Jim Kiefer
Artist | Hobbyist | Traditional Art

United States

I have been drawing portraits since grade school. There's something about a face that has always fascinated me. I am particularly drawn to the eyes and the character exposed by the lines surrounding them.

I've worked in several different mediums such as oils, acrylic, and watercolor. I quit drawing when I got married and raised two wonderful kids. After 21 years, I decided to pick up the pencil again and have been back at it for about 6 or 7 years now.

Pencil drawing is all about lines, shapes, textures, and tones and the portrait offers plenty of these characteristics. I particularly like the play of lights and darks.

One thing that came to me several years ago about portrait drawing is that there are the basic areas of white and black but the bulk of it is different degrees of gray areas. The blacks and whites are the foundation, but it's the gray areas the give the piece its character and meaning and that is how I see life. Unfortunately, today's world has drifted to only seeing blacks and whites and stripping away all the gray areas as inconsequential, stripping away our character. With that said, drawing keeps me grounded and open to any and all possibilities in all walks of life.

I would be most appreciative to anyone who deems my work good enough to donate points. Thanks! [link]

www.jjkiefer.com