Second sketch. I find to my distress that i can't use a pencil eraser. I can't exert enough pressure with my hand. When the mouth went wrong it was all over for this drawing. I'm going to get a typists eraser pencil and try a new tracing paper trick i've though of.
I tried an inkpen on top of a photocopy of the drawing and am quite excited by the possibilities. I also realised that if i scan it, then i can use the computer as an eraser, print it out, and carry on drawing.
Heres how far I got today. I've worked out a new method with the tracing paper. I've put registration marks in so that if i mess up i can erase it and retrace with a new sheet. I've got a putty rubber now which I can use with my miserable fingers. I've started this on watercolour paper, so that when I've drawn it and inked it I can colour it with watercolour washes. I think i'm going to do a series of these, so this is number 1.
I've drawn and inked the face and am quite pleased. I've found that if i use my left hand to steady my right, I can do small marks quite accurately. Unfortunately this doesn't work on longer lines, the edge of the face is particularily jagged. I shall finish the hair and colour it over the next few days.
Here is the first finished portrait. The writing in the hair reads, 'When I was diagnosed she said, "I will always look after you, right until the very end."' I'm quite pleased. I've worked out a technique that I can use with my crippled hands. I've decided to do a series of these, the next one will be my neurologist, Dr Martin Turner.
Here is the second portrait in progress. Martin is my neurologist, a brilliant research scientist and a really lovely man. As he is a neurologist I have decided to cut out a section of his skull to reveal his brain. I will draw in the brain tomorrow if I have time.
I've finished the brain and skull section drawing. Because Martin is a brain scientist I wanted to do this kind of mock cutaway diagram. the labels are not real labels but are a quote from Martin about his optimism for the future of motor neurone disease, or hopefully its lack of a future! Now all thats left to do is the colour.
Heres the second portrait finished. I hope he isn't too cross that i've cut a hole in his head!
Heres the intial sketch of Sarah, in a photo booth style. Really struggled with the pen today, I seem unable to draw a smooth line. Theres some rubbing out to do before i pant and I can't decide on orange or blue curtains...
Heres the finished portrait of Sarah. I'd never used watercolour before starting on these portraits, and its proving difficult to master. I may be reduced to buying a book. I am quite pleased with the hair, however.
Heres my portrait of Sarah the carer. A lovely, happy, optimistic person. She is supposed to look wildly happy, exhilarated - the photo I was working from was taken on a roller coaster. I think she looks frightened. No amount of fiddling seemed to make any difference. I am hoping that my watercolour technique will improve as I go along, and no more of my sitters will end up frightened by mistake!
Here's my friend Mark. The "cut here" in the drawing refers to the fact that Mark has bulbar MND and struggles to breathe. He has just had a tracheostomy to help this. This is the drawing finished now i just need to add the colour.
Heres my friend Mark all finished. He's had a tracheostomy to help his breathing and is now out of hospital. It's been an amazing success, he can now breathe flat on his back and has loads of energy.
Here's Earl with the drawing half finished. I'm working from the top down on this one as there is a lot of pencil and I don't want to smudge what i've already done.
That's the drawing done. Colour now, I am on fire today.
Here is Earl, a fellow MND sufferer. He has bulbar onset MND and cannot speak, despite this has thrown himself into setting up a business to market his inventions.
Look at the difference between these two bits of text from separate paintings in the portrait series. They are only eight weeks apart, but the loss of ability through MND progression is clearly visible. Kathy was the 1st portrait and I am working on Dr Emily now.
