China Portraits, an evening entertainment

One night in Xinjiang,  our hosts asked Alison to draw some portraits as we lingered at the dinner table.
I said “sure, I’d love to” !

In a place rich with patterns and textures, representational visual imagery is rare in this moslem community.
They were interested in the drawing process.  Mother offered to be the model for the first portrait.
Their powerful faces are beautiful to draw.

I used recycled scrap paper and a ball point pen.
No one else in the group had drawing experience. It seemed to be unusual for them to watch an artist work.

A few days later, I drew another portrait, this time in the daylight.
My friend, the model for the portrait, said she would keep the drawing as a memento.