Frank Sinatra

About a week or so before my Grandmother’s 80th birthday party in November, 2009, I put this drawing of Frank Sinatra on the fast track to get it done in time as a surprise gift for her. As a beyond-avid fan of Ole Blue Eyes, I couldn’t resist working on this one for her. Thankfully she loved it even if I wasn’t 100% satisfied with it myself. But it was certainly a fun project. I believe I logged in quite a few hours with old “MacGyver” and “Wings” episodes on DVD to pass the time with. Ha! I believe I also tossed in an old movie or two as well (like “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer,” I think).

This drawing was done with the usual grades of pencil on a piece of Bristol board. I used 4H to lay it out and then stuff like 2B, 3B, probably 5B and 6B as well to do some of the darker shades. Finally, I used my preferred Ebony Jet Black pencil to get the blacks blacker — especially with the jacket. — 11/17/09

At Thanksgiving, 2009, it was really cool to visit my Grandmother’s and find that it was hung on a wall in her foyer. While I had given her a copy of the Cary Grant drawing I did years ago, I had always felt a little guilty that she had a framed copy of a drawing and not the real thing. It was really cool to be able to give her the actual Frank drawing. It seemed like just as much a gift to me to do that as it was for her to receive that.

Sarah Jahn

This portrait of singer Sarah Jahn was the first ever drawn in my “infamous” sketchbook (which acted as a sort of prehistoric portfolio). I had started it many months before, without finishing it until June 2, 1998. For some reason I had gotten lazy and abandoned it for a long time. I think it was done with several different kinds of pencils.

Man, it’s 2010 now and I still love this picture. Granted, I’m pleased with VERY few of the drawings that I’ve done, but I really like this one still… plus given how old it is, it holds a special place in my heart I suppose. I look at it now and feel like I probably could have gone more detailed in some areas, but I still dig it. And where the heck has Sarah Jahn gone?! She did a fantastic pop acoustic record in 1997 and then disappeared from the planet Earth. Sad story.

Rebecca St. James and sister, Libby

I drew this picture out of being a big fan of Rebecca St. James during my teen years. I had tried several drawings of her in the past but they were all rather unsuccessful. This picture, found in her 40 Days with God devotional book, looked so cute. It soon became a challenge because it was my first portrait with 2 people (Becca with her little sister, Libby). I completed the task with a large range of pencil weights and an ebony pencil to get the blackest areas. In this photo, Rebecca’s about 18 or 19 and her sister’s about 2.

At Creation East 2000 in Mount Union, PA, I got a chance to very briefly meet Rebecca on her tour bus to give her not a copy, but the actual drawing of this. Although she seemed pleased, I am still a little uncertain exactly how she “received” the drawing. I imagine she gets a lot of portraits, but I hope she gave it a good home. I remember almost immediately regretting letting go of this one. Thankfully, I have a detailed print I made of it before I passed it on. And I’m glad it’s saved here online too.

Eric Champion

This portrait of singer Eric Champion is actually one I did while in high school in 1996. It originated as a just a sketch in a barren sketchbook. It had basically disappeared till the 1997 art show in which I resurrected it for entry. My teacher suggested I cut it out, raise it up on foam core and place a background on it. The red became symbolic of the frustration Eric shows. Thankfully, we were pleased with its outcome and in the spring of 2000, I scanned it and printed it for my portfolio so it would be transportable.

I think the original 3-dimensional drawing is tossed into a drawer somewhere now, but now in 2010, I still kind of find this to be a fun one. And for a little trivia – Eric Champion was a popular CCM pop artist in the early 90s but decided to try an electronic rock thing in 1996 with his album “Transformation.” This drawing was done from a photo taken during the photo shoot for that album.

Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline

For years I’d attempted to draw a portrait of Mark Stuart from Audio Adrenaline but had always failed miserably. In January of 2000, I decided to try again. I was hoping to see them live the following month and give him a personal copy. After my first attempt failed, I tried this particular picture from the CD jacket of their 1999 album “Underdog.” Thankfully, it turned out. I was able to give him a copy of the drawing backstage after a show on February 17th, 2000 in Philadelphia, PA. To my enjoyment, he really liked it and I’ll never forget it. Audio A will most likely remain my all-time favorite band. And, incidentally, is the only band I’ve ever drawn all the members of!

Ben Cissell of Audio Adrenaline

Ben Cissell is the 3rd of the 4 Audio Adrenaline portraits in this “series.” The source photo is from the 1999 “Underdog” album photo shoot. I love this pic of Ben.

Will McGinniss of Audio Adrenaline

Bassist Will McGinniss is the 2nd of the 4 Audio Adrenaline portraits in this “series.” The first since my meeting the band again (and pledging to do this series) in February, 2000.

Tyler Burkum of Audio Adrenaline

For years I’ve attempted to draw a portrait of Mark Stuart from Audio Adrenaline but had always failed miserably. In January of 2000, I decided to try again. I was hoping to see them live the following month and give him a personal copy. I was able accomplish this goal and gave him a copy of the drawing backstage after a show on February 17th, 2000 in Philadelphia, PA. He really liked it and so did the rest of the guys, so I told them I’d work on drawing all of them eventually. Guitarist Tyler Burkum was intended to be the 5th of the 5 portraits in this “series,” but with Bob’s departure from the band, it kind of shortened things. This picture was one of the only portraits I drew in 2001. It was completed in the end of June. A copy of this drawing was presented to Tyler at Creation 2001.

Jaci Velasquez

In an effort to practice my drawing and hopefully develop and sharpen it during the fall of 2000, after the Jon Foreman sketch, I went right into working on one of Jaci Velasquez. From ‘day one’ when I saw the beautiful photograph version of this shot– also her album cover for Crystal Clear, I knew it’d make a good picture to draw. So, while trying to decide who my next “victim” should be after Jon, I took on the challenge of this picture. Many hours and over 2 weeks later, I finished it (pretty much) on September 28, 2000.

I drew this on acid-free bristol board to preserve the drawing, and used various “weights” of pencils. (If you ever see this, Jaci– hope you like it!)

Leigh Nash

I drew this picture of Leigh Nash in my sketch book using strictly pencil. However, the darkest areas are done with Ebony– a special kind of dark pencil (and a personal favorite). I used different shades, too, of course– 2H, HB, 2B. I saw Sixpence None the Richer in concert on April 4th, 1998, and became a fan, so I drew this picture of lead singer, Leigh Bingham Nash, from an 8 X 10 I had picked up there.

I’m not gonna lie… I have no idea which came first… this Leigh drawing or the next one, but I do like this one a lot better.