Pencil Portrait of a Young Queen Elizabeth II

Sometimes – not often – you open an email and it feels like all your Christmas mornings wrapped up in one and tied with a red velvet bow. That’s what it was like reading this commission request from B. in America.

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. In my style. All details up to me.

Quite the dream commission, with just a pinch of pressure at tackling such a formidable task. Shall I pick a young Queen? Or a grandmotherly one, with a glint of mischief I liked to believe was always there behind her eyes?

I chose the former, for now, and set myself a few goals. Keep it minimal, always be in control of the pencil strokes, consider each one. Allow the steely determination and self command to shine through the beauty.

In my composition, much like in life, we don’t get to see the entire woman. We know the crown is there, but it’s a ghostly presence rather than a certainty. We see a facet, the rest is hers and hers alone.

We can only guess who the woman was. We all think we know her, but perhaps we only see ourselves reflected in her image.

I’ll leave you with a quote from B., whom I am very grateful to for having chosen me to draw this rather special commission:

“This piece is stunning and I was speechless when I first saw it. As well as got a bit emotional. The way you were able to capture her entire presence in piece is breath-taking. I will cherish this forever.

 

I am very glad and honored that you accepted and created this masterpiece.“