Get your own Scribble Portrait

I am now offering custom scribble portraits through my Etsy shop. (!!!!!) I am really excited about this. Email me the picture you want scribbled into art, tell me which color paper, and I’ll take care of the rest http://www.etsy.com/listing/89350158/custom-scribble-portrait

the self portrait

The other day I drew a few portraits of Pete. I drew them because I was feeling lovey dovey, but also because he has an interesting face and I like, every once in awhile, trying to draw something realistic. He wouldn’t accept the drawings, saying he doesn’t know what do to with pictures of himself. I, on the other hand, have a “wall of britt” in my bedroom which features a rotating series of self portraits, currently my warrior portraits. The self portrait is a staple in my portfolio, often serving as a place for experimentation, sort of like I try it on myself before I try it on someone else. It is both very easy and very challenging to be your own model. I am always available to myself, but I am also very good at irritating myself and I cannot be fired.

warrior portraits

I’m very proud of these drawings. Pete used the word warrior to describe one of the early ones and that felt correct to me. They’re steely, strong and expressive, and the lines feel smooth and methodical, soothing, but they’re also imperfect.

My favorite two are the shades of gray with blue eyes and fierce expression, and the soft, sort of old fashioned portrait expression with the purple bun (number 2 and 4 in order.) I wish I had simplified the colors in number 8 because the expression is intense but overwhelmed by bad color choices.

gifts

comical watercolors of me and my sister for my mom and dad

and for the grand finale:

now, you may be thinking… that’s terrible / doesn’t look anything like you or your sister

my answer? 1) stalker! how dare you know what i look like. 2) proof:

(i edited my mom out as a mother’s day gift to her.)

for miss rory in missouri

i got a very sweet message from samantha about her 6 year old daughter, rory, who draws in a scribbley way, as well. she wanted to know how to do scribbley people. my scribble portraits are super easy to do & this is how:

i base my scribble portraits on photographs. i choose pictures with a lot of movement and a lot of hair. hair is my favorite.

i do my scribble portraits in illustrator. i only scribble the hair and the clothing, which i think gives a cool feeling to the portrait and still gives you plenty of information. you can tell by the contrast of the scribbles and the negative space where the body is.

for the scribbling itself i just try to scribble more in places that are in shadow, or creased, and i try to scribble in the direction of the movement. for example, down a sleeve I generally scribble back and forth across the sleeve.

a finished scribble portrait before i’ve removed the photograph:

finished portrait:

if anyone makes any, i’d love to see. and rory, i’d absolutely love to see one of your scribble animals.

katie sokoler / color me katie

i love her, so i did a portrait

but i can’t decide how thick the lines should be