I love faces!

Me in my earlier days

I love to draw faces. As readers of this blog well know, I am not always true to the anatomy of the human face when I draw or paint faces. Nor was Paul Klee.

Paul Klee

Senecio, 1922

Erica Stenkrona

Happy girl, 2010

Oil on canvas

Erica Stenkrona

Mathilda, 2011

Oil on canvas

Erica Stenkrona

Your tears won´t leave a trace, 2011

Oil on canvas

Erica Stenkrona

Depression Mode II, 2011

Oil & acrylic on canvas

In 2013 I decided that I would benefit from taking a master class in portraitpainting. The class was taught by artist Farigh Ghaderi. Little did I know that it would change my life in a very profound way. This is my very first attempt at portrait painting:

Erica Stenkrona

Lasse, 2013

Oil on canvas

I realized that I needed to learn the craftsmanship in order to paint the kind of portraits

I wanted, so in an instant I decided to study art at the studio of Farigh Ghaderi. 

  A decision that has open up  a new world  to me, I´ve learned to see  its

inhabitants in a new way.

My teacher Farigh constantly reminds us students about the importance of learning to see

the proportions and construction of the human skull.

These pictures are copied from the book "Complete Guide to Life Drawing"

 by Gottfried Bammes.  An excellent book for any person who is serious about learning how to draw.

"Noses and ears drawn badly because of lack of 

understanding are painful to behold."

Gottfried Bammes

No more distorted drawings?

Erica Stenkrona

Variationer, 2014

pencil on paper

Olof Sager- Nelson (1868-1896)

Fosterbröderna, 1894 (detalj)

Erica Stenkrona

Signe, 2015

colorpencil on paper

Hugo Salmson (1843-1894)

Den lilla axplockerskan

Oil on canvas

Erica Stenkrona

Tanya, 2015

colorpencil on paper

Forgot to document the name of the artist

Erica Stenkrona

Victor, 2015

pencil on paper (quick sketch)

 I will keep drawing faces and human skulls. Yes, skulls. At the studio I am

currently drawing a human skull from three different views. The skull is a very complex form

so I´m borrowing a drawing from the internet because my drawings are not ready yet.

Happy Halloween!

Erica Stenkrona

Copy of  "Tyttö hiekkakuopassa", 1942 by Helene Schjerfbeck.

Pastel, pencil on paper

Next blogpost I will introduce you to some of the artists that has influenced me with their

excellent work. One of them is Helene Schjerfbeck. It would be great to know

about artists that has influenced you in any way. Please let me know!