Big Girls you are beautiful

After doing so many svelte women. I thought it was time to celebrate the voluptuous! And, with the Mika song running through my head, I present Big girls you are beautiful

Firstly, one of my all time favourite comedians Dawn French. My initial thought was to do a ballet, but then I remembered this…

“The mirror” from the fabulous Vicar of Dibley.

I don’t think I can improve on that! So I decided to go for a high wire act instead.

Voila!

 

My other candidate for big is beautiful Cass Eliot or Mama Cass as she will be forever known late of the Mamas and the Papas. The voice of an angel who sadly died far too young.

Any excuse to hear her sing here’s “Dream a little dream”

I thought I’d go with a singing in the street vibe with sultry overtones…

And this has just reminded me of Hattie Jacques, another big woman who could do sexy as this photo proves!

Yep, Hattie Jacques and maybe Barbara Windsor for next week…

Having just found out she was the voice of the Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland, she’s definitely going in!

Country singers and big hair – dream caricatures!

What is it about American Country music that encourages it’s female stars to have such big hair.

I confess to being more than a little jealous of Crystal Gale’s hair. Just look at it!

As a child I always wanted hair I could sit on. It never grew quite long enough, stopping in the small of my back. My best friend’s was a few inches longer but still never reached the target length. It makes you wonder whether some kind of rack device was used… that or some hair extensions – pah! 

I had a request to do Crystal here and wondered who else in Country music could I do. Dolly Parton, another fan of the oversized barnet!

 

 

 

So, I present 2 established figures even I can recognise - not being a Country and Western Fan.

Crystal…

And Dolly!

So, could this be a feature of this genre of singers. Further digging produced a new contender for the “Big Hair” crown…

who I’ve never heard of! Sorry any Carrie Underwood fans, but I didn’t know her name until I downloaded the photo on Sunday. To make up for my ignorance, here she is!

I suspect some artificial assistance is used by a lot of these stars, they look far too good for their age -with the exception of Carrie who looks about right.

Dolly Parton* for instance, freely admits she’s had work done. Whilst not a fan of cosmetic surgery. I prefer people who fess up compared to those who obviously have work done and deny it.

I’ve learnt four unconnected things as well.

1. My pens need topping up/replacing

2. I need to clean the scanner bed

3. Doing eyes is making me cross-eyed.

4. I’m not that keen on doing hair! (Shocking when most people I talk to say drawing hair is their favourite bit.)

With the forth point in mind, maybe I should try some bald people for next week.

Sinead O’Connor immediately comes to mind… any other suggestions? Please add them to the comments.

*Sorry for Wiki link here. I decided against Dolly’s page - it was too annoying and slow and had a flash page!!!!

Realistic sketching with coloured pencils - a portrait of Avril Lavigne

I’ve always admired people who can get a photorealistic finish on pencil sketching. For some time I wondered how it was achieved. Then I discovered burnishing. I knew some blending techniques but hadn’t really attempted burnishing before. (There were some serious gaps in my art education!)
This is my second serious attempt at intensive blending, Avril Lavigne. The blending and colours seem to be working well.

With any artwork I always find it best to “sit on it” for a while. Looking at a picture after a break helps you see the flaws. The errors are glaringly obvious.
Take Avril here, I thought I was finished until I scanned the picture in. But now I can see where I need some minor adjustments. But I’ll do that tomorrow I think, then add the picture with changes.
I can also see that I need to clean my scanner bed, there are marks on her chin which aren’t on the original! Ugh housework! (phtew)