"Gabriel" by Jens Höffgen

This is completely awsome. out of all the angels that I have seen at elf wood, I think I like your's the best because they are so well detailed and in pencil. Some are good, but only after you add color. Your's are great with out color, and color might just ruin them. I wish I could do that, but I'm only a beginner. This one is my favorite out of all of your's so far. How do you do your wings? I would really like to know. You should do a tutorial program on wings some day and maybe your own web sight when you get more pics. Back to this pic. It's like she's on a hill in a foggy forest as light spills out from behind the clouds. What is she standing on? It's like a stone tablet or something. Well, GTG.

Jens Höffgen replies: "Wow, thank you very much. About the wings...I draw the outline (first of all the wing and then of every single feather) in very faint pencil lines, then put hundreds of single strokes in, to give the feathers their structure. I normally use HB and 4B pencil, depends on the wing's brightness of course. Always keep an eye on where shadows and reflections are to be put, and darken or stop the lines when you reach a dark or light area of the feather. Most of it is just patience. That's why I try to vary the design of the wings, otherwise drawing them would bore me to death.And of course: use reference.Um ja, she's standing on top of any hill, there's a big stone, right. Don't know where that came from, I somehow liked it."

You're artwork has left me speechless throughout your gallery, but this picture clenched it for me. Especially after the meaning Sheila gave behind the picture, you truly are a great artist, and person, to have captured this so well. Shiela if you read this I'm very truly sorry for your loss. You are both excellent artists, and have far to go in this world. Keep up the excellent work. Wow, this does the drawing no justice, truly amazing. You have the talent of capturing emotions, and not just singular emotions, you twist and warp and manipulate the emotions in each picture so well to bring it to life, and to bring the viewers into the picture. Each picture although black and white, gives off as much of a presence of life as a photograph could ever do, perhaps even more.

Blessed to have seen this - Andreas

Jens Höffgen replies: "hey Andreas, I tried to reply on your email, but I keep getting error messages, so I don't think any of what I wrote reached you. Please mail me again or something..I don't know..."

Yep.

*tear* made a grown man weep, and pray we all may be carried in those arms someday. As i disscussed this with my friend he told me that he at first thought the wings were mountains, and it is true that if you look at them in the right way they do appear as majestic mts in the background. I dont know if this was intended but beautifull anyway! Thankyou and god bless

This one is truly beautiful. And the story behind it is so touching! For both reasons, I'd have to say this picture is in a class of it's own. While your other artwork is awesome, this is... extraordinary.

Jens, this picture has helped a dear friend of mine, I want to thank you for that. The picture is amazing, I have seen the original, incredible. Thank you. *bows*

Such a sad story and such a beautiful picture. I can see the baby but I couldn't before it is so small. Oh it just so beautiful. *cries*

Awesome dude. Really like the way she looks at you with that gaze of power and love. One thing off. Gabriel was a guy but who cares. Angels can't really have gender anyways. That would make them too much like humans and God only mad man in his own image. Also love the rays coming out of the clouds. Gives you that sense of hope when everyting is going to hell.

Jens Höffgen replies: "uhum, thank you. The "female" angel though isn't supposed to be the Gabriel you mean."

ah, now I see it too. It's a beautiful picture. Sheila, I'm sorry you lost your baby. You two are lucky to have eachother

this is a quite amazing picture! the light, OMG! It's very dreamy and suggestive... and can be watched for a looong while... I'm headed to check out some more drawings of yours!