This is a tinted and graphite pencil drawing of a proposal in the Wicklow Mountains. I worked on the drawing earlier this year. The portrait is 20 x 20 cm in size and I used mostly graphite and black graphite pencils on paper. The tinted areas of the yellow coat and the green hat were drawn with Polychromos coloured pencils.
The portrait was small in size, but I wanted to capture as much detail and atmosphere as possible. The background worked so well in adding depth to the drawing and I drew it in a little lighter in tone to emphasize this. The client wanted to add a splash of colour and we agreed the coat would be best. I also added some gentle green to the bride-to-be’s hat.
The client contacted me to commission this drawing as a wedding present for her brother in the photo. She was very happy with the finished drawing:
OMG it’s stunning! They are going to love it!… Just a quick note to let you know Eric and Rosi loved the drawing and are so so pleased with it! Thank you so much for all your hard work…you are truly talented! It was a pleasure dealing with you.
Ruth, Zurich, Switzerland
I took some photographs of the finished drawing before and after I mounted it in a white mount. I usually spray my drawings with a fixative before mounting too. This just protects the surface from smudging. The drawings are then posted in a mount which can be inserted into a frame.
The couple in question were delighted with their wedding gift and the husband-to-be sent me a lovely email:
Hi Ivana! I just wanted to say thank you for the drawing we received from my sister (Ruth Kelly) of the engagement shot in the Wicklow Mountains. It is expertly done and we look forward to framing it. We will spread the word of your talents.
Eric, Dublin, Ireland
