Walking on the Edge

Two New Portraits Finished and Still Life continued

2011-06-05T16:19:00.010-06:00

Souzi:
Graphite and white chalk on toned paper
(11" x 17")

Tatiana: Color wash stage, session over, portrait finished!
oil on linen (10" x 12")

Tea pot with fan started in march. Perpetual still life?
I finished the color wash (first pass) this weekend.

Further more..

2011-03-30T21:03:00.008-06:00

Still life

Figure

Beginnings

2011-03-18T21:10:00.013-06:00

Within the past few weeks I've began three new pieces.

A still life. Poster first, drawing in progress.

A two week figure study of Alphé.

Portrait of Meave. The poster is 5 x 7 inches. The painting, still in the drawing stage, is 10 x 12 inches. My easel position is almost straight on. Even though I'm painting the same background as the "Flora" portrait the reflective material is changeable. Directly in front the light is bouncing off the fabric like a reflector.

Flora fini

2011-01-06T09:45:00.004-07:00

To be continued....

2010-12-18T10:22:00.006-07:00

Last day of the pose. I will have to work on the wreath of flowers without our beautiful model Maribou.

Progress

2010-12-07T00:01:00.002-07:00

A better photo and more refinements after a critique. A second pass but still an under-painting on the shoulders.

More Flora and other stuff

2010-12-02T20:58:00.024-07:00

Thanks for the comments on the previous post everyone. Here is an update on the Flora painting in progress as requested.

Flora

Trevor is our current model in the afternoon. He's so much fun to draw and the break-time conversations are always good.

Figure Drawing

....miscellaneous figure drawings, block in practice and a value study.

Recent Stuff

2010-11-07T21:18:00.005-07:00

Preparatory drawing for Flora portrait.

Poster study; Flora

Figure Studies

Figure Pose

2010-09-21T20:59:00.002-06:00

Crystal: First figure pose of new session.

Detail

Rob Liberace Workshop

2010-09-13T00:38:00.010-06:00

I recently had a great experience attending a workshop
in the Seattle area, more specifically Whidbey Island.
My first trip to the northwest. I could not have asked for better guides.
Thanks Mercia and Toby!

In addition to the drawing and painting techniques
I attempted below; Rob also demonstrated drawing with
quill pen, ink and wash as well as silver point.

Figure drawing employing some of the techniques Rob showed us.

Figure sketch #1: grisaille, canvas was a mid-tone gray

Figure sketch #2

Figure #3: grisaille with scumbling and glazing using a limited palette.

Recent and not not so recent stuff

2010-06-14T23:05:00.013-06:00

In chronological order...

Graphite and white chalk on toned paper from two week figure drawing workshop.

Last painting of the nine month class. Mostly color wash with some form painting on portrait and torso. Also preparatory drawing for above (detail).

Portrait of Randy Graphite and white chalk on toned paper.

Solar plate etching based on a drawing I completed at Studio Escalier. (5 X 7 in.) It is a simple, safe, and fast approach to etching and relief printing that does not use grounds, acids or solvents. It is exposed with UV light and developed with ordinary tap water. A one day workshop at Argos Gallery instructor Suzy Schultz of Atlanta, Ga.

Figure painting. Oil on linen (10 x 20 in.)

Figure drawing and detail from another.

Back to the Beginning

2010-01-15T20:13:00.003-07:00

Figure drawings from the last few months.

Moroccan Tea Pot

2009-12-28T16:24:00.004-07:00

Ok it didn't take four months to paint, but here it is.

New goal: Never stop painting

2009-08-23T23:08:00.008-06:00

"Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life..." Confucius

Drawing for still life of Moroccan tea pot

Untitled (in progress) oil on linen 8 X 10 in.

Final pose; Raven & Randy

2009-05-31T18:08:00.011-06:00

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The last three hours of the pose and I resisted the temptation to rush through or repaint anything major. Would have liked to finish the braids or shirt, oh well.

Small painting Randy and I worked on in the evenings, while listening to Harry Potter books on CD.

Final figure pose of this session. Drawing the supports of the modeling stand and adding some background prevented the appearance of Randy looking adrift on a raft.

Recent Work

2009-05-20T23:06:00.002-06:00

Raven
graphite and chalk on toned paper

Randy (in progress)
graphite on paper

Randy (in progress)
Oil on linen 12 x 10 in.

Randy (in progress)
close up

Alla prima week

2009-04-19T17:26:00.001-06:00

Raven,
Oil on paper
6 X 5 in.

Satisfaction

2009-04-13T23:06:00.010-06:00

The fulfillment or gratification of a desire, need, or appetite.

After completing the portrait of Rose and my recent still life drawing it occurred to me that each painting or drawing feeds my appetite to explore the visual world. What keeps me going to the next painting? Sometimes I feel a bit beaten down by my lack of technical prowess, but there is a lot more that drives me besides perfection. It's not the ability to represent a person or object on a 2D surface but to try to describe the character or beauty that inspires.

What would attract someone to purchase and hang an anonymous portrait by an unknown or 'emerging artist'? I imagine it's the same curiosity and desire to connect that compels people to sit in a park, airport or shopping mall and just watch. Looking at our models as they sit for us occasionally slight smiles pass over their faces. Every person or thing has history. I don't think most people can just turn themselves off. One model recently told me he sometimes passes the time when posing by remembering his grade school teachers. I have had the pleasure of working with some extraordinary models, but he is perhaps the stillest model I've ever seen in my short career, but now I will be looking for that spark in his eyes as he remembers that teacher who may have inspired him. If I can 'capture' that I will be satisfied.... for now.

Surrounding the Light

2009-03-13T08:22:00.011-06:00

Raven

Rose: Wash-in

Rose: Poster study

Posterpalooza

2009-03-04T20:33:00.012-07:00

Week 1: Painting the poster, keeping it simple.

After three months in Illinois and little time for drawing or painting
I wondered if I would feel like I was starting over.
With the support of Marty and help from our families and friends
(I thank you all)
I have the privilege of studying at the Ryder Studio School
for another year.
I am constantly in awe of our teacher, Tony.
He is an extraordinary artist and our benevolent leader.
I am surrounded by the most amazing individuals;
all seekers like myself having our eyes opened
to the beauty around us.
Plus I'm having the time of my life.

Week 2: Figure Drawing - Raven, a three hour pose.

Many concepts in this approach to seeing and drawing
were new to me when I arrived at
Studio Escalier in 2007,
Seeing the gesture within the figure while drawing the contour
and looking at how light reveals the form.
Yikes! It blew my mind: how beautiful.
The drawing of above was done last week.

Week 3: Portrait of Rose.

Charcoal drawing in progress. It's been a bit of a struggle.
I think I'm closer than I was yesterday thanks to Anna's critique.

Six Hours

2008-10-29T22:43:00.004-06:00

Only Six more hours left on this portrait.

The background is complete and I'm working into the light. Tomorrow I will restate the highlight which was more evident in the first pass.

The Color of Shadow

2008-10-24T19:48:00.009-06:00

Finally I've began painting the second pass. Starting at the terminator (form shadow) then working toward Trevor's ear and neck. The challenge is to keep the shadows in the right key without creating a dead zone. I've also began painting the background. Its just a green drape right? The color seems to change every time I look at it.

The completed wash-in.

Trevor cont...

2008-10-19T00:06:00.005-06:00

Although I've began the form painting, here are two more images from the wash-in stage.

2008-10-03T22:25:00.007-06:00

Continuing work on the shadow side. Here are two more images of the wash-in from Thursday and today.

Progressing

2008-10-01T21:34:00.007-06:00

Yesterday and part this morning were spent making adjustments to the poster study. The background of the poster seemed too yellow, especially when I considered the reflected light from the red drape that divides the studio. Other changes after Anna's critique were the addition of a brighter, yellower highlight on the nose and forehead, a warmer color on the beard and some darker color on the far side of the highlight.

Today I also started the wash-in for the portrait. After I finished revising the poster study I actually spent an entire 20 minutes just looking carefully at the model, maybe because the next step is still daunting, but I think it was a good thing. It had the effect of making me slow down and compare the model to what I was putting down on canvas more often. This time it feels different, better than the early stages of previous paintings.

Portrait of Trevor

2008-09-29T20:25:00.005-06:00

Work in progress.

Poster Study

Drawing on Canvas

Drawing, after critique

Ink-in

Those Traveling to New York

2008-08-27T12:25:00.005-06:00

"About Beauty"
An International Group Show

Opening Reception
Saturday, September 13, 2008
6:30-9:00 pm

at
The Framing Gallery
362 Elwood Avenue (Route 141)
Hawthorne, New York

Contact: 919.444.1150

T-Bone

2008-07-20T12:08:00.009-06:00

Oil on Linen
Ryder Studio School
Santa Fe, NM
-Sold-

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Sarah #2

2008-07-10T18:30:00.004-06:00

Graphite on paper
Studio Escalier, France
2007

Randy

2008-07-10T18:15:00.007-06:00

graphite on paper
Ryder Studio School
Santa Fe, NM
Spring 2008

Sarah

2008-07-10T17:56:00.004-06:00

Form painting and drawing
Studio Escalier, France
2007

Raven

2008-07-01T18:51:00.004-06:00

Graphite and white chalk on toned paper
Spring 2008
Ryder Studio School
Santa Fe, New Mexico

J Reger Art #1

2008-06-20T14:25:00.002-06:00

"Cast of David's Eye"

Charcoal on paper
Vitruvian Fine Art Studio
Chicago, IL.

http://www.vitruvianschool.com/

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