George Bernard Shaw Portrait with Conte Crayons

I've been painting a lot lately so yesterday I felt like using a material that was more tactile with the paper. I had a desire to make something that I could feel evolving directly from my fingers, something that I could smudge and smear if you know what I mean?? So I decided to give these Conte Drawing Crayons from my travel kit a go.

It was my first time using these crayons, and I have to admit I really enjoyed using them. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but they are most like a hard pastel and if you use them as vigorously as I did, very messy with chalk powder. But still I loved them enough to buy two larger sets, and as they are relatively cheap for what they are, I have no quibbles in recommending them to anyone that likes pastels or as an extra media to use in art journals. How cheap = set above cost me £3 (for 4 sticks), and two sets of 12 cost £7.67 each (after shopping around, the rrp is about £12 for them) so not a professional artist media price for a something I do think is professional in quality. I decided to draw GBS with my sticks and here's how he turned out:

Not a photographic but a relative likeness I think. I was most trying to get the little smirk you kind of see behind his beard - that 'intelligent-smile-that's-not-smiling-at-all' look, that I've seen him give in more than one picture. Here's how he started:

I know!! A bit different right??? LOL I had no idea how he'd turn out, so for more of an experiment for myself than anything, I took stills after every layer and produced this 90 second transition movie showing his evolution from this funny scribble:

Hope you enjoy and a very happy Monday to everyone :) xx