Portrait Of Math Is Hard by zoobyshoe

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a portrait created by the user zoobyshoe, focusing on artistic techniques, mediums used, and the reception of the artwork within the community. Participants express admiration for the artwork and engage in light-hearted banter about the artist and the subject of the portrait.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Participants express admiration for zoobyshoe's artistic skills, with many describing the artwork as "amazing" and "outstanding."
  • Questions arise regarding the medium used for the portrait, with some participants suggesting it is pencil and paper, while others inquire about possible airbrushing techniques.
  • Zoobyshoe mentions that the portrait was created using graphite on smooth Bristol Board and was worked on over several months.
  • There is discussion about the importance of subject choice in art, with zoobyshoe reflecting on how the subject's beauty contributed to the artwork's reception.
  • Some participants express a desire to improve their own artistic skills, contrasting their abilities with zoobyshoe's talent.
  • Humorous exchanges occur regarding the subject of the portrait, with playful comments about her appearance and the artist's skills.
  • Participants discuss the challenges of capturing eye color in pencil drawings and consider the possibility of using oil paints for more vibrant representations.
  • There are inquiries about the techniques used to achieve accurate proportions in the portrait, with mentions of grid systems and proportional dividers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the quality of the artwork and express admiration for zoobyshoe's talent. However, there are varying opinions on the techniques used and the challenges of representing certain features, such as eye color, which remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions touch on the limitations of pencil drawings in capturing certain colors and details, as well as the subjective nature of artistic appreciation.

Who May Find This Useful

Artists, art enthusiasts, and individuals interested in portrait techniques and artistic expression may find this discussion engaging.

  • #61
radou said:
Amof, that's totally true.

I agree also!

I remember I once drew a picture for a girl in like Grade 3-6 and she still had it in like senior year in high school. Pretty sweet. :biggrin:
 
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  • #62
Stunning, Zoobie. Stunning, MIH. You can tell your parents that they do fine work.

Cyrus, I'm no art critic but it seems to be you'd be an artist if you loved the process of drawing so much that you worked endlessly at it. Obviously there can be no talent without intelligence, but a lot of talented people insist that skill development is the biggest part of genius. If you'd rather do other things than spend endless hours drawing, there's no shame in that.
 
  • #63
Dr Transport said:
Lucky guess? Both you and MIH...


Yup. There is no zoobyshoe. Zooby is a sock puppet invented by me, Math Is Hard. This is a self portrait.

Fools rule! Hahahahahahahaha!
 
  • #64
BillJx said:
Stunning, Zoobie.

Thanks much, Bill.
 
  • #65
zoobyshoe said:
Yup. There is no zoobyshoe. Zooby is a sock puppet invented by me, Math Is Hard. This is a self portrait.

Fools rule! Hahahahahahahaha!

which makes you your own puppet that is actually your real self in disguise.

sounds like a twilight zone episode. to the bomb shelter and/or bank safe!
 
  • #66
Anttech said:
Zoob do you use your skills for work?

No, this is a serious hobby only at this point.
 
  • #67
Ki Man said:
which makes you your own puppet that is actually your real self in disguise.

sounds like a twilight zone episode. to the bomb shelter and/or bank safe!

It's funny you should say that because once, when I was diligently at work on my first painting Portrait of a Zoobie as a Young Sock puppet on the Foot of a Barbie About to Wear a Zoobyshoe I was interrupted when my Math Is Hard mask slipped from my face and hit the mirror in which I was studying my reflection shattering me into a thousand ships which sunk immediately upon being launched. The camera panned over to Rod Serling who said a few introductory words, and the next half hour of my life was sheer hell, except for the commercial breaks.
 
  • #68
zoobyshoe said:
It's funny you should say that because once, when I was diligently at work on my first painting Portrait of a Zoobie as a Young Sock puppet on the Foot of a Barbie About to Wear a Zoobyshoe I was interrupted when my Math Is Hard mask slipped from my face and hit the mirror in which I was studying my reflection shattering me into a thousand ships which sunk immediately upon being launched. The camera panned over to Rod Serling who said a few introductory words, and the next half hour of my life was sheer hell, except for the commercial breaks.

Wow! That explains so much, like why I've never seen you two together! And why you have no photo!

That's sadly romantic, but I find the sinking of the 1000 ships so depressing! Now I have nothing but a 1000 empty life vests.
 
  • #69
Zoob, very nice work.

zoobyshoe said:
It's funny you should say that because once, when I was diligently at work on my first painting Portrait of a Zoobie as a Young Sock puppet ...
It's uncanny that you should say that. The first thought that entered my head when I read the thread title was Joyce!
 
  • #70
BobG said:
Wow! That explains so much, like why I've never seen you two together! And why you have no photo!
Exactly.

That's sadly romantic, but I find the sinking of the 1000 ships so depressing! Now I have nothing but a 1000 empty life vests.
Well, it seems sad, but the painting was a hit, and launched a 1000 threads titled "My Old Drawings."
 
  • #71
Gokul43201 said:
Zoob, very nice work.

It's uncanny that you should say that. The first thought that entered my head when I read the thread title was Joyce!

Not really uncanny. I actually already launched 1000 stupid quetions with a paraphrase of that Joyce title. Well, three or four anyway.
 
  • #72
wow zoobyshoe that is an amazing picture!

i find it very difficult to draw anyone that i don't think is beautiful...the picture just doesn't come out the same as when you draw someone that you have feelings for and you think is gorgeous

it is clear to see that you really like MIH... or your just super super good at drawing?
 
  • #73
sara_87 said:
wow zoobyshoe that is an amazing picture!

Thank you very, very much.

i find it very difficult to draw anyone that i don't think is beautiful...the picture just doesn't come out the same as when you draw someone that you have feelings for and you think is gorgeous

it is clear to see that you really like MIH... or your just super super good at drawing?

Since you're a portrait artist, too, I'll answer in depth.

By way of illustrating my take on this subject, here's my portrait of Thomas Edison:

Edison2C.jpg


I don't like Edison, I don't feel warmth toward him, but I'm deeply fascinated by him, by the kind of man he was and by the impact he had on the world. I chose a reference photo that I felt would afford me the most opportunities to emphasize all kinds of negative character traits while also conveying the fact he was a force to be reakoned with. I find his direct, cold stare to be both an act of agression and an expression of his arrogance.
EdisonCU.jpg


The rest of his features are not refined, but kind of thick and clumsy in a way that suggests a bully to me, and there's an unkempt edge to the hair that says "I don't care for niceties".

This drawing of Edison is every bit as backed up by emotional reaction on my part as the one I did of Math Is Hard. It's technically just as good, maybe better.

The main difference between the two is subject matter. People would much, much rather look at a beautiful face with a pleasant, serene expression than at an aggressive looking business man eyeballing them as if he's figuring out how he might exploit them. If you go back to the beginning of this thread and read my post #15 you'll see where I give the story of how this portrait of Math is Hard was received on an art forum served as a revelation to me about the importance of subject matter.

So, while I don't feel any inclination to draw someone unless they elicit a strong emotional reaction from me, that reaction doesn't have to be limited to thinking they're beautiful. I just have to find them compelling, attention-getting in some way, and I'll put a lot into the drawing. The ones people prefer to look at, though, are the ones where it's clear I have expressed a positive range of reactions to the subject.
 

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