Ray Charles

James Brown

The Drawings

I don't just draw these out, I start with a picture or image I think best represents the subject. I tool around with it until I am satisfied and then transfer that to the canvas (I use an old technique I learned a long time ago without much help, just a pencil and ruler).

I transfer the images to the canvas as pencil, then I go back and draw the lines with a Sharpie pen. I erase all pencil lines, since the lead will get mixed with the medium and get all greyish and dirty.

If I feel like it, I will fill in some of the shading so that its easier to distinguish what wrapper goes where, like my next subject, James Brown.


You can see the next two subjects I will be doing below: Can you guess who they are?

Roy Orbison

Buddy Holly

Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley
The change of spelling of "Holley" to "Holly" came about because of an error in a contract he was asked to sign, listing him as Buddy Holly. That spelling was then adopted for his professional career. Holley died on February 3rd, 1959 at the age of 22 in a plane crash that also took the lives of the Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.

Robert Johnson

Undisputed facts about Johnson's life are few and far between. More often than not, his legend has obscured the few grains of truth which can be discerned. According to the myth, the young bluesman desperately longed for fame and fortune. Johnson was not satisified with his own musical abilities and felt that he needed more talent to achieve success. He was already bitter toward his creator, blaming God for the death of his beloved wife and unborn child. Despondent and irrational, he made a momentous decision. At the stroke of midnight, he walked down to the windswept crossroads at the junction of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale, MS. Reciting an ancient incantation, he called upon Satan himself to rise from the fires of Hell. In exchange for Johnson's immortal soul, the devil tuned his guitar, thereby giving him the abilities which he so desired. From then on, the young bluesman played his instrument with an unearthly style, his fingers dancing over the strings. His voice moaned and wailed, expressing the deepest sorrows of a condemned sinner.
(credit: www.stormloader.com/users/crossroads/)

Johnny Cash