Petit Cœur de Lion

Surface: Strathmore 500 series Bristol Plate, 2 ply
Pigmented Lightsabres: Caran d'Ache Luminance and Pablo
Reference photo: Taken by a 10kg lighter, 3 shades darker hair me

I recently succumbed to the siren call of new pencils, a set of Caran d'Ache Pablos this time, and I had to put on my thinking hat to find a suitable subject to test drive them.

Now normally, caffeine is my fuel of choice, but this time I opted for the hard stuff. Six Wine Gums later and feeling a little tipsy, I opted for a calorie efficient search through my archives and came across a lovely photo of my daughter, taken many moons ago with my first digital camera, a gloriously chunky, retro low resolution device.

I wanted to use a smooth surface for this, but found my new pad of Bristol Plate had more ripples in than a sandy beach at low tide. A swift mon dieu, followed by a light application of a steam iron on a linen pillow case had the paper flat and ready to rumble.

The Pablos and Luminance made excellent partners, lay down was so smooth it could have been sponsored by Gillette. I clearly was involved in my daughter's hair on this day, as it was a flyaway mess... I had fun recreating that, with the back-lit effect of the sun giving a little extra sparkle.

Even though I measured and compared many times on the facial features, I still had to resort to my trusty brass proportional dividers to tweak as I went to get the likeness. The tiniest fraction out can throw it, but I think I got there in the end.

My now 21 year old daughter had to have an operation on her knee this month, having been unable to walk since August. Despite all that entails, her courage and determination are a shining light for me, she truly does have the heart of a lion. I look forward to walking with her again, such simple things are truly priceless.

Have a good weekend everyone😊