Stage 12: Finally, at the last stage I use a mixture of step 3 & 4 flesh tone to blend in the areas under the lip and where the hair touches the face. The highlights are finalized by using a stronger white to enhance the area under the nose, the tip of the nose and the highest part of the cheek.
I hope you enjoyed this portrait on paper series. To see more of my work please feel free to check out my web site at www.dcdgraphics.com. Drop me a comment or two if you don’t mind.
Dean Walker: The Artist, The Teacher, The Man
Growing up in the Mid-South has provided Dean Walker with many opportunities and avenues to experience vari- ous forms of art. These opportunities have laid the foun- dation to nurture the gifts that have been given to him. Through cultivation of his artistic talents, Dean realized that he also had a knack for bodywork and paint. This combination of both art and bodywork helped Dean to initi- ate in 1995, Dean’s Custom Designs (DCD), and allowed him the opportunity to fulfill one of his dreams of making a living while using his natural talent. A few years after the opening of Dean’s Custom Designs (DCD), Dean Walker’s named started to gain more popu- larity within the surrounding area. As this popularity grew, Dean began to notice one particular thing his grandpar- ents instilled in him years ago, “People, no matter the race or the culture, will always take you on two things: your word and your work.” They explained to him that “If you can stand behind that, you’ll go far in life.” Their words and examples of integrity continue to make him strive for an unquestionable standard in his work and life. It is by a man’s integrity that he is judged and at DCD, Dean Walker is committed to making sure each customer is delivered the same concern and impeccable quality, no matter what the size of the job. Dean’s grandparents and aunt taught him a lot about the heavenly standards that are required of him. To this day, their words continue to push him to uphold those respon- sibilities, but the road has not been easy. Dean has often expressed that following his gift and fulfilling his dreams has meant obstacles and many days of loneliness. Al- though he grew up in a fairly large family with 7 brothers and sisters, the early events of their life proved to be a stagnating factor for their relationships together. An un- fortunate domestic violence incident took their mother and left the family estranged to some extent. Growing
up and throughout the years, those unfortunate circum- stances and remembrance drew them in separate ways. For Dean, it seemed to leave him without a sibling sup- port system to lend a helping hand with the overwhelm- ing pressures of entrepreneurship. However, despite the obstacles Dean Walker has faced, with the help of his wife, he always presses on toward the higher mark.
As a young man and throughout his adulthood, Dean was constantly told that if you wanted something done right, you have to do it yourself. This philosophy, which Dean says proved to be very helpful in keeping him focused and determined, also proved to be very tiresome over the years. Keeping with his ideals of higher standards has caused him to work on the average of 80 to 100+ hours a week for over 10 years straight. The numerous hours and varying stresses of entrepreneurship, has at times caused Dean to wonder if the hard work has really paid off. At this stage of his life, Dean’s local popularity has ex-
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32