petite_madame: (Default)
petite_madame ([personal profile] petite_madame) wrote2012-04-05 02:17 am

Five sketches - Never underestimate the power of a ballpoint pen

Five sketches - Never underestimate the power of a ballpoint pen




I don't only enjoy complex digital art with 2121613 layers and textures. Sometimes, it's good to go back to basics and to just use a simple ballpoint pen to sketch a bit. No, no don't laugh, you can do very great portraits with a ballpoint pen. In fact, ballpoint pens are like R2D2 in Starwars: they don't seem very interesting at first but end up being awesome when you know them better.

Here are some of the sketches I drew in the past month.

I'm sorry, no scans but mainly photos because of 1) the spiral binding of my sketchbooks makes the scanning difficult and 2) because I often sketch late at night and I am too lazy to scan the picture properly. The following day, I forget and I sketch something else without scanning my previous sketches...

***

1) Castiel in 7x17 -  1

I LOVED Emmanuel Castiel in 7x17. My Flist was full of awesome posts with thousands of reference pictures only a few minutes after the end of the episode (the spn fandom! ). I couldn't resist a close-up picture where Misha's eyes where particularly beautiful.





2) Castiel in 7x17 - 2

Misha again. He was definitely perfect in this episode (Huh, no: everybody was perfect in that ep ). I loved his eyes in the very last scene where he appears alone and lost in the hospital room.




3) S6!Sam

A prompt from [livejournal.com profile] hils who simply requested a Season 6!Sam. I find Jared easier to draw than Misha (or even Jensen) even if "Sammy" from the first seasons is definitely less difficult compared to today's Jared. His jaw and the lower part of his face are pretty hard to render.





4) S5!Sam

A training for a postcard for [livejournal.com profile] dauntdraws who requested a S5!Sam.



The saddest thing is that the postcard apparently never arrived (I keep my fingers crossed but basically: ). It was quite different from the sketch above. All that's left is the photo below that I took right before putting the drawing in the envelope.



5) Jared at Paley Fest

A prompt from [livejournal.com profile] quickreaver. The prompt was for an artist meme and Question 25 was simply, "Draw something!". I drew Jared at last year's Paley Festival. I think it's one of my favorite photos of him.



***
Random Questions

What pen do you use?

A BIC ballpoint pen and a BIC Atlantis pen. The second one is a bit thicker. I use it for shadowing. For construction lines, I use a watercolor pencil (Stabilo CarbOthello 1400/400 - Blue)

What paper do you use?

To be really honest, I don’t use a particular kind of paper. I mean, I use what I have near me, on my desk. Sometimes, I draw in a sketchbook with a very ordinary paper (“Soft White Paper - 100g / 65lb, 21,6cm x 28cm”). Sometimes, I draw at the back of a handout (like the Jared at Paley Fest sketch). Long story short, nothing sophisticated :) . I work in a A4 format most of the time.

I don’t think that the paper is really important even if I don’t like very thick papers like watercolor paper (it makes the pen more difficult to use).

Ballpoint pen: Assets and drawbacks

- Assets: Pleasant to use - beautiful blue color - quick rendering - precision - not expensive - easy to find and to bring everywhere
- Drawbacks: No fail allowed (impossible to erase) - Sometimes, the ink smears, sticks, or globs up.

Voilà!! I hope you enjoyed this post!
See you soon (I think it's for [livejournal.com profile] spn_redemptionwith some Dean/Castiel art)

[identity profile] rince1wind.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
I knew it! I've been using the wrong ballpoint pen!

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 10:59 am (UTC)(link)
It works with any ballpoint pen :) I use BIC because it's the most common brand in France but when I was living Japan, I used what I could find at the supermarket. It has to be thin and the ink not too liquid. (so no "BIC Gel" or something)
Thanks a lot ♥

(no subject)

[identity profile] rince1wind.livejournal.com - 2012-04-05 12:32 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] elliejane.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
I love these pictures! You do such beautiful work. ::swoons a little::

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for your kind words about my ballpoint pen sketches. I'm happy you liked them ♥

[identity profile] eviljellybean88.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
damn, i have never been able to do anything like that with a ballpoint pen. SORCERY!!! lol XD

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
SORCERY!!! lol
I made a deal with Crowley. I brought him muffins (and boeuf bourguignon too :3 )
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥

[identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
GUH.

Gorgeous, sweetness...

*HUGS*

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't even have to read your user name: icon of the Doctor + hugs = you ^o^
Thanks a lot for your kind words about my art and for always dropping by when I post something new ♥

[identity profile] novakev.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
Wow. (With a pen?!! "shakes head" at your unbelievable talent!)

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep, a pen ^^ Pens are awesome, particularly ballpoint pens! I've been using them for sketching for years. I love their texture and their dark blue color.
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥

[identity profile] cherie-morte.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Things things you can do with lines. O__________________O

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Things things you can do with lines.
And with curves too :3
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥

Oh, what a lovely icon! I loved that scene so much, I think I cried a bit when I saw it

[identity profile] katbcoll.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
All of that fantastic stuff with a ballpoint pen. Ages and eons ago (meaning back in the beginning of the 80s) I met a guy in high school who could draw with a ballpoint pen. I was amazed then and am still amazed now.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for your kind words about my ballpoint pen sketches. I'm happy you liked them ♥
High School? ^^ That's where I learn to draw with a ballpoint pen (well, Junior High). Classes were so boring that I had to find a way pass the time :D

[identity profile] velvetsun.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
Amazing what you can do with just a pen. Gorgeous as always. ♥

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Pens are awesome, particularly ballpoint pens! I've been using them for sketching for years. I love their texture and their dark blue color.
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥
sillie: (BigBang2010AmriaDean)

[personal profile] sillie 2012-04-05 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
These are awesome... I'd love to try drawing with ballpoint, but knowing the way I draw, I'd probably fail spectacularly. XD
sillie: Aidan curls drawing (ReverseBang2011Jensen)

[personal profile] sillie 2012-04-05 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
Also? I'd love to see Dean/Jensen in ballpoint. ;)
heard_the_owl: made by lj user mediocrechick (Default)

[personal profile] heard_the_owl 2012-04-05 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
These are ALL. SO. BEAUTIFUL.

I'm just gonna sit here and stare for a bit. -Don't mind me! <3

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Ok, I don't mind you. You can stay here :3
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥
I'm happy you enjoyed my art ^^

[identity profile] milen748.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
THIS! you draw so good!! I wish, someday I could do something like this. I should start sketching first or something but I'm so lazy :(

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Sketching is very pleasant but it takes time and it's a bit discouraging at the start /o\ If you have the time, just don't hesitate!
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥
I'm happy you enjoyed my it ^^

[identity profile] sandymg.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
Damn, these are gorgeous. All of them are, but the last one? Jared at Paley? Huge sigh.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
That's funny because Jared at Paley was the one I drew the most quickly, it was just for an Internet meme, but it's the one people noticed immediately ^^;;
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥
I'm happy you enjoyed my it ^^

[identity profile] cassiopeia7.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
Bravo, you!!! These are beautiful, absolutely beautiful. #5 is my absolute favorite -- I love the way Jared's hair just . . . fades out to blank paper. GORGEOUS. &hearts&hearts And you did it with plain old ballpoint pen, too? O_o How long does it generally take you to draw one of these?

(impossible to erase) - Sometimes, the ink smears, sticks, or globs up.

I can't even write with the damn things without them blobbing or skipping -- how on earth do you get through an entire drawing without that happening?? (Or should I say, how often do you have to restart a sketch because of it?)
Edited 2012-04-05 01:41 (UTC)

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for your kind words about my ballpoint pen sketch :D
I'm glad you enjoyed them so much ^^

#5 is my absolute favorite
That's funny because Jared at Paley was the one I drew the most quickly, it was just for an Internet meme, but it's the one people noticed immediately ^^;;

How long does it generally take you to draw one of these?
Between twenty minutes (for the Jared at Paley) to one hour, one hour and an half for the more complex ones like the one of Castiel in the psychiatric hospital.

how on earth do you get through an entire drawing without that happening?? (Or should I say, how often do you have to restart a sketch because of it?)
I rarely restart a sketch. When it's failed, it's failed, I throw it away and don't come back to it. ^^ With time I tend to "know" my pens better. I can feel when the ink is about to glob up or what to do when it smears. When a sketch is failed for me it's not because of this kind of problems. It's mainly due to problems of likeness and accuracy. :/

[identity profile] borgmama1of5.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
These are awesome in their complex simplicity! They look so much like the actors it is stunning!

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I am obsessed by likeness and accuracy. It HAS to look like the actors or else I'm not happy and throw the sketch away xD
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥
I'm happy you enjoyed my it ^^

[identity profile] sweet-lyri.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
If I possessed even a QUARTER of your talent, I would be a very, very happy woman.

Sadly, I don't, I spent most of my art career in the abstract world, lol.

Very beautiful, as always.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥
I love your Christian icon! I'm glad I made your day thanks to my sketches ^^

[identity profile] tawg.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
These pictures are wonderful, I love all of the texture in your shading. And I love stuff drawn in pen.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I love ballpoint pen's textures and dark blue color. I use crosshatching for the shading, it's quick and easy :3
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥

[identity profile] cha.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
I do so love the way you draw Jared. You always capture the real essence of him.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Jared is the easiest to draw of the 3, particularly Jared of the first seasons. Misha and Jensen on the other hand... /o\
Thanks a lot for your kind words about my art ♥

[identity profile] roque-clasique.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
THESE ARE SO AMAZING

YOU

BLOW

MY

MIND

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
THANK

YOU

SO

MUCH ^^

(It wasn't easy to copy your comment style xD )

[identity profile] aerynsun5.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
As always, lovely and edifying.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥
Glad you enjoyed my ballpoint pen sketch :)

[identity profile] kayun.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Such lovely emphasis on their eyes! *_* Misha eyes is so intense in the last part indeed! Jared at paley fest one is such with a tender smile =) You do wonders everytime! Even with a pen~! =D I smear too much with pen and looks too sketchy lol..

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-06 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for your kind words about my ballpoint pen sketch :D
I'm glad you enjoyed them so much ^^

Jared at paley fest one is such with a tender smile =)
That's funny because Jared at Paley was the one I drew the most quickly, it was just for an Internet meme, but it's the one people noticed immediately ^^;;

[identity profile] aythia.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
I love the things you can do with a ballpoint pen, it's amazing! I've always had a weakness for pen/pencil drawings.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Ballpoint pens are underestimated. The things you can do with them are amazing! They are so easy to use and to carry everywhere. My artistic life would be empty without them ^^
Thank you so much for your kind words ♥

[identity profile] peepingdru.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
How absolutely amazingly talented u are***sigh****...lol
Adore the training postcard:)

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
The training postcard is one of the first sketches I posted and I was very surprised by the feedback I had! For me, it was just a sketch among 98876578 sketches ^^
Thank you so much for your kind words ♥

[identity profile] riama82.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 08:32 am (UTC)(link)
You're awesome! I... I have literally no words... Gorgeous! ♥

Interested in ball pen sketching? Check this out --> http://www.juanfranciscocasas.com/es/galeria/DIBUJO/2 (sorry, too lazy to do the cool link thing...)

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh WOW! Thank you so much for the link! This artist is amazing, I didn't know their works. I am far from doing this with a ballpoint pen! I wish I could but I am far from it ^^
Thanks a lot for your kind words about my art ♥
saphirablue: (Sam Winchester)

[personal profile] saphirablue 2012-04-05 08:58 am (UTC)(link)
You are amazing!

Thank you for sharing all your goodies with us!

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank YOU for your kind words and for taking the time to stop by ^^
Glad you loved my sketches ♥
ext_388233: (Default)

[identity profile] meesasometimes.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
you, always with the wonderful art!!! you're ridiculous!

Misha's mouth is perfect and amazing ....that second pic of him! Really? That mouth is perfection, with a pen?

*bowing to your greatness* it may not be necessary but it is applicable.

[identity profile] petite-madame.livejournal.com 2012-04-05 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Misha's mouth is perfect and amazing ....
I find Misha's mouth quite difficult to draw. His lips seem dry and soft at the same time! I'm always a bit worried when I start to draw his mouth because I am afraid to fail xD
Thank you so much for your kind words about my art ♥

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