Katie Dylewski - Art/ Illustration Blog

How To Fix Proportions on a Portrait

2019-02-15T10:32:00.003-06:00

Meet my grandpa.

Or, I should say: meet a guy who looks like my grandpa but is not quite my grandpa because the proportions are way off.

This unfinished portrait is based on a photo of him from 1950, when he served with the Marine Corps in Korea. I'm going to use this to discuss proportions and how to fix them.

Sometimes you just can't pinpoint exactly what is off, or what needs fixing. It's a collection of little missteps that just make it not quite right. So naturally, you abandon the painting for seven years and hope that a fire or flood will whisk it away so you don't have to fix it.

Anyway. Here's a little trick to help remedy a proportion dilemma.

It's also a great way to fact-check your drawing accuracy. You can do this for bodies, cars, anything.

1) Cut a piece of tracing paper and tape it to the in-progress painting.

2) With a blue colored pencil, lightly sketch some of the boundary lines. I like to do the overall face shape, the eye lid, iris, just below the tip of the nose, a few lip lines, etc. Don't get too detailed. It shouldn't take more than a minute.

3) Now, pull up the reference photo and hold up the tracing paper. Try to enlarge the image to match the tracing paper lines. (If it's very off, just try to match up the eyes.)

Lightly tape the tracing paper to the screen.

Immediately you can see that his ear is off.

The lobe isn't long enough (and you know those grandpa ear lobes) and the upper part is too small.

4) Using a red colored pencil, trace some of the actual image onto the tracing paper. Again, just the boundary lines. Sketch lightly so you don't damage your screen.

5) Pull the tracing paper away and now you have a cheat sheet. All of the differences are mapped out and now you know what needs to be fixed.

Blue lines = Your painting
Red lines = The actual image

The areas with the biggest gap between the two colors are the most drastic errors.

(If the two lines mix and you have purple, you are perfect. Close this window and never return to this blog.)

For example, there are a few areas on gramps that are way off:

• Ear is too small

• Shoulder is too high

• Hat needs to be bigger

• Mouth is off

At least I know exactly what needs to be done to remedy the proportions.

If there are a lot of discrepancies, don't throw your painting in the garbage* (*unless it's really bad, then throw it in the garbage) but do a light wash of watered-down acrylic (like a light grey) over the whole thing and now you have an excellent rough draft that you can start to refine.

Racine & Vicinity Art Exhibition 2014

2014-08-11T20:11:00.000-05:00

My painting "Ready Steady" was selected as part of this year's exhibition at the Wustum. In 2012, my painting "Slaughterman" was one of 4 works awarded in this same show.

Here's the show info from RAM's website:

Racine Art Museum's Wustum Museum
August 30 - November 29, 2014
The Awards Ceremony and Opening Reception is Sunday, September 7, 2:00 to 4:00 pm at RAM’s Wustum Museum, which is located at 2519 Northwestern Avenue, Racine. Awards will be presented at 3:00 pm.

Wally Mason will jury the selection. Wally Mason has been the Director/Chief Curator of the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since 2007. Mason has curated over 90 exhibitions, includingDark Blue: Water as Protagonist, Whatever is There is a Truth: Robert Rauschenberg’s Prints, and Witty, Sexy, Gimmicky: British Pop Art.

Awards Juror Harry Wirth is an Emeritus Professor of Art and Design from Northern Illinois University. He is an accomplished artist and architect and won the first place award in Watercolor Wisconsin 2012.

Resto-Mod: I Turned A Rusty $10 Salon Hair Dryer Into A Lamp

2014-08-11T19:40:00.006-05:00

In the spring and summer, I almost completely abandon all types of art and painting. Instead, I turn my attention to other types of fun projects—like this one!

This is a salon hair dryer, likely manufactured in the 1930s or '40s.

I bought it at a garage sale for $10 and then...

• stripped the paint

• took it apart

• repainted it

...and modified it into this glorious working lamp!

Here's a link to a photo step-by-step of how I did it.

New Painting & UW-Parkside 'Figure Studies' Exhibit

2014-01-25T12:22:00.002-06:00

Just finished my first painting of 2014. It's also the first non-commissioned painting I've done in over a year. The title is "Ready Steady."

I had to transport it the same day I finished, so no real photos yet—BUT here she is in my backseat on her way to ArtWorks. No seat belt! F the law!

Now she's headed to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Foundation Gallery for...

"Figure Studies"
An exhibit highlighting "Two Nudes with Oak Stool and Canvas", a lithograph by noted realist artist Philip Pearlstein. In the UW-Parkside collection, artists present their own figure studies. Images in the exhibition invite discussion of the cultural meaning of sexuality, censorship, violence and abstraction. Curated by Kenosha artist and business owner Chet Griffith.

Show dates: February 4th through March 23rd
Reception: March 7th, 6pm-8pm

Painting in Portugal: Ema

2013-09-02T11:27:00.002-05:00

Just spent the last 3 weeks in Portugal! The land of port wine and cork and lucky cocks and other things that made me giggle.

While I was there, my friend (a lawyer from Porto) asked if I would paint a portrait of her granddaughter.

It took me 5 days and I did 80% of the work in a place called Resende—an insanely picturesque place in the steep country hills surrounding the Douro river.

Here is Ema, oleo sobre tela (oil on canvas).

2013-07-10T19:46:00.001-05:00

I'll be in Portugal for almost a month!

I figure: when painters travel to Europe, they paint buildings and things.
So hopefully I will too.

Here's the teensy watercolor palette I'm bringing along.

Breaking News: Anderson Cooper Sniffed My Art

2013-01-15T01:40:00.003-06:00

On Thursday, January 3rd 2012, THIS aired on national television:

And—sitting on my couch that morning in my pajamas—this is what happened to my mind:

The star of Clarissa Explains It All (the coolest show in the entire world when I was 9 years old) held my painting and Anderson Cooper SAID MY FULL NAME and did not butcher it.

They both complimented my artistic skills and proceeded to sniff a portrait that I painted. This all happened for—oh—a good minute or two on national television.

Mind blown. No words. :)

Coffee Portraits: Anita

2012-12-20T18:19:00.005-06:00

I finished these commissions this week -- two 20x24 coffee portraits of my art student, Anita.

Right now, these are on a plane to their permanent homes in Portugal.

In Portugal, people will refer to these as "Retrato de café". When they talk about me, they will say "Katie é um pintor, ela gosta de purê de batatas. Com cabelo como xarope de bordo e os seios como leitelho biscoitos! Feliz Natal!"

Eu sou ciumento que minha pintura começa a viajar para Portugal. Eu estou preso em uma tempestade de neve Wisconsin. Você quer aprender a dizer palavrões em Português? Ok. O coelho é um idiota. Odontalgia bastardo! Fazer xixi e cocô no fogo!

Illustration: New Spark Coaching

2012-11-21T07:25:00.001-06:00

A couple of months ago, I did a handful of retro/line-drawing illustrations for a California company called New Spark Coaching. It's a life-coaching website run by a really nice woman named Kimberly Beck.

I've done a lot of illustration work for life coaches, wardrobe stylists. I should really start trading artwork for services. Right now my life coach/stylist is Google....i.e, "Are leggings considered pants?"* and "Is it dorky to wear a swim cap in Miami?"

* Leggings are not pants. Apparently I've been walking around without any pants on.

'Dress Yourself Skinny'

2012-11-18T19:48:00.001-06:00

A book I illustrated is for sale on Amazon: "Dress Yourself Skinny" by author Sarah Shah

Sarah is a TV wardrobe specialist based in Houston, Texas and has worked on shows like MTV's 'My Sweet Sixteen'.

The book details every possible body-type and illustrates how to best dress for that body type. My job was to create line drawings of the 14 female body-types, the correct way to wear a bra, and how to dress appropriately for work.

Copies of "Dress Yourself Skinny" are available in paperback or for Kindle on Amazon.com.

Anderson Watch 2012: Update

2012-11-15T11:42:00.003-06:00

Still waiting to see the portrait on Anderson Live. Fingers-crossed.

The producer says they may have it on this week. Meanwhile, I'm anxiously watching the show everyday. Every time Anderson reaches for something, my stomach drops.

Today he started talking about energy drinks and caffeine with his co-host Snooki—he even brought up coffee. I almost had a heart attack. Nothing yet though.

BUT—he did post a photo of my painting on both his show's Twitter and Facebook! Woo!

Check it out...

ANDERSON COOPER LIVE!!!

2012-11-12T23:14:00.003-06:00

I got a call from a producer at the Anderson Cooper Live show today - she asked me if I could possibly FedEx my coffee portrait of Anderson so they could maybe use it on the show tomorrow!!

In the words of my sister: HOLY SHITBALLS!!!

I almost got into a few accidents (did one of those right turns where you hit the curb and bounce over it) to pick up the painting from the Pollard Gallery and now it's being flown to New York. If it arrives by air time, it will likely be on tomorrow's show. AND he might Skype interview me. AND tomorrow is my 30th birthday.

I swear this is EXACTLY how my ENTIRE day has been. Especially at 1:59. With a lot more swearing:

Ohhh Shiiiih Tzu

2012-11-07T22:58:00.002-06:00

I got wrangled into painting three Shih Tzus :)

Taking a TV break. Figured I'd blog about it.

Blog blog blog.

Fall 2012 Update!

2012-10-20T10:42:00.001-05:00

Brigitta Richter expertly hanging my stuff

My first show went extremely well.

Sold FOUR paintings. WOO!

Getting crunk on champagne at the opening

Bill Robbins of the Kenosha News did a great article about the show

I'm taking a month or so off from all art-related things because I am burned out and because I'm selling Breaking Bad Halloween costumes. In late September, I realized that no one was selling Breaking Bad costumes, so I bought a few cases of yellow hazmat suits and the month has been a blur of shipments to Ireland and the UK.

Since all of my paintings are at the Pollard Gallery right now, my art studio has become my shipping headquarters.

I used a little bit of my eBay profits thus far to renew my website address. For a short time, anyone who typed "KatieDylewski.com" was being directed to this young lady with search suggestions like: "Carmen Electra", "Drew Barrymore", and "Playboy Single". Should I be flattered? I am.

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If Politicians Were 'Breaking Bad' Characters...

2012-09-19T23:32:00.001-05:00

Dick Cheney as "Hector Salamanca"

I did these quickie illustrations for a FunnyOrDie.com article but they opted to use actual photos instead

Bill Clinton as "Heisenberg"

Here are some of the illustrations that would otherwise live for eternity in my hard drive.

So, enjoy!

Maybe I'll upload the rest later.

Commission: Alexander Duthart

2012-09-07T16:16:00.002-05:00

I was commissioned to paint this earlier this year...

It's a portrait of Alexander Duthart (1925–1986); he was a Scottish drummer who revolutionized Scottish pipe band snare playing. Thanks Wikipedia!

Unfortunately, Mr. Duthart didn't take a lot of photographs in his lifetime. The ones he did take were extremely 1970s-style blurry. On top of that, he also wore about 18 yards of plaid as part of his Scottish drummer outfit.

Painting plaid from a blurry reference photo is pure hell on the eyeballs. It instantly makes you feel like you've been in a Wal-Mart for 5 hours (or 15 minutes, same difference) and/or like you've been awake for 4 days watching Requiem for a Dream on a loop.

I won't ever paint plaid again, ever. EVER.

Anyway, this painting was framed at Artworks and now resides with a former student of Mr. Duthart.

First Solo Show @ Pollard Gallery (Sept - Nov 2012)

2012-08-19T18:06:00.000-05:00

I have my first solo show coming up in about 3 weeks!

I'll have four or five new paintings; none are quite finished yet. A few ("Slaughterman", "Study of a Girl" and one yet to be determined) will be in nice refinished wood frames. These frames were sold to me by a very nice woman for WAY way too cheap at a yard sale in New Berlin because I told her I had my first solo show coming up; amazingly she just asked how much I had in my pocket and sold them to me for that.

Anywho, I am trying to refinish those frames today but I feel high from heat-gun fumes and am trying to track down a sander...so I'm taking a computer break.

Here's the info and the flyer:

Opening Reception:

Saturday, September 8th 2012

Show runs September 8th - November 2012

Pollard Gallery - 5800 7th Avenue Kenosha, WI

Phish Painting

2012-08-06T23:33:00.001-05:00

Don't let this painting fool you—I do not like the band Phish.

That said, they do have cool concert posters. Also, I am dating a Phish fan.

I wanted to buy him this particular Phish tour poster for his birthday last year but apparently their tour posters are like $100+ on eBay.

So, I made a huge cradled board out of maple wood and painted the image instead. The original design is not my own (I wish it was) -- it's by DKNG Studios.

In Phish fan language, this is the poster from 6/4/11 Cuyahoga Falls, OH bruh.

DVD Menu Designs - Katy Perry "Part of Me"

2012-07-18T20:26:00.002-05:00

A couple mock-up DVD menus I created recently for a design firm in Waukesha.

Portrait of Anderson Cooper (in Coffee)

2012-06-19T13:53:00.001-05:00

After many years of sitting on the floor and propping canvases against the back of my kitchen chair, I finally broke down and bought a nice easel from Utrecht. Painting is much MUCH easier now so I plan to do more of it.

Hopefully uploading more in the next month. Here's one I did for fun...

*UPDATE: He came out of the closet one week after I posted this, therefore I take full responsibility. Congrats Anderson :)

** MEGA UPDATE! This painting was featured on ANDERSON LIVE on ABC on 1/3/2013! Ahhh!

Move over "Toddler waving from trolley"...

2012-05-10T16:30:00.001-05:00

Check it out! My sister just showed me this. Apparently my painting "Slaughterman" snuck into one of the photos on the Downtown Kenosha Business Directory pamphlet :)

Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary T-Shirt

2012-04-17T23:24:00.013-05:00

I was recently commissioned to design a t-shirt for the Girl Scouts.

It celebrates the organization's 100th anniversary (1912-2012; there's a big nationwide celebration in May) and shows the girls through the decades in black and white. The modern-day scouts are shown in color.

The shirts are available for sale now on the main page of the Girl Scouts Wisconsin site to troops nationwide.

Pumped!!

Watercolor Portrait: Caroline

2012-01-11T22:40:00.002-06:00

Just found this packed in with my older paintings. It's watercolor on board. I can't remember what her name is (I took the liberty to rename her) but I just really liked the ship tattoo.

Favorite Job of 2011

2011-12-29T21:35:00.003-06:00

This was my hands-down favorite freelance job of the year.

Task: 10-15 sketches of various types of people fighting with crutches.

They were used in a storyboard for a commercial and yes, I took the opportunity to put a cartoon version of myself in a crutch-battle with a man in a tank top.

I also cartoonified Anita, a young artist I tutor; she's fighting a pirate.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Christmas Work

2011-12-29T20:55:00.000-06:00

A caricature of Snap-On CEO Nick Pinchuk, and a 40's style illustration for a family Christmas card...