I was drawing blogosphere Australian poet friend Gabrielle Bryden during her rainy days away from her blog, and this drawing was the culmination of several I made which, if you are my devoted reader, you have already encountered in the previous two posts!
Of the several this one, I think, most resembles the source photo (found here). And I like it because it’s more realistic. But I also like it because … because … well, just because.
Why ask why.
All the drawings were made in a small Moleskin notebook using my beloved blue ball point pens.
Aletha Kuschan's Weblog 
somehow the crease in the middle of the sketchbook works really well with the drawing and helps it, too. Contingency, I guess?
I always liked potraits done in ball point pen, and this is a very good one
I like the crease in the notebook, too. I wasn’t sure how others would respond to it. When you look at the notebook in real life, your mind sort of ignores the separation. Ah, but the camera doesn’t! It seems much more noticable (to me anyway) in reproduction.
Well, I’m glad it has fans … thanks svenddottir
thank you, jojoakesson, I have been raving about ball point pens in recent posts. I never realized what a subtle medium it can be, much more responsive to soft or hard lines than I knew.
Wow, amazing Aletha – you certainly have captured me in that portrait, especially the expression in the eyes – haha – thank you – I will blog about it today 🙂
C’est un magnifique portrait!
I like it because of the contrast, which is hard to do with one colour and one tool!
It is a beautiful series of Gabrielle.
I’m glad you see yourself in it. I was thinking it turned out pretty good as portrait and I like it alot as drawing. I like the mood of it. Yea!
This is quite wonder, Aletha, especially since you probably couldn’t erase.
merci beaucoup, Ben. celui-ci me plaît aussi. ces dessins étaient très amusantes à faire.
Thank you, Frank. Yes, it’s true. There’s no erasing with the pen. It’s all “incorporation.” Everything just has to fit in. Boo boos and all.