Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

"Amira", 2 inches x 2 inches, pencil on polymin
(note:  polymin and ivorine are both synthetic substitutes for ivory, a popular surface used most often by miniaturists in the past)

(enlargement for detail)

This miniature pencil portrait of Amira is done for my friends Danielle and Max for how they once allowed an upright piano to pass through their window!  To see more of my large portraits in progress, such as the one below, click here.  Happy Mother's Day to Danielle, to my Mom, and to all mothers out there.

"The 'Mary' in Terry" 25 1/2" x 19 1/2", pastel portrait (in progress)




9 comments:

Vern Schwarz said...

Amira is brilliant Mona, and I love how you are progressing with Mary in Terry. Are you left handed by the way? I noticed that you are working right to left on this.

L.Holm said...

beautiful drawing on the miniature. Do you have to seal the graphite somehow when it's done, or does it not rub? Terry is glowing.

Mona Diane Conner said...

Thanks Vern and Liz.

To answer your questions, yes, I am a lefty. This was my first time trying pencil on polymin. It doesn't rub off easily, so I don't see a particular need for a seal, and it would go under glass in a frame anyway.

Unknown said...

You're little sketch is amazing! I love the way you have Terry literally glowing!

Mona Diane Conner said...

Thanks Sheila!

Debra Keirce said...

The thing I love about your work, is how you use such smooth substrates, your pieces all look so "fluid" if that makes sense. Amira is amazing, and Terry is probably amazed at how beautiful you are painting her!

Mona Diane Conner said...

Thank you Deb. I have found that being willing to experiment a bit with my surfaces has made the fluidity much easier, and glad to know it is coming across this way.

While working on Amira's portrait I also found an old Stabilo pencil in my art supplies I had not used for years that says on it's side it is for "paper, glass, plastic, metal", and it is different from a normal pencil in that it makes a very dark 'dark' for graphite. This worked out well on Amira's hair and pupils of the eyes.

artbyakiko said...

What a beautiful potrait! Amira is very cute. I love how you did her hair.
I have a white Stabilo pencil for my colored pencil works although I have not used it yet. Didn't know about the black one. Your blog is full of useful information! :-)

Karen Bruson said...

Mona, Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. I am so glad you did because now I will visit yours. What a great painter you are! Wow, it is obvious that you really know how to draw, too. I will be back for more.