From Photo To Art --Playmate Liz Stewart

While going through some art to upload on my Fine Art America site, I reshot some old artwork with the digital camera, so I could have larger, clearer photos.  One of them is this drawing of Playboy Playmate Liz Stewart, Miss July 1984.


This was very early on in my career as a pinup artist; in fact, I didn't even categorize myself as such at the time.  I drew this piece in the summer of 1984, during a week long solo vacation (my wife had to work that week).  My days were spent at the drawing board and watching Chicago Cubs baseball (1984 was the year of their first championship since 1945).
I fell in love with Liz Stewart---her exotic beauty and beautiful curves were a source of great inspiration. and this photo really presented me with a challenge



























The illustration board used is a cold press surface, very toothy, which gives it the 'rough' texture that I wanted for the drawing.  Cold press and hot press boards require completely different approaches---hot press is extremely smooth, which will give a very nuanced look to shading, and clear, jet black darks.  Cold press is like canvas, with it's rough surface, it gives the artwork almost a stipple effect.  It can create a lot of dynamic interest, and is my preferred surface on which to work.


Early on in my career, I was mostly concerned mostly with getting the drawing to look like the subject, so that she was recognizable.  A great college course on black & white illustration taught me to really emphasize darks and lots for dynamic contrast.  This drawing is represents some of what I learned in that class.  


Looking at it now, I can see SO many errors I made in this drawing.  Yet I am still happy with it overall.  It's always good to look back on older work, to see your progression as an artist, to compare where you came from to where you are now.