Josey For George...
Had a request a few months ago from George Gantt, one of the hosts of The Wild West Show Group ... for a portrait of Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood)....This is for you George!
This is a Prismacolor Pencil, Pen and Ink and just a bit of Pastel Pencil.
Drawn on card stock, acid free, smooth bonded, artist drawing paper.
I have also shown the steps I go through to achieve my drawings. This is for my art students that are using my RB site for study….and for all of you here at RB who may have wondered what my process is.
First I draw a detailed graphite line drawing ( I love to draw so this is a fun part for me) and then I go in and play in the shadows. I tell my students to try and play in the shadows for as long a they can…this “grounds” the drawing and keeps everything in perspective…at least for me…
Next, I develope the face…I feel if the face does not turn out…what is the point…I find lots of my students go to other less demanding areas to start…it turns out great and then they suffer the anexity of composing the face. This is when the left brain can start hollering VERY LOUD to put the pencils down and quit. This is why I ALWAYS do the face first.
After I am satisfied with the face in its early form… I now feel that I can start my way through the rest of the drawing. Going back into the shadows and grounding the rest of the portrait.
Then it is just a tighting up process…defining my colors, going in with the high-lights to seal the drawing.
Total drawing time is about 4 hours, less if I don’t find myself fighting with what colors to blend to get the effect I desire…some drawings feel like they draw themselves, others can challenge everything I feel I know.
Josey was a joy…
Thanks for viewing my art.







Josey For George... belongs to the following groups:
1 on 1: The Fine Art of Portraiture , ! 100% !, *1:1 with Celebrities, All Around the Styles, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, aqua, lime or indigo, Around The World, Art Inspired by Dreams, AW Welcome Center, Boredom Competitions on the 24/7, Cowboy / Cowgirl Art, Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Decorative and Traditional Art, Descriptions, Dimensions, FAN FRENZY, Fine Arts, First Things, Hombres Fatal, Impressionist Art, Live, Love, Dream: , Mature Men, Men Appreciation, Mixed Media, Of Noble Birth, Outsiders, Pencil Drawing (2 per 24 hrs), Realist Traditional Art, Rural Around The Globe, Safe Haven, Shameless Self-Promotion, THE SISTERHOOD, The Wild West Show, United States, Vibrant and Vivid Color, Western United States Artists and Photographers, Who are YOU to Judge? and Works On Paper Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Lori Peters
I loved Clint Eastwood movies. Beautiful work, Susan. xo
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much Lori…glad you like it!
PaulAlbert
A wonderful rendering, and here I sat reverting to my early days with paint by numbers, although it was difficult to stay within the lines back then, so I’m smiling your work is admirable ! as well to add being of the over sixty group, lines are still a challenge, oh yes the character of the image comes first, then the Smile, your work warmly appreciated. paul
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks Paul…I appreciate your viewing my work!
Shoaib .
whoa !!!! cool !!! thanks for showing us the process of making it … i think that adds an extra dimension to this… it came out beautifully in the end … incredible work
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks!!! I appreciate your viewing and comment Shoaib!
Outdoors2
Excellent drawing of Clint Susan and perfect choice of colors for the scenario.
How right you are about the face. Although it has been years since I did any serious drawing, I recall several nudes that I drew and ended up putting a character face on because of the frustration in finishing.
Susan Bergstrom replied
...as I have a mantra in my classes for my students…start where you are the most uncomfortable…and it isn’t a face if you are true right brain…it is just shapes of colors laid next to each other…Thanks for viewing and your comment!
Linda Gregory
Absolutely fantastic! Can’t believe it only took you four hours!
Susan Bergstrom replied
That is usually about my time frame…I got very profecient (sp) when I was depending on my drawings to survive!!! Thanks for viewing Linda!!!
Dave Corn
Love this one Susan…...............As always your work is superb!!
Clint should be very pleased with this work!! Most awesome!
Susan Bergstrom replied
LOL…Thanks Dave…I would hope so, but just so all of you and George like it is fine with me!
George Gantt
WOW ! I just added 2 of these to my cart one for my dad. I will give it to him for fathers day. His name is George also . The first time I saw Josey wales Was with him . We still make quotes from the movie to one another from time to time . Maybe that is the reason it is my favorite western movie to this day. I will see Steve tonight at work I will ask him if he wants one too.
I cant thank you enough . For give any typing errors here my hands are shaking. I have about 480 miles to ride tonight I will be smiling and making Josey Quotes to everyone over the radio the whole trip. I hope to get home by the time the sun comes up. As Josey I like to keep the sun at my back also . Gives you an edge. Thanks again .I dont usually do this but here is a couple of xx’s for you.
Susan Bergstrom replied
You are most welcome…It was a Josey Day…I was flipping through the channels and guess what was playing…Yep…Outlaw Josey Wales! It was just too karmic … LOL …so I sat and drew the portrait with the movie on at the same time!
It isn’t very often I do special requests but we are a Josey Wales bunch around here… so I had a great time doing for you…Thanks, Enjoy! and a few for you tooo… xxx’s (;0)
Bob Hall
Wonderful likeness Susan. You’ve really captured “the look”. Great composition, color scheme, and process of the piece.
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much Bob! I appreciate your viewing my work…
Sean Jansen
This is great Susan, instand favorite !!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks! Nice to hear from you!
Gail Bridger
Perfection a fave 4 me 2! :)
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much Gail…appreciate it!
Alexandra Felgate
Wow, fabulous portrait Susan, love your use of light and shade, just awesome.
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks!...you know me and detail…it is all in the lights and darks!
MyheART
wow….excellent work and I love how you showed the steps of the piece:)
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks Robin…figured I do them so fast that I’d better show the process on at least one of them!
~ Selle
Superb! I love Clint :)
Susan Bergstrom replied
ME TOOO!!! LOL …Thanks!
Shannon Donovan
This is so phenomenal Susan! His expression…true Clint…wow..!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks Little Gurl!!
Lynda Robinson
Absolutely stunning work Susan. Thanks for showing us the process. This is so interesting!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks…had a request from my students to break the process down so decided to do it with Josey for George…
Linda Bennett
Beautiful work!!! I’ve sketched him a time or two myself for my husband. Well Done!!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks Linda…it was fun doing Clint!!!
George Gantt
WOW thats a lot of comments.
Susan Bergstrom replied
LOL..it appears that Josey is a popular Guy!!! Thanks for purchasing whatever you bought! Appreciate it!
dawndavies
fabulous picture of clint, hubbie loves it too,dawnxx
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks! I am finding out just how popular Josey/Clint are!!!
George Gantt
I bought 3 of these. One for me,One for my dad And one for steve. It is an honor to have it with my name in the title . Thanks .
Susan Bergstrom replied
Yes I just saw this! My goodness George you went on a shopping spree, and I very much appreciate it.
dawndavies
really, lol over here hes worshopped, hehe and his dollar films too, dawnxx
LoneAngel
brillent artwork
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much Lone Angel…I appreciate your viewing my work!
Elizabeth Bravo
Woooooooooooowwwwwwww!! This is just AWESOME!!! I love that you showed us your process, I have always wanted to do that. SO COOL!! Straight to my favorites!!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much! I appreciate your comments!!
Vicki Ferrari
Great work Susan! Such a clever girl! :)
Susan Bergstrom replied
Many thanks Vicki…so enjoyed doing this for George!!!
barnsis
Ok dude, you asked the right man for this one, I have been a big fan of his old spaghetti westerns since they first came out, and that is a long time ago.
You nailed this one, the old revolvers, colts I think, are great, the textures and shadows in the coat are excellent. You not only captured the face very well but you also have the expression on his face perfect, it looks exactly like the expression he had as the quiet spoken bad ass cowboy in the poncho.
I especially like how you did the multiple images showing the process you used and the stages it goes through. On a scale of 0 – 10 it is a 10.
Well sorry but you asked! } :>)
Susan Bergstrom replied
LOl…yes I did and let’s just say it was nice to be able to get one down on paper!
With everything that has been going on with Mr.B. it kind of sends your mind into different places and not in the places that create!
It is okay for awhile because you have to shift gears once in awhile in life… but it then turns into like what a musician might feel like if he couldn’t play his music for 3 to 4 months…you actually think you may never be able to draw or paint again… that it has just vanished…Thanks Byron…this means alot…!
CarolM
He’s definitely got that Clint Eastwood air of confidence. Your lighting is stunning. I enjoyed reading how you put this together. An excellent portrait of my husband’s favorite shoot um up guy. I think he has seen every Clint Eastwood movie at least 10 times.
Susan Bergstrom replied
I am just amazed at just how popular Josey is!!! So glad I could rustle up some memories for some folks! Thanks Carol!
BigD
Susan Bergstrom replied
Hey!!! Awesome…Thanks BigD!!! Appreciate it!
Jim Phillips
Having seen and commented on the feature you posted and trying to catch up to a weeks worth of postings it’s possible I might not have viewed this original posting. So thanks for bringing to my attention. I would have hated to have missed seeing your step by step you presented. I’m impressed. I say that because I’m not sure I’m as structured as you are in my own artwork. I’m a bit like that parent in that I would tell my own students, “to paint like I say, not like I paint. I tend to break a lot of “rules” when I paint at home. I will go more by the rules when I paint in class. But understand, you’ve actually inspired me to photograph my steps on my next work which I have just sketched out on canvas. We’ll see how this turns out. No promises that I’ll post this series. It’s a wait and see.
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks Jim…glad you stopped in and gave it a look…and I really enjoyed posting the steps …as long as I would remember to stop and take a picture! You get in a zone you know and all of a sudden it is 2 hours later!!! LOL …thanks again for viewing!
Jindara
Awesome work.. Well Done!! I love all the Clint Eastwood westerns, they’re great :-)
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much Madeleine for viewing my work and your comment!
VanillaDolphin
WOW, Nice work! Great job! =)
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much vanilla!
George Gantt
Susan Bergstrom replied
Many thanks George..always an honor!
Diana-Lee Saville
This is awesome and congrats on your feature!!! :))
Susan Bergstrom replied
Many thanks Diana! Appreciate it!
madvlad
always loved klint westwood good actor-good art too.sad, he took a bath ,and he,s no longer dirty harry,nice to see a hot guy, older them me-for a change
Susan Bergstrom replied
LOL…it is Clint Eastwood…unless you were making a funny! and thanks for viewing, appreciate it!
Peter Allton
Wow Susan. What a great likeness. Well done.
Susan Bergstrom replied
Many thanks Peter!!!
morpheus71
Awesome work! Great likeness of a great character
Susan Bergstrom replied
Many thanks! Appreciate your viewing my work!
madvlad
i,ve never seen him, in any east, wood in my life always out west ,woods? didn,t you? notice dirty harry was in s.f. not nyc?orrr not many indians or cowboys in boston?- haha soo to my mind- which is not all the good- he,s mister westwood haha and yes i wasah kiddin- i love him my self- if i had-gutz n was smart – i,d be him-but? alass i,m just humble me,
Dyle Warren
You my dear are now my official favorite when it comes to western art. You are one of the very best ever!!!!
Susan Bergstrom replied
WOW What an awesome comment and I thank you very much!
Richard Stepha...
Great rendering, great tutorial. Two thumbs up! RSB
Susan Bergstrom replied
So sorry I missed this great comment..and thanks for viewing!
RealPainter
he is my all time fav …......and so is this artwork…..i do loveeeeeeeeeee it
Susan Bergstrom replied
So sorry I missed this comment…and thanks so much for viewing my work!
Rosemaree
“COWBOY UP Y’ALL” Thanks for adding this image to cowboy/cowgirl art”:http://www.redbubble.com/groups/cowboy-cowgirl-art
Susan Bergstrom replied
Sorry I missed this comment Rosemaree…always appreciate your comments!
Linda Sparks
congrats on the Movie Challenge win.
Susan Bergstrom replied
So sorry Linda for missing this comment..thanks for viewing and I appreciate your support!
~ Selle
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much! This is always an Honor!!! I love this group!
Margaret Sande...
Where does one find these magic prismacolour pencils? Or is it just your fingers that are magic?
Susan Bergstrom replied
LOL…well thanks for the compliment…I appreciate it and I don’t know if it is my fingers that are magic or the awesome properties of these pencils that make my fingers magic…you can find these pencils in any art and craft store…or you may want to do a search on Prismacolor online…I never have any trouble finding them…there are several textures you can purchase…Veri-thin…very hard and fine line and the soft creamy ones that I prefer..many people mistake my finished pieces for oils…the soft pencils are awesome for blending…hope this helped…
Margaret Sande...
Thanks Susan. I will have a look for them!
Arie van der W...
Wow…just found this, I made a version of this one as well. You can find it here
Great job Susan, you made it beautifully!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks for again viewing my work…like your version too!
rdotter
Wow…Awesome work! Especially interesing to read your detailed account of the painting process. Very nice!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks! I appreciate your viewing and your comment!
Mike Paget
Excellent work Susan!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much Mike!!!
photosan
Josey Wales…a combination of all the characteristics of all the outlaws of our colorful wild west history…You have done him more than justice with your talent…wow !!!!
Susan Bergstrom replied
Thanks so much! I am just a cowboy junkie…I could draw these guys all day long!!!
Sharon Perrett
Wow, fantastic drawing, love Clint Eastwood, I saw this film at the drive-in in South Africa, it brings back happy memories looking at this. :))
Bezay
I used your piece as an avatar for a challenge, hope you might join in the competition
DRAW!!! – Western Movie Challenge
Susan Bergstrom replied
Not a problem…anytime, and I will check out the challenge!