Let me know what you're doing in October - any art challenges? Personal projects? Just relax? I'm feeling very inspired lately, and I hope that comes across here. ❤
I really look forward to more of this, watching you sketch. I’m fascinated by the initial laydown of tone, the shadow shapes and then only the necessary contour lines to emphasize the detail. I would like to learn more of this. Using the kneaded eraser like a sculptor is so fun!
Thank you so much! Sketching these first ideas was so much fun, even if it took a while. Those initial shapes are a natural result of drawing at such a small size, and (mostly) without a proper eraser, just softening areas with a kneaded one. I think format and materials inform a lot of my process!
i so so much love these preparation sketches for bigger pieces, not only are they useful but they have a special vibe to them. so excited to see the end results and keep up with your drawtober! i myself sadly rarely do preparations for future art, even though they always help me to figure out a better way to the end result, but i kind of get tired of the idea itself?? rn just diving into the piece seems much more rewarding, although they certainly lack in composition. but at least i get to practice working with a medium without too much pressure. and i also want to challenge myself this october, but probably instead of getting full illustrations done, i will focus more on practicing and studying some kind of narrow topic
Thank you so much! I'm very excited to get started with the actual painting and all the Drawtober stuff - filming and editing everything will be the real challenge haha! And I totally get that "fatigue" when planning too much, falling out of love with an idea... maybe because I'm a very slow painter, for me, I'd rather fall out of love during the sketching phase than during the painting phase (which has definitely happened before! 🥲) - but I wish I could just dive into paintings more directly sometimes! I love that October has gone from the (kind of limiting) Inktober as it was originally to this month of everyone just diving into creative pursuits! I hope your practice will go well!
Thank you so much for sharing! I am more of a planner myself, I also love going through my sketchbook, looking at old ideas, sketches and thumbnails and getting inspired by them. My problem is, that I often stay in the planning phase and rarely really paint these ideas, finished paintings. I guess I just need to start and work on my skills as I go^^ I‘m looking forward to your zine, have fun planning and painting ❤
Thank you :) And oof, I feel you when it comes to actually starting paintings! For me, it works best when I - like mentioned in the video - always have something that I'm chipping away on, while already sketching the next ideas. Otherwise, there are long slumps between personal paintings! Honestly, I've learned the most from just starting and finishing paintings, it's a whole journey each and every time! :D I hope you can dive into something soon!
@@evydraws-art with your videos accompanying me I actually did work on an artwork today, in between lots of unrelated sketching! It was fun and I am hopeful to keep the motivation for now. Thank you for sharing your process, I love your videos and your soft way of speaking, it’s calming and encouraging at the same time
so happy that I could keep you company, indirectly as it is! And thank you for mentioning the voice-over - as a non-native speaker, the English voice-overs were so scary to me in the beginning, so I always appreciate when people like them. :)
October plans: 10-day art retreat! Revisiting old sketches, mastering figure drawing, exploring new styles, reading, studying for exams & writing poetry. Excited to unwind & create!
Oh, a 10 day art retreat sounds amazing! Are you going somewhere in particular or is it a personal art period at home? :) I'm always in awe at poetry writing, I hope it goes well and you have a great time!
@@evydraws-art Thanks for asking! During my 10-day art retreat, I won't be traveling far - medical entrance exams are keeping me busy. But post-exams, I plan to visit a friend's home in Assam, surrounded by stunning forest and mountain scenery (Dzukou Valley,Karbi Anlong you can Google it!! I'd say do it hehe). It's a bit distant and rugged, but that's the allure. I'll take my sketchbook, pens, and pencils to capture the natural beauty. Your sketchbook tour video lifted my spirits yesterday! I stumbled upon your channel, subscribed, and enjoyed your mid 2024 Sketchbook Tour. Looking forward to more art inspiration! Though I might not be on UA-cam frequently, I'll try to catch your videos as soon as possible
Honestly, that sounds perfect! I just looked up Dzukou Valley, and if I could teleport, I'd be there in a heartbeat - absolutely magical. And a quiet, distant location is great to reconnect with yourself and art. 💙 Thank you so much for the kind words on my sketchbook tour - filming that actually gave me a lot of direction and clarity on what I want to do going forward. So if it also inspires others, then all the better!
Just returned from vacation and it's lovely to watch your new vlog. It makes me happy that you also like Tolkien's works. The Silmarillion took me ages to finish, but I remember that I enjoyed the part about Luthien and Beren. Might need to revisit it once your painting is done to appreciate all the details. I'd definitely love to see the painting process! I might paint some landscapes from our vacation, but I also need to get cracking on my commission soon, so I have those planned for this month. I will also attend two concerts, so I'm excited for those!
Oh, I just spotted this comment now! I hope you had a wonderful vacation. 💜 I've been so in love with the world since forever... even met my best friend because we talked about the movies in the bus one day as teens and that still connects us haha. This enduring love might be why I was hesitant to paint something before - the visual language of John Howe and Alan Lee is so ingrained in my brain that it feels intimidating to create something new and "mine". :) How are the commission and landscapes going? And I hope you have fun at those concerts!
This was a transcendent video to watch. I adored seeing your process unfold. The way that dark blue became that lighter beautiful shade was wonderful! The Beren & Luthien sketches inhabit such character and story - I'll be very interested to see how a final piece turns out from those fascinating sketches.
Thank you - having the word "transcendent" associated with a video actually just made my evening! :D That blue color was an accidental discovery and I'm so in love with it - been taking it everywhere lately. And I'm already filming more Beren & Luthien sketching and - hopefully soon - the actual painting process!
I'm intrigued by master studies. And it would be wonderful if you would make a series of ilustrations for Beren and Luthien like you're doing for Dracula. I have a feeling it would be mind blowing with your art style 🤯😄
I'd love nothing more than to do exactly that! There will be at least one more illustration after this, either set in the Halls of Mandos, or during the battle of Sauron vs Huan... too many ideas, too little time!
It's so rare for me to find artists that paint Tolkien's characters that aren't from the Third Age or those seen in the films. I really like how you're bringing Beren and Luthien to life 💕
Thank you - I've been re-reading (or rather, re-listening to) the Silmarillion while painting recently and Beren and Luthien's story is one of my favorites! Honestly, drawing anything Third Age-y feels more difficult, as the visual language and characters are so set in my mind. :)
I just found your channel and I wanted to say that I love watching your process! It feels very similar to mine and it is very inspiring and exciting to watch! Thank you for sharing some alternative October prompt lists, I am planning on making a blend of prompts and sketching everyday. This is the first year I am going to try this art challenge with no plan, just going to take it day by day! I hope you have an inspiring and lovely October!❤
Thank you so much for the kind words - and I'm happy to find other artists with similar approaches! :) I've saved a whole bunch of prompt lists just in case - maybe there's a day when I need that extra inspiration, but also, I want to keep an eye on them to see what everyone else is creating. I love the comminity aspect of it 💕 and I hope it inspires you, too - have fun with this month of daily sketches!
For the second year my main goal is to survive and improve as illustrator. I'm from Ukraine. In 2022 I started illustrator's career, because my family business left on occupied territory and I was dreaming to start painting professionally. So the closest possibility to be dead right the next day motivates to make dreams come true.
I cannot imagine how difficult this is and I'm wishing you only the best! A dear artist friend of mine, Inna Vjuzhanina, also lives in Ukraine - she still shares her art and prints, as well as life updates, and I wanted to mention her to you, as I think she's incredible and inspiring. 💙💛
Such a lovely art vlog, love your editing style, also some really useful tips and the sketches of your own and the books you read had such amazing art pieces in ❤❤🌻🌻
Ah i found your channel today!! This was such a fun video!! Ive immediately subscribed!! 💖✨can't wait to see ypur beren and Luthien painting!! I'm actually currently reading the silmarilion too!! And LOTR books are definitely comfort books for me!! 📕 im also doing eggtober! And hope to follow along with your dracula paintings too!!
Thank you so much! ♥️ I'm so excited to start that painting, and love how many fellow fans I've found through this video! The Silmarillion is such a comfort book for me, as well - now I've started on a re-read of Fellowship with the Andy Serkis audiobook version, and that will be the perfect company for the painting process, I'm sure! :) (and thank you for making me aware that Eggtober is a thing!)
It depends on the area you're interested in. Portraits, drawing in general, painting, beginner guides or advanced... For me, as I mostly struggle with color and realism, I love the James Gurney books. :)
What book has the beautiful studies at 1:58minutes into the video? I went through the whole James Gurney book twice but didn’t find them in there. 😢 I absolutely LOVE looking at studies. Also, can I please be your friend to talk endlessly about your art process with? 🙋🏻♀️ love seeing you create your work so intentionally and it’s super inspiring to see your process. I could watch your videos over and over again for hours ❤
Oh, I'm so glad you noticed that - that's a mistake on my end! I had both of James Gurney's books out when I was looking for composition inspiration, but later only filmed a flip-through of his "Color and Light" one as it's more introductory and I wanted to recommend it. So that little snippet is from his "Imaginative realism" book! And yes, please, talk to me about art processes! I felt so self-conscious about being slow and over-thinking it, so it's amazing to hear that this resonates with others! Do you draw similarly, maybe? ❤
@@evydraws-artabsolutely! I’m such a slow artist! I went on Emma Block retreat last year and I think she was getting a little bit frustrated with how slow and deliberate I was 😂 I really appreciate that while you may be slow (I don’t think so), you’re so focused and proliferative! You create so much and that’s super inspiring for me. I sketch and paint a little and get tired easily as I have a full time job. Even painting for a couple of hours feels taxing as I can hardly ever finish a piece in that much time. That’s why I’m so inspired by studies because they don’t have to be perfect. One can do a quick study on color, value, composition etc and it feels satisfying in itself without having to always create a complete artwork out of it. Thank you for sharing the name of the other book! Can’t wait to look it up, especially those studies in it 😊
@@rjvnz Haha there's a lot of video magic going on here! These are all snippets filmed here and there, weekends or late nights, probably over the span of ten days if not more! 😂 it takes me forever to get going! I actually just mentioned something in a different comment reply - but while I've been working in freelance illustration/storyboarding etc for years, this is the first year in which I focus more on my own projects instead of client work, and that makes such a big difference with inspiration and energy levels - in now way comparable to working a full time job and THEN trying to focus on sketches! So I just hope you never feel like you need to finish things quickly - take your time ❤ Studies were my bread and butter for years! So much to learn from them, but also a great way to just start and finish something without overthinking it. :D
@@evydraws-art absolutely! Being able to create work for yourself that comes for a deep place within is so much more joyful and nourishing for the soul than to be executing someone else’s vision. And once you fill your own cup with the the things you wish to create, i can imagine that it becomes so much easier to create client work. I feel like that too as I am an engineer in my day job and often just feel like a minion in Big tech. But my heart yearns to be able to reclaim my time and energy for myself. I can absolutely see the love and intention you put into your work, it comes through in your videos. I jump for joy every time I see your video on my feed and often paint along with your soothing voice! 😊 thank you for taking out the time to have a conversation here, I really appreciate it. ❤️
Sista could u tell what gsm of paper is suitable for oil pastels.. because I can't buy watercolor paper in nearby shops so I want to order it in online so I'm confused to buy it and I need a cheap one because I'm a beginner 😅
So, oil pastels really don't need "heavy" paper - I just like the feel of it, so that's why I use 300g watercolor paper for mine a lot. Some of the cheaper pastel paper I have by Mungyo is just 98lb/160g and it works perfectly fine, just feels less fancy. 🥰
@@_Rakshu_Editzz_ Thinner, like 120, might work too, but the heavier, the more resilient - if you want to just practice, you're probably fine with thinner paper! :)
how did you learn to shade in features like that? I'm a very stiff artist and it shows in my work. I really want to learn how to flow and sketch more freely
So, one huge factor for me is being warmed up! The first three (or ten 😂) sketches can look terrible, but if I loosen up while sketching thumbnails or master studies, everything after that flows better. I've also been forcing myself to hold my pencils further back, which - as you can see in the video - is not yet a habit that sticks, but really helps. Just taking it slow and being patient, and sketching a lot of portraits over recent years. :)
Let me know what you're doing in October - any art challenges? Personal projects? Just relax? I'm feeling very inspired lately, and I hope that comes across here. ❤
I really look forward to more of this, watching you sketch. I’m fascinated by the initial laydown of tone, the shadow shapes and then only the necessary contour lines to emphasize the detail. I would like to learn more of this. Using the kneaded eraser like a sculptor is so fun!
Thank you so much! Sketching these first ideas was so much fun, even if it took a while. Those initial shapes are a natural result of drawing at such a small size, and (mostly) without a proper eraser, just softening areas with a kneaded one. I think format and materials inform a lot of my process!
I love to see your process, it's fascinating and something I want to do more. Can't wait to watch other videos about it!
Thank you so much! I was worried my slow process would just be boring, so I'm really glad it's resonating with you!
You have such an eye for composition! Watching you work is such a pleasure
Thank you so much! It takes me a while to find a composition I like, but the process is so satisfying :)
i so so much love these preparation sketches for bigger pieces, not only are they useful but they have a special vibe to them. so excited to see the end results and keep up with your drawtober! i myself sadly rarely do preparations for future art, even though they always help me to figure out a better way to the end result, but i kind of get tired of the idea itself?? rn just diving into the piece seems much more rewarding, although they certainly lack in composition. but at least i get to practice working with a medium without too much pressure. and i also want to challenge myself this october, but probably instead of getting full illustrations done, i will focus more on practicing and studying some kind of narrow topic
Thank you so much! I'm very excited to get started with the actual painting and all the Drawtober stuff - filming and editing everything will be the real challenge haha!
And I totally get that "fatigue" when planning too much, falling out of love with an idea... maybe because I'm a very slow painter, for me, I'd rather fall out of love during the sketching phase than during the painting phase (which has definitely happened before! 🥲) - but I wish I could just dive into paintings more directly sometimes!
I love that October has gone from the (kind of limiting) Inktober as it was originally to this month of everyone just diving into creative pursuits! I hope your practice will go well!
Very beautiful and inspiring!
Thank you so much! 💚
Thank you so much for sharing! I am more of a planner myself, I also love going through my sketchbook, looking at old ideas, sketches and thumbnails and getting inspired by them. My problem is, that I often stay in the planning phase and rarely really paint these ideas, finished paintings. I guess I just need to start and work on my skills as I go^^ I‘m looking forward to your zine, have fun planning and painting ❤
Thank you :) And oof, I feel you when it comes to actually starting paintings! For me, it works best when I - like mentioned in the video - always have something that I'm chipping away on, while already sketching the next ideas. Otherwise, there are long slumps between personal paintings!
Honestly, I've learned the most from just starting and finishing paintings, it's a whole journey each and every time! :D I hope you can dive into something soon!
@@evydraws-art with your videos accompanying me I actually did work on an artwork today, in between lots of unrelated sketching! It was fun and I am hopeful to keep the motivation for now. Thank you for sharing your process, I love your videos and your soft way of speaking, it’s calming and encouraging at the same time
so happy that I could keep you company, indirectly as it is! And thank you for mentioning the voice-over - as a non-native speaker, the English voice-overs were so scary to me in the beginning, so I always appreciate when people like them. :)
October plans: 10-day art retreat! Revisiting old sketches, mastering figure drawing, exploring new styles, reading, studying for exams & writing poetry. Excited to unwind & create!
Oh, a 10 day art retreat sounds amazing! Are you going somewhere in particular or is it a personal art period at home? :) I'm always in awe at poetry writing, I hope it goes well and you have a great time!
@@evydraws-art Thanks for asking! During my 10-day art retreat, I won't be traveling far - medical entrance exams are keeping me busy. But post-exams, I plan to visit a friend's home in Assam, surrounded by stunning forest and mountain scenery (Dzukou Valley,Karbi Anlong you can Google it!! I'd say do it hehe). It's a bit distant and rugged, but that's the allure. I'll take my sketchbook, pens, and pencils to capture the natural beauty.
Your sketchbook tour video lifted my spirits yesterday! I stumbled upon your channel, subscribed, and enjoyed your mid 2024 Sketchbook Tour. Looking forward to more art inspiration! Though I might not be on UA-cam frequently, I'll try to catch your videos as soon as possible
Honestly, that sounds perfect! I just looked up Dzukou Valley, and if I could teleport, I'd be there in a heartbeat - absolutely magical. And a quiet, distant location is great to reconnect with yourself and art. 💙
Thank you so much for the kind words on my sketchbook tour - filming that actually gave me a lot of direction and clarity on what I want to do going forward. So if it also inspires others, then all the better!
Just returned from vacation and it's lovely to watch your new vlog. It makes me happy that you also like Tolkien's works. The Silmarillion took me ages to finish, but I remember that I enjoyed the part about Luthien and Beren. Might need to revisit it once your painting is done to appreciate all the details. I'd definitely love to see the painting process!
I might paint some landscapes from our vacation, but I also need to get cracking on my commission soon, so I have those planned for this month. I will also attend two concerts, so I'm excited for those!
Oh, I just spotted this comment now! I hope you had a wonderful vacation. 💜
I've been so in love with the world since forever... even met my best friend because we talked about the movies in the bus one day as teens and that still connects us haha. This enduring love might be why I was hesitant to paint something before - the visual language of John Howe and Alan Lee is so ingrained in my brain that it feels intimidating to create something new and "mine". :)
How are the commission and landscapes going? And I hope you have fun at those concerts!
This was a transcendent video to watch. I adored seeing your process unfold. The way that dark blue became that lighter beautiful shade was wonderful! The Beren & Luthien sketches inhabit such character and story - I'll be very interested to see how a final piece turns out from those fascinating sketches.
Thank you - having the word "transcendent" associated with a video actually just made my evening! :D
That blue color was an accidental discovery and I'm so in love with it - been taking it everywhere lately. And I'm already filming more Beren & Luthien sketching and - hopefully soon - the actual painting process!
I'm intrigued by master studies. And it would be wonderful if you would make a series of ilustrations for Beren and Luthien like you're doing for Dracula. I have a feeling it would be mind blowing with your art style 🤯😄
I'd love nothing more than to do exactly that! There will be at least one more illustration after this, either set in the Halls of Mandos, or during the battle of Sauron vs Huan... too many ideas, too little time!
It's so rare for me to find artists that paint Tolkien's characters that aren't from the Third Age or those seen in the films. I really like how you're bringing Beren and Luthien to life 💕
Thank you - I've been re-reading (or rather, re-listening to) the Silmarillion while painting recently and Beren and Luthien's story is one of my favorites!
Honestly, drawing anything Third Age-y feels more difficult, as the visual language and characters are so set in my mind. :)
I just found your channel and I wanted to say that I love watching your process! It feels very similar to mine and it is very inspiring and exciting to watch! Thank you for sharing some alternative October prompt lists, I am planning on making a blend of prompts and sketching everyday. This is the first year I am going to try this art challenge with no plan, just going to take it day by day! I hope you have an inspiring and lovely October!❤
Thank you so much for the kind words - and I'm happy to find other artists with similar approaches! :)
I've saved a whole bunch of prompt lists just in case - maybe there's a day when I need that extra inspiration, but also, I want to keep an eye on them to see what everyone else is creating. I love the comminity aspect of it 💕 and I hope it inspires you, too - have fun with this month of daily sketches!
Love your videos so much :)
Thank you so much! 💖
I love your art vlogs, they are very inspiring.
Thank you so much for the kind comment ♥
For the second year my main goal is to survive and improve as illustrator. I'm from Ukraine. In 2022 I started illustrator's career, because my family business left on occupied territory and I was dreaming to start painting professionally. So the closest possibility to be dead right the next day motivates to make dreams come true.
I cannot imagine how difficult this is and I'm wishing you only the best! A dear artist friend of mine, Inna Vjuzhanina, also lives in Ukraine - she still shares her art and prints, as well as life updates, and I wanted to mention her to you, as I think she's incredible and inspiring. 💙💛
watching this video and reading this comment during air raid alert is surreal. one more Ukrainian illustrator is here🤘🏻
Such a lovely art vlog, love your editing style, also some really useful tips and the sketches of your own and the books you read had such amazing art pieces in ❤❤🌻🌻
Thank you so much! I finally found an editing style that feels like a natural fit for me... and I hope to collect some more artbooks soon! ♥
Ah i found your channel today!! This was such a fun video!! Ive immediately subscribed!! 💖✨can't wait to see ypur beren and Luthien painting!! I'm actually currently reading the silmarilion too!! And LOTR books are definitely comfort books for me!! 📕 im also doing eggtober! And hope to follow along with your dracula paintings too!!
Thank you so much! ♥️ I'm so excited to start that painting, and love how many fellow fans I've found through this video! The Silmarillion is such a comfort book for me, as well - now I've started on a re-read of Fellowship with the Andy Serkis audiobook version, and that will be the perfect company for the painting process, I'm sure! :)
(and thank you for making me aware that Eggtober is a thing!)
@@evydraws-art 😄💖✨
What are some art books you reccomend?
It depends on the area you're interested in. Portraits, drawing in general, painting, beginner guides or advanced... For me, as I mostly struggle with color and realism, I love the James Gurney books. :)
What book has the beautiful studies at 1:58minutes into the video? I went through the whole James Gurney book twice but didn’t find them in there. 😢 I absolutely LOVE looking at studies. Also, can I please be your friend to talk endlessly about your art process with? 🙋🏻♀️ love seeing you create your work so intentionally and it’s super inspiring to see your process. I could watch your videos over and over again for hours ❤
Oh, I'm so glad you noticed that - that's a mistake on my end! I had both of James Gurney's books out when I was looking for composition inspiration, but later only filmed a flip-through of his "Color and Light" one as it's more introductory and I wanted to recommend it. So that little snippet is from his "Imaginative realism" book!
And yes, please, talk to me about art processes! I felt so self-conscious about being slow and over-thinking it, so it's amazing to hear that this resonates with others! Do you draw similarly, maybe? ❤
@@evydraws-artabsolutely! I’m such a slow artist! I went on Emma Block retreat last year and I think she was getting a little bit frustrated with how slow and deliberate I was 😂 I really appreciate that while you may be slow (I don’t think so), you’re so focused and proliferative! You create so much and that’s super inspiring for me. I sketch and paint a little and get tired easily as I have a full time job. Even painting for a couple of hours feels taxing as I can hardly ever finish a piece in that much time. That’s why I’m so inspired by studies because they don’t have to be perfect. One can do a quick study on color, value, composition etc and it feels satisfying in itself without having to always create a complete artwork out of it. Thank you for sharing the name of the other book! Can’t wait to look it up, especially those studies in it 😊
@@rjvnz Haha there's a lot of video magic going on here! These are all snippets filmed here and there, weekends or late nights, probably over the span of ten days if not more! 😂 it takes me forever to get going!
I actually just mentioned something in a different comment reply - but while I've been working in freelance illustration/storyboarding etc for years, this is the first year in which I focus more on my own projects instead of client work, and that makes such a big difference with inspiration and energy levels - in now way comparable to working a full time job and THEN trying to focus on sketches! So I just hope you never feel like you need to finish things quickly - take your time ❤
Studies were my bread and butter for years! So much to learn from them, but also a great way to just start and finish something without overthinking it. :D
@@evydraws-art absolutely! Being able to create work for yourself that comes for a deep place within is so much more joyful and nourishing for the soul than to be executing someone else’s vision. And once you fill your own cup with the the things you wish to create, i can imagine that it becomes so much easier to create client work. I feel like that too as I am an engineer in my day job and often just feel like a minion in Big tech. But my heart yearns to be able to reclaim my time and energy for myself. I can absolutely see the love and intention you put into your work, it comes through in your videos. I jump for joy every time I see your video on my feed and often paint along with your soothing voice! 😊 thank you for taking out the time to have a conversation here, I really appreciate it. ❤️
Sista could u tell what gsm of paper is suitable for oil pastels.. because I can't buy watercolor paper in nearby shops so I want to order it in online so I'm confused to buy it and I need a cheap one because I'm a beginner 😅
So, oil pastels really don't need "heavy" paper - I just like the feel of it, so that's why I use 300g watercolor paper for mine a lot. Some of the cheaper pastel paper I have by Mungyo is just 98lb/160g and it works perfectly fine, just feels less fancy. 🥰
@@evydraws-art should I use 160 gsm?
@@_Rakshu_Editzz_ Thinner, like 120, might work too, but the heavier, the more resilient - if you want to just practice, you're probably fine with thinner paper! :)
@@evydraws-art okiee sistaa thank you sooo much 💙💙💙
@@_Rakshu_Editzz_ I hope it helps ❤
how did you learn to shade in features like that? I'm a very stiff artist and it shows in my work. I really want to learn how to flow and sketch more freely
So, one huge factor for me is being warmed up! The first three (or ten 😂) sketches can look terrible, but if I loosen up while sketching thumbnails or master studies, everything after that flows better. I've also been forcing myself to hold my pencils further back, which - as you can see in the video - is not yet a habit that sticks, but really helps. Just taking it slow and being patient, and sketching a lot of portraits over recent years. :)