I just finished a Leonard Cohen drawing. I'm not able to draw from memory yet so it's based on a photograph...
The first one is the photograph of my drawing (I don't have a scanner!) and the second one is modified with photoshop : I improved the lighting and used the smudge tool to "paint" my drawing. Since It's the first time that I use my computer to rework a drawing, I still have to improve my method but I'm rather satisfied with the result .
Edit : I lightened the pictures
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Last edited by Marine on Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Marine, that is a really good likeness of leonard. you even got that light outlining he has above his upper lip.
It is a wonderful drawing.
Marsha
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Marine wrote:
>I improved the lighting and used the smudge tool to "paint" my drawing. Since It's the first time that I use my computer to rework a drawing, I still have to improve my method but I'm rather satisfied with the result.
It's very nice, especially as you have preserved the details of his sweater. It was probably hand knitted, possibly by marianne - as Norwegians are good at creating warm winter garments. The jumper he is wearing here has a turndown ribbed polar-neck, and looks to me like a basic knit-two purl-two, knit-three purl-three pattern. Not really difficult. Probably used about size 15 needles, suitable for chunky yarn, I would say. After starting off, one just wraps the wool around the back of one needle, pushes the tip of the other through the space and pulls the loop through to the front - that is a knit stitch. Starting with the wool in the front makes a purl stitch, of course. Leonard wouldn't know anything about that, though - he just wears it. To him knitting is a completely unexplored universe belonging exclusively to the female domain, which explains why he has never once mentioned it anywhere in his entire work. It is a pasttime monopolised by females. Though I did once see a photograph of him smoking, and he was using a long cigarette holder. Now, answer me this. In 'Beautiful Losers' he complained: "I will never find a graceful way to carry a brown lunch bag on a bus ride," and that may be true, but let us go further. Is there a masculine way for a man to smoke using a cigarette holder? No, it's as feminine as knitting.
Beautiful, Marine. I keep feeling there's something about your original that I prefer... perhaps, because it captures better all of your hard work? It's more raw. The second is more stylized. Six of one half, though... I really like them both .
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
Your picture is very nice Marine, your may just be learning but you are obviously very talented. I will enjoy seeing any further portraits of Leonard that you do.
Geoffrey, it is nice to know you regularly visit your feminine side as you seem expert in the techniques of knitting. Have you yourself knitted any garments?
Evie B
...he shows you where to look amid the garbage and the flowers
Thank you to all of you I'm glad you liked it!
I have two other LC drawing left that I made when I began to draw (3 years ago) but they are at my parent's home. I will post them later (ie when I come back home for christmas). This one is surely not the last portrait of Leonard I draw and you will be the firsts to know when I finish another one!
seadove wrote:It came out very well. Can I use it as a background pic for my forum?
Of course! It would be an honor to see my drawing as your background pic seadove.
friscogrl wrote:Marine, that is a really good likeness of leonard. you even got that light outlining he has above his upper lip.
Yes, I like to preserve the details of the original photograph as Geoffrey also noticed with the sweater! I think the little details are important to recognize the person on the drawing.
And thank you Geoffrey for your analysis! In spite of your clear knitting lesson, I still think it's easier to draw a sweater than to knit it. Of course the applications are not the same since paper can't keep you warm as chunky yarn
Here is my new portrait!
I'm not really satisfied with the hair : I never manage to convey it right movement, but that's the best I can do!
I tried to modified this drawing with photoshop too, but the hair is worse : looks like Leonard Cohen is wearing a Playmobil helmet, which is less stylish than a fedora I can tell you . So I won't post it there, I don't want to compromise anybody
As promised above, I finally managed to get my first LC drawings back!
The second one is not really a good likeness I think for his face but I'm satisfied with the body and the guitar .
I have another photo (more contemporary) in mind for my next portrait, I'll try to do it before the end of my holiday!
And sorry seadove, but I'm not ready yet for a caricature , maybe one day?! I'd like to see one too, if some people are interested in this challenge!
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In spite of your clear knitting lesson, I still think it's easier to draw a sweater than to knit it. Of course the applications are not the same since paper can't keep you warm as chunky yarn 
, maybe one day?! I'd like to see one too, if some people are interested in this challenge!