Fiona Apple

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91 Comments

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I really liked the pose, there's something so classical about it.

My last few drawings before this weren't as sharp as I'd like, so I tried a mechanical pencil for the first time. Very pleased with the crispness and soft, smooth shading I'm able to get with it.

Early sketch:
:thumb118354917:

_{8.5" x 11" inkjet paper. General's black & white charcoal pencils, mechanical graphite with kneaded eraser. October/December 2008.}

Image details

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699x900px 196.06 KB

Published: Apr 11, 2009

Comments90

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TubaQueenApr 14, 2009

Overall

Vision

Originality

Technique

Impact

I'll try my hand at giving a good critique on this piece. When I see your work I'm always in such awe I have nothing constructive to say <img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/a/a…" width="19" height="19" alt="

" title="Sweating a little..." />

I just want to say first of all that I can definitely see a difference with the mechanical pencil--especially in the eyes. The detail in the face is indeed "extraordinary" <img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/w/w…" width="15" height="15" alt="

" title="

(Wink)" />

The hair gives the piece an incredible softness and it frames the face so well. The shading in the background is very subtle, but I think it adds a lot to this piece.

The only concern I have about this piece is her shoulder in the foreground. It may be my imagination, but I feel the piece is a little unbalanced because of the amount of white space in the shoulder area. You shaded her face so painstakingly well that it makes that in the foreground look flat by comparison. I think a little more light shading, maybe just around the edges of the shoulder would give it more dimension.

All in all, this is a truly beautiful piece, and I would expect nothing less of you <img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="

" title="

(Smile)" />

justinsdrawingsApr 16, 2009

I marked this as fair even before reading it. That's how much I value your artistic sensibilities and input.

In the same way you mention having nothing constructive to say, I'm always overwhelmed by your kind and thoughtful comments to point where I finally just have to plop one of those hugging smileys in the message box.

You're critique adds a whole new dimension to this experience. It's amazing what another set of eyes can show you! The face and hair got so much attention that I really never did notice how white and abstract the shoulder side was. I'd go back and change it if wasn't an older framed piece that I'd already decided was done. Seriously, if I started doing that I'd be asking to touch up commissions I did for other people years ago! Plus, I kinda like that you found a little flaw that will always be there.

Thank you so much for your honest critique! Extra points for working "extraordinary" into the piece.

TubaQueenApr 17, 2009

I really appreciate that you have that much faith in me

I don't think you should go back and change anything, the piece is great as it is. I usually never go back and fix little things because by the time I finish a piece my mind has already moved on to what I want to do next.

It's always a pleasure to see your work