ileanastancescu

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My Top 5 Drawings of 2023

My Top 5 Drawings of 2023

Is it a tad self indulgent to delve into retrospectives in January? Perhaps, but after having single womanly created the magic of Christmas for my own family, I’ll allow myself a look back at my year in art to feel like I am something more than a very imperfect parent


Naked As The Day She Was Drawn: Nude Commissions

Naked As The Day She Was Drawn: Nude Commissions

Here’s an illustrated answer to one of your most frequently asked quotations.

Does she do nude commissions?

The short answer is yes. She does.

However. This only applies to tasteful or meaningful compositions. Let’s put it this way: if this looks like it would easily belong on OnlyFans, I’m not likely to accept the commission


Barking Mad: I’m Doing Dog Portraits

Barking Mad: I’m Doing Dog Portraits

Who would have though a few years ago that Minimal Woman (that’s my superhero name) would be spending countless hours tackling the hirsute minutiae of dog portraits – and, crucially, love every second of it? I wouldn’t have put any money on it


Top tips for drawing minimalist portraits

Top tips for drawing minimalist portraits

And for my next trick, I’m going to take you on a private guided tour of the House of Minimalism.
I know from experience many of you enjoy having a go at creating portraits in my style, because it looks so easy. And I very much enjoy seeing the results


New Magazine Interview: Transliving International

New Magazine Interview: Transliving International

I won’t be quite done celebrating Pride Month until I’ve shared this interview I did for Trans Living International Magazine


Dolly Parton Minimal Pencil Portrait

Dolly Parton Minimal Pencil Portrait

I don’t think I’ve spoken about this before, but I tend to immerse myself in the pursuit of getting to know my subject while I’m drawing their portrait. And yes, i will project like hell and make up my own stories when I’m commissioned to draw people I know little to nothing about


Tips and Tricks to Get The Best Possible Portrait Commission

Tips and Tricks to Get The Best Possible Portrait Commission

If you’ve considered commissioning a picture from me, the first thing you must know is I’m going to do my very best to ensure the result is me at my pencil finest. Here are a few tips to make sure you do get the best of me


Anne Frank Portrait

Anne Frank Portrait

As I grow older and life gifts me experiences of all kinds, I am starting to become artistically attracted to a very different breed of subject. Consciously or not, I’m choosing people with a profound understanding of freedom, or lack thereof


Faces and Words: Inspirational Quote Portraits

Faces and Words: Inspirational Quote Portraits

Who among us hasn’t looked to the sagacity of those who came before us in time of need? Your girl is no different. When I feel mentally drained, or the rats of self-doubt gnaw at my heel, I’ll usually head straight to YouTube for a dose of Maya Angelou’s mellifluous voice to lift me out of my mediocrity


Art Study Resources for Students

Art Study Resources for Students

Every year – for quite a few years now – I get lots of emails from GCSE and A level students who are doing coursework or writing papers about my work – mostly here in the U.K., sometimes abroad. Now my own kids are growing up and I have a bit more time, let me mother hen you properly and collect a few useful resources


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