Pen and Ink Portraits

Along with my painting, I have been having a lot of fun sketching with pen and ink. It started out with the challenge of doing a drawing a day. And then, without really planning to, I moved from sketching inanimate objects to drawing people. There is something about capturing the likeness of another human being, on paper or canvas, that I cannot resist.

One drawing led to another and soon I was accepting commissions for small, 4 x 6 inch, pen and ink portraits. They make unique gifts that become family treasures. And from those original portraits I have also had requests for giclee prints. The prints become additional gifts to extended family members.

Here are some of the portraits I have sketched recently. Enjoy!

Visiting the Met: Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

I got in trouble at the Metropolitan Museum of Art the other day. As a rule, I try to avoid trouble, but sometimes it just happens anyway.

Pen and Ink Study, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rita Salazar Dickerson
5/31/14

I planned this visit to the museum with my drawing pen and sketch book in hand, ready to sketch paintings that caught my eye. Drawing works of art from the masters forces me to really look at the painting and study it more closely than I would if I just gazed at it or took a photograph.

Pen and Ink/Pencil study, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rita Salazar Dickerson
5/31/14

 After completing "Head of a Young Woman", I moved to the next room and began "Portrait of a Man". All was going well with this stylish young man who boldly faces the viewer with confidence and determination when a guard appeared out of nowhere and asked me what I was drawing with. I thought he was just trying to strike up a friendly conversation.

"What are you drawing with?", he asked. "A pen", I smiled. "A pen?" "Yes, a pen." "Not a pencil?" "No, a pen." "Its not a pencil?" "No", I replied. "Its a pen. See the nice little tip? Its a drawing pen."(I was so proud of my new pen.) "You cannot use a pen in the museum", he said sternly. "But this is just a nice little drawing pen." I replied. "No pens in the museum. Look." And he proceeded to show me the museum policy written in their brochure which he had hi-lighted in red ink. Red ink. Really?

I was so surprised I just stood there. He walked away and I continued to stand there thinking that maybe my drawing time was over. But no. Wait. It can't be over. I was really enjoying this special time, studying and drawing. Could I really give up so easily? No, I could not. Quickly I sprang into action, asking another guard (someone who didn't know my past) where the nearest exit was out of this incredible art maze. I tried not to run down the long flight of steps to the bookstore on the main level. I quickly purchased this fine drawing pencil, complete with the museum logo. A keepsake that I never knew I wanted.

 And then it was back to the "Portrait of a Man", now a mixed media sketch. Pen and graphite.

Pencil Sketch Study, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rita Salazar Dickerson
5/31/14

My final sketch of the day was this interesting portrait of "Maria Teresa". Her hair was adorned with translucent, crescent shaped ribbons woven into her massive waves. She was so much fun to draw. Velasquez must have had a blast.

Mother and Child: Pen and Ink Sketches

Here is a collection of pen and ink sketches I have done in the last few years. In honor of mothers everywhere, enjoy.

A Mother's Love

.

Her love is like an island in
life's ocean vast and wide...

A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the wind, the rain, the tide,

'Tis bound on the North by Hope,
By Patience on the West

By tender Counsel on the South,
And on the East, by Rest

Above it like a beacon of light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;

And thro' the changing scenes of life
I find a haven there.

Author Unknown