As I try to find out who I am. Every mark I make is a stepping stone along my journey. As hard as this portrait is for me, I feel compelled to finish it. I am not a man of many words, I try to let my pencil be my voice. This drawing deserves to be finished, the man in this drawing deserves to heal. As I slowly make progress, I feel it is helping to do just that…heal.

Here an update on my latest self portrait drawing, “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on @strathmoreart Bristol Smooth paper.

Here is a very small update on my latest drawing, a self portrait I’m calling “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on @strathmoreart 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

I’m working on building up the tones and texture of skin on my hand. I have my index finger just about finished and now I’m moving up on my pinky finger.

This is a personal and difficult portrait for me to do but I feel it’s something I need to go through as I struggle and fight my own personal battle with mental illness. Sometimes I just want to give up while other times I just want to fight - this portrait portrays both sides.

Here is an update on my latest drawing I’m working on, it’s a self portrait I’m calling “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on @strathmoreart 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

I worked a bit on my Index Finger which was fun, I am really trying to focus on the texture of the skin. Trying to follow the contours and the way light and shadow play together to create shape.

For pencils, I used @pentelofamerica P205 mechanical pencils with Pentel 4H, 2H, F, HB, and 2B Hi-Polymer graphite. I don’t use any blending tools. I layer my graphite by making tiny overlapping circular motions with my pencils, starting with a light layer using 4H graphite and light hand pressure. To get a smooth blend, I slowly exhaust the layer before moving up to the next grade of graphite and slowly start to increase my hand pressure at the same time. For me, I find this works best as I feel I have more control. More to come soon!

Working on building tone and texture. Here is a small update on my drawing, “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol smooth paper.

I’m building tone by layering 6H graphite initially then slowly building up the contrast my making tiny overlapping circular motions with my pencils and vary my hand pressure slightly.

I draw negatively by using a kneaded eraser and a mono zero eraser to “draw” and create highlights. More to come soon!

As an artist, you will periods in your work that you feel is just not coming out right, it doesn’t good. Don’t worry about, this is what is called the “ugly stage” - it’s temporary. As I’m drawing, I constantly say to myself “ugh, this is crap and ugly” making me just want to tear it up and give up.

Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper.

I worked a little bit on my index finger by adding a little more tone on the tip. I used a 6H pencil first to lay down a light layer of graphite. Then I kept building the tone by making tiny overlapping circular motions with my pencil using 6H, 4H, 2H, F, and HB so the tone would slowly go darker. I then used an HB, 2B, and 4B for the shadow around my middle finger. I’m still adjusting the tone. I believe in layering until it looks good.

Here is a small update on my self portrait drawing, “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.