I have soooo many good pieces of art in my favorites. So...enjoy...I've got 65 pages worth of favorites to explain!!! Let's continue the work shall we???

~.:THIS WEEK'S TOP 20...In no certain Order:.~

- Such a soft, yet "crisp" image provided by *charlie140588 The colors are very well blended/matched together. Lighting provides a soft creation. Sometimes it's hard to believe that such beauty comes from a blank screen and someone's vivid imagination. I love the shimmer of the eyes, but more so I love the lighting of the ruffles of the dress! The blending of the colors in the skin is handled with such skill, it makes me think...How much knowledge is in charlie's mind?! Excellent deviation!!

- I'm not sure if you remember in elementary school when we were introduced to colored pencils, but I sure do. And never did I imagine that they could be used to create such a stunning image as *odavis has created here. There is something about this deviation that says the creator is so comfortable with the pencils that he can make parts of the composition look unpolished. While also making the focal point so well crafted. To me that's a sign of true skill. Make it look so easy, yet so complicated at the same time. I'm sure that if the "model" of the image saw this picture, he would be extremely honored! I know I would!

- Here is another instance where we can be our own worst critics. ~FireofWinter says, "there is sooooo much wrong with this..." It takes courage to post something that one finds so much fault in. And, because of that comment I felt that I needed to add it to my collection. Many times people start something and immediately find fault in what they are trying to create, therefore not finishing. She probably saw those faults early, but pushed on to complete the drawing. And, on top of that...it was posted! How many times have you started something only to get discouraged half way through and not even want to come back to TRY to finish it? That's half my life's story. The hair and clouds are very well crafted. And, look at the detail of the freckles on the bridge of the nose...the shine of the lips...This image is definitely not a failure!!

- It's not so much the drawing, as what the drawing means to me. The comfort that we humans offer to each other in times of need. When we're feeling that we've come short in some aspect of our lives, or are just burst with love and appreciation for someone...I challenge anyone to WANT to keep those feelings inside! ~mbae captures an interesting image open for interpretation (without having read the poem associated). Are these two people deep in love? Are they making amends for a past wrong done? Is the woman looking for comfort from her man? Is the man looking for acknowledgement of his presence in her life? However it's translated...The emotion of the image is a selling factor. Tugs right on those heart strings!

- I simply love when art shows the texture of the paper in which it is drawn. ~Benbe's "Pastel 2" is neat in that aspect. It's also attractive (drew me to it) because of the depth of detail with the subject's eyes. Terror or overwhelming surprise/joy to be held by one he loves or...Exquisite lighting of the eyes. Especially on the left eye...where the lighting doesn't drown out the natural eye color. Skin tones well done. Love the combination of colors to bring shadow to the left side of the subject's face. And, oh so interesting incorporation of the white flower. Makes you wonder what's going on here? A deep love, or...maybe a stab through the heart????

- Shading is a staple in my artistic diet! I love a well shaded image. Not over blended, tonal balance, detail in the cloth of the glove...~asaake has created a quite alluring deviation here. I know nothing of the subject, or the band's music...but, as a stand alone drawing it...stands on it's own two feet. I have yet to attempt drawing hair, but this image is a pretty good road map to success once I start. I love how the light and grey are blended seamlessly in the face and neck. Metal likeness in the collar on the neck expertly created too. But, as mentioned before, the folds of the fabric of the glove are amazing. This was collected image as a result of "fav and run." So, there's why I "click-by fav'd."

- I remember when I was starting out with wanting to draw portraits, I found the reference picture that ~marcusfearnley has drawn here. Needless to say that when I saw this deviation, I was stunned. I was struggling with the lower fleshy part of the eye, and figuring the proportions of getting Anthony's face on the paper...Saw this image, and said...WOW! I COULD NOT POSSIBLY do this ANY better than Marcus has! Parts of it look as though it WAS drawn with graphite pencil, but then the dark parts blended to the lighter shades of the face look like charcoal was used. That's some pretty good blending, seeing as how pencil was all that was used. I might attempt to match his perfection here with the adjoining picture of Flea and John F. But, this drawing of Anthony is amazing! Likeness to reference image is DEAD on!!

- And so...Being a HUGE Silent Hill fan (Game and Movie), it's no wonder I fav'd this deviation by ~hartie. Pyramid head was one of the leading factors in me choosing this horror series over Resident Evil. hartie's deviation shows the ominous terror that Pyramid Head embodies. No words come from him...he doesn't need words when he's got such a big butcher's knife. Her drawing of P.H. is simple, and that's what terrified me about the character to begin with. He's in Silent Hill to do harm to those looking for answers. The Guardian of the Evil Town. In your darkest dreams hope with all your might that you don't become apart of P.H.'s collection hanging like a brisket in a cooler. Yummy!

- Yes it's a drawing. Full view to believe that *PyramidHeadxXx created it with pencils. I LOVE the blending of the eye. As seems to be a common theme in most stock galleries...running mascara, yet the lighting in the black of the running. Love the pupil of the eye, and the contrast of the white of the eyeball. Looks like each strand of hair was also painstakingly drawn, blended, redrawn, reblended...The emotion of the subject's brow is subtle as if telling the viewer she may be ok.

- I have been a fan of Brandon Boyd's words since S.C.I.E.N.C.E. With his lyrics he challenges those that listen to wake up and realize that the world is not as we are being told. My first listen was almost on par with the mental explosion of my first viewing of The Matrix. Yeah, his lyrics are that strong! ~elizile did well to capture his likeness, and I enjoyed that's not your typical grey/black tones. She has drawn the eyes with a level of joy that Mr. Boyd seems to have in life. My Muse LOVES this man for the beauty in his words...so, colleting this drawing was a must! The Band: Incubus, album of choice: Morning View.

- The hair...are you kidding? Flowing, full, balance of light and shadow representing each strand. This one must've taken some time. I also like that it's not super heavy of the pencil markings. =tinanewtonart also took liberties versus the original image. But, it adds to her display of skill in imagining a drawing, and then completing that drawing with amazing results. Light blending to create the face, lips and chin. In my studies of how light reflects an underside of an object, I found it difficult to replicate...But, she got the light reflection on her model's chin...tis awesomely drawn, and collected to show my appreciation.

- And as always, my love for the innocence of children. *abish's "precious moment" drawn here is a great display of that innocence. I really appreciated this deviation not only for the facial expression (smoothly blended), but the detail in drawing the texture of the clothing. I also like how the edges of the subject sort of fade away into a the white background. As if she was drawing a dream that she would love to come true. Another sign that abish's imagination with a pencil is amazing is that she drew this with ONE pencil! Being able to create blacks and greys with one 2b pencil is amazing. Usually to get such contrast of darks, lights and greys you'll see in the comments multiple pencils used (which is not to say that using more pencils equates to less skill), but it's always neat to see that one pencil can do so much to create a balanced drawing.

- After some pretty good conversation with *Yamenja about The Greatest of all time, I realized that his Greatness reached many corners of the world. *astarvinartist has Ali pegged as a Hero, which I fully agree with. Read the deviations comments (which sum up why he makes a good Hero). I love that in using the pastels to create the image he created the beads of sweat, as if the deviation was created while Ali was either sparring or in one of his Greatest of All Time bouts. Love the vibrancy of the red gloves, and the emotion "starvin" created here. The Greatest was focused in his mission to remain the greatest. And, in my heart he will always be The Greatest of All Time!

- The winter scene =jupiterkat2007 created in this deviation is splendid. Though I'm still relatively young on the grand scale of our existence lol, I remember stepping out into those winter days where school was called of and just staring at each flake that came closer to my feet. I really enjoyed that this deviation was composed with the fence in the background. Jupiter says that she was really happy with the final outcome of this drawing, and it's easy to agree with her. She did say the scarf shouldn't be mentioned, but given that she finished this after not having much sleep...the scarf is wonderfully drawn. Love the eyes, and the mouth of the model as drawn here. So difficult to be able to remain focused and encouraged to finish a drawing of this scale. I think it's a necessary addition to her gallery, and to my collection! It's a very inspiring piece!


- ~Alzirr's "Elizabeth is stunning on so many levels. The detail is one thing that is incredible. Each intricate piece of the white piece behind her neck (sorry I don't know what it's called), the light reflection in each piece of the necklace, the design and shading of the piece on her dress. The strands of hair, and shading to create the different levels of each row, the curls of her bangs, feathers of her decorative head piece. And then there's the blurred background ensure you focus on Elizabeth herself. Then there's the detail of Elizabeth's face, ear, neck muscles. Alzirr says she could have completed this in one day?! Wowwy Wow Wow!! This deviation basically speaks for itself. Not much in my limited vocabulary could due justice to what one look at this piece will do!

- ~E777Y's drawn translation of the original image is a perfect match. The reflectiveness of the light in the model's eye. The hair. The eyebrows are amazing. Eyebrows alone look like they were just copied and pasted in the drawing (which they WEREN'T!!!) The folds of the skin on the fingers...and edge of the nose are blended perfectly. To keep it simple...like photograph, like drawing. But, she's good at that anyways. especially with drawing freckles .

- This is the subject of my favorite Jim Carrey movie. He basically channeled Andy Kaufman in his performance for Man in the Moon. It's a dishonor that he didn't win an Oscar for that performance. ~JK89's drawing of Carrey here embodies everything that that movie was. The boyish wonder in the eye of Kaufman (even up to the final scene). Kaufman was another man in history that forced us to think outside of the norm that is always being forced on us. The Ultimate Practical Joker. I love the soft blending of jk's drawing. Love the collar of the shirt!!

- So, I had a conversation months ago with a co-worker who started teaching himself how to draw. "Black people's hair is so difficult to draw..." ~alexlartwork22 proves otherwise with his drawing of Luda here. Looking at it more deeply (full view) shows that the hair is layers of like colors that look spastically drawn. But, it also looks as though there is a minor sense of pattern with each layer. Either way, alex proves that black people's hair is not that difficult to reproduce on paper. I also like how Ludacris' face was drawn, and layers make the shadows. No apparent blending, just a layered composition that makes for a wonderful deviation. Plus, I loved Luda before the haircut!!!

- ~nuttyfool is proof that age matters not, only passion for drawing matters. Very much like the original photograph, there is a deep darkness to the deviation. The light in the drawing lends itself to many different interpretations. Is that a window? or is it a flame? If it's a flame...what's burning...Did she start the fire, or did she just happen upon it. What's the back story to that light, and why does she look so distant? I like the rendering of the eye in the drawing. The "flame" caught in her eye. Very enjoyable image to look at. Thought-provoking indeed!

- And to finish out this week's 20 is a very well drawn image from *whizzywhizzer. This drawing seems to have made it's way into many different deviant's drawing galleries. What made this deviation standout among the rest is the distinct tones of the muscle structure of the models back. INCREDIBLE! A goal of mine is to be able to reproduce on the level that whizzy has. Being able to capture each peak and valley of the muscles is a tough aspect of full body portraits. whizzy's gallery is full of wonderfully created drawings. Very little tops the pose in this feature addition, and I'm sure that you would agree...it was worth collecting!