[Anthony]

I was just thinking of how there seem to be a few people/characters that everyone paints. The most popular seems to be Natalie Portman. Other favorites are Angela Jolie, our Boba Fett, and Audrey Hepburn. I've seen quite a number of each. So what about these particular people do you think causes you to choose them, when they've been done by others before? Personally I've never done a portrait of a real person. I never had any cause to want to. But obviously others do have a reason. Portman and Jolie are pretty, sure, but is that a reason? Do you paint Boba Fett cause you dig Star Wars? I'm just curious, it seems like an odd thing, painting things that already exist rather than things that are just itching to come to life.

------------------
-Anthony
Carpe Carpem

[CapnPyro]

For me it's simple, really. I draw things that are either

a.) going to help me improve
b.) are going to look good in my portfolio

If i can kill 2 birds with one stone, all the better. If i need the practice or feel the inclination to do the portrait, ill do a pretty girl. When i go on a pretty girl search I'm personally lead to Kim Smith or Laetitia Casta, or other models. Others have others tastes. I'm in sore need of drawing machinery so Ill probably do a tech picture pretty soon. boba fett is the MAN. so, hey, why not do him right? I'll probably do something out of my head (hey if it doesnt exist, i cant screw it up as easy, right? )

Atleast thats my train of though. Others may go.. 'hmm.. i want to draw something cool. Natalie is a hottie, ill draw her' heh

-Capn

[jasonN]

Well, I recently did a natalie pic, but that was only because the pic of her I found was nice to work from. Also she has nice cheekbones to work with.
It all really depends on the facial structure and composition of the model and photo (I use photo reference because I don't remember what superstar faces look like).

I made the mistake of doing a *really* boring Buffy pic and... well... oh dear, I got so bored doing that pic.

-jason

[chumps]

another reason is that if someone draws someone than other people will be inspired to do the same. i think the hepburn thing was started by fred, then expanded upon by others. ditto with portman, etc.

(i think portman's ugly btw

[Anthony]

Thanks guys, I'm garnering some amount of understanding on the topic. It's true that Portman and Hepburn aren't the standard pretty face, and I doubt many people would call them realy beautiful. But I guess trends do develop. Thanks,

------------------
-Anthony
Carpe Carpem