Friday, January 30, 2026

It's Friday

   Hi everyone. It's once again the end of the week, and that makes it time for Nicole's Friday Face Off and also Gillena's Friday Lunch Break.

    A while back Nicole challenged us to create a portrait, and today's the day we're going to share them. With a background in biology, I have always been interested in bones. So today, let me share my bone portrait. I hope you like it.


    This is as far as I got, and I based it on this scientific drawing.


    At this point my drawing looks like there are eyes tucked deep into each socket and that this guy is looking at us. 😳  

   Several years ago I took a 5 week drawing class through adult education at one of my local schools. After the class ended, several of us from the class spent the summer meeting one night a week and drawing together.

 I learned that I like to do shadows by using my stump and even drawing with the built up carbon on my stump. All those lighter lines on my face is what you get when you stump draw.

  And if you don't know what a drawing stump is, it's a tool usually used for blending. 


  I'm keeping this post short today. have a great Friday and weekend ahead. 




at

22 comments:

  1. David M. Gascoigne,January 30, 2026 at 6:01 AM

    Looks like you did a great job, Erika. We’ll all look pretty much the same at some point! Have a great weekend - David

    ReplyDelete
  2. Angie's RecipesJanuary 30, 2026 at 7:36 AM

    That's a great drawing, Erika. Wish I knew how to paint or draw...

    ReplyDelete
  3. brendaJanuary 30, 2026 at 7:48 AM

    Well done Erika, more than I dare do, the back of a bunny is about it for me.

    B x

    ReplyDelete
  4. TomJanuary 30, 2026 at 8:14 AM

    ...Erika, I wouldn't where to begin. What I do know is that it's too cold to go outside. I'm hunkering down, be warm and well.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JeanieJanuary 30, 2026 at 8:20 AM

    I've never used a blending pencil.. I love your skull -- you did well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Maria MedeirosJanuary 30, 2026 at 8:45 AM

    Erika I love the skull! Wonderful! have a lovely weekend and stay warm! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. carol l mckJanuary 30, 2026 at 9:49 AM

    Well done Erika ~ hugs,

    https://anartistreflects.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. ChristineJanuary 30, 2026 at 9:58 AM

    Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Elkes LebensglückJanuary 30, 2026 at 11:54 AM

    You did a fabulous job of copying that!!! have a good weekend!
    hugs Elke

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Rev. Arnoldo L. Romero, MLAJanuary 30, 2026 at 12:08 PM

    Hi Erika! Your "guy" has a very cubist feel, which I love. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  11. DVArtistJanuary 30, 2026 at 12:16 PM

    Erika you made my day with this portrait art. Uhhh yeah give me a skull any day. I'm impressed that you took this from a scientific image. I never thought to do that with my skull art. I do believe that drawing skulls and skeletons helps with drawing portraits and people in general. Know where the bones are and of course learning about muscle too. Your post is brilliant and I love, love, love that you took a 5 week drawing class then got together with some of your class mates. I wish I could do that here. I also use a stump for some things but I'd rather use the tortillion. Thank you for joining FFO and the portrait challenge. Have a very nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Carola BartzJanuary 30, 2026 at 1:07 PM

    I love it, Erika! Great choice, too - I bet Nicole will be delighted. When I work with graphite or even charcoal (I do sometimes) I enjoy using the blending stump, it's such a great and useful tool. I hope you have a lovely weekend. Hugs - Carola

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gillena CoxJanuary 30, 2026 at 1:54 PM

    Thanks for dropping by my blog, Erika. Thanks for the hugs you left, i need them, since i am sad today. I got news of my uncle James, he died this morning

    🎇much love

    ReplyDelete
  14. Open Your Heart to GardeningJanuary 30, 2026 at 2:35 PM

    Wow, so beautiful. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fundy BlueJanuary 30, 2026 at 3:56 PM

    Awesome, Erika! The skull is really well done! I wonder if I can find a stump in Waikiki. All I have is a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil. 😂 Have a great weekend! ❤️

    ReplyDelete
  16. The Happy WhiskJanuary 30, 2026 at 5:25 PM

    I love that you took classes and then got together after too. Very good drawing. I love the eyes in the sockets. They look cool!!!!! Well done, you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lowcarb team memberJanuary 30, 2026 at 6:07 PM

    I think that's a great drawing.
    Have a good weekend.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  18. Aimeslee WinansJanuary 30, 2026 at 7:49 PM

    Those eyes are fabulous, don't change them! Haha This reminds me of 8th grade health class. We had to memorize the bones of the body and then say them (pointing to each) as fast as possible. I won with the fastest time - 6.8 seconds! Do not ask me to replicate the speed but I can still say them all. Frontal, Fontella....all the way to Tarsels, Metatarsels, Phalanges! Then we had to learn the muscles and I have absolutely no memory of them! haha Stay warm, xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  19. CJ KennedyJanuary 30, 2026 at 9:39 PM

    That's a great drawing. I can almost see her teeth chattering because it's so cold outside! Hope you're staying warm

    ReplyDelete
  20. Debra She Who SeeksJanuary 30, 2026 at 11:13 PM

    Yorick! Is that you? Hahahaha, great skull drawing. I like to use a blending stump sometimes too, they can make a really nice effect as you've demonstrated.

    ReplyDelete
  21. KathylorraineJanuary 31, 2026 at 4:24 AM

    Awesome Erika

    ReplyDelete
  22. LiscaJanuary 31, 2026 at 7:26 AM

    I started some drawing classes in our village and I did buy those blending stumps. After a while the teacher stopoped coming and I found out later that he had a dispute about payment with there council who organized it. A shame because I enjoyed it.
    Your skull looks good and yes, it does look as if he is looking at you. But hey, as long as he doesn't wink...
    Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
    Lisca

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting. Your comments are always appreciated!