Nelson Mandela:
A tribute to our Madiba
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525 x 380 mm
Pencil on 160 gsm untextured paper |
More or less on the heels of the Einstein Commission, I was asked to do a drawing of Madiba. However before we had even decided on the photo, the legend passed away. Which gave the whole process a very serious air - this had to be more than just an accurate representation of our late president, it was to be a tribute, lovingly rendered and thought upon, with my main goal to capture his compassion.
This was the biggest drawing I'd ever attempted, double my usual A3 size, and as such I was looking forward to it, but also quite nervous. Usually the details are small enough that I can improvise to a degree, but in this photograph every line and pore was there, and had to be accurately depicted. It took more patience than I thought I had, but was very much satisfying in the end!
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| Guide sketch |
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The second attempt at the eyes - the first were so nervously drawn that I had to start over,
wasting the first evening of work completely, and making me quite nervous! |
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| Progress |
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| Progress - (the unsightly cardboard added to my easel for stability) |
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| The materials |
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| The apprentice |
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| More or less done with the face, except for final touches |
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The second attempt at the hair, the first attempt
dutifully erased after another wasted evening of work |
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| Detail |
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| Detail (and my favourite part of the drawing, the upper lip) |
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| Detail |
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| Detail |
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| Detail |
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I struggled to avoid a little smudging while working on the jacket, but only the
guide lines were smudges, none of the final pencil strokes! |
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| Complete! |
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| (edit) Proud owner Roan van Vuuren after the delivery! |
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