Final drawings of the year

This model was special to me for one reason. Our scheduled model for the evening didn't show up and this young artist offered to pose on one condition, that she get a drawing from me. Now I can't remember the drawing she chose, but the fact that my work meant enough to her to pose for us made me realize the power of art. I have never forgotten how that made me feel and I hope I never do.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope that I have given you a reason to spend a few moments of your busy days to stop and see what I've done. I hope all of you have a wonderful 2011.

Study in Repose

Rubenesque

I wish I could remember this models name but she was terrific. Lot's of shape to draw. Certainly not what we are used to but she made it work and I benefited with some very nice drawings over the couple of years she posed for us.

Now THAT'S a DRAWING!

Lost edges. Solid construction. Simple shading. Interesting shapes and a bit of movement to boot. This is what I wish I could bring to my newer work. It seems I could even draw hands back then.

Rare pencil drawing

Must've been in my Andrew Wyeth mood when I did this since I don't often use pencil. Especially on newsprint. I like the work, it just is hard to see.

Appropriate...

The last week of any year is the traditional time to look back and reflect. I'm just looking back a little farther than usual. I hope you're enjoying the peek at my old stuff, I'm kind of having fun posting some of this stuff. It reminds me of what I should be doing. Maybe I'll figure out a way to get back to this kind of detail without sacrificing my love of the simple. A goal (resolution?) for the coming year, perhaps. Cripes how I hate setting goals that are determined by the calendar.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone got what they truly wanted this year.

Twas the night before Christmas

And I'm sure sugar plum fairies were dancing in her head.

Reclined

One of my favorite models from the early sessions, Adrian. Again, I love using the newsprint versus the higher quality paper. It is far more forgiving, in my opinion, and I am absolutely enamored with the results.

Happy Birthday, Pin Up Gal

Stephanie is celebrating a birthday. Here's to you, Miss S.

Well, what do you think...

have I declined? improved? evolved?

I tend to think I have evolved but maybe taken a step back. Change but not necessarily for the better. I know I had more time but I think I have lost track of focus and that really shows. Anyhow, here is another oldie.

Some old stuff

Back in the days of longer poses, unbridled enthusiasm and not having any responsibility other than showing up and drawing. I was using newsprint from the end rolls of the Billings Gazette. I love that paper. My wife convinced me to stop using it because it yellows but I have never enjoyed a drawing surface as much as the cheap newsprint. Slick and forgiving. Beautiful. And I never cared if it yellowed, in my mind it made it more interesting.
Anyhow, here is one from long ago.

Looking back

Last "new" drawing of 2010. Apropos, I suppose, since I just ran across a lot of drawings from as far back as eleven years ago. I'll begin posting those tomorrow and we'll see how much has changed in my style in the last decade.

Second to last for the year

Kinda diggin' the freeform linework I used here. I think the spotting of darks works far better than yesterday's sketch and I finally got around to a face (sorta). Really happy with the right hand on her hip.

Coming to the end

See yesterday's post and you will understand what I meant by being seduced by the siren call of shading, alas, to ill effect. Don't start something you can't finish. With the wonderful dimension that the right leg had to offer coupled with the folds of the draped kimono I was powerless to resist and, as you can see, the drawing paid the price.

Lines

I really liked where this one was going. I made the conscious decision not to add any contouring to this one. I tend to mess up a good piece by shading it partially and then running out of time.

Funeral for a Friend

This morning I attended a funeral for a man I barely knew. I renewed our acquaintance about eleven years ago. I met him purely by happenstance and, to be completely honest, I didn't recognize him. However he knew me immediately and I fumbled for a few moments until he let me off the hook. I didn't see him for a couple of years after that. I ran into him at an open house and introduced him to my wife, Stephanie. Again, I was a bit slow on the recognition. Not Steve, he started in like we had just been to lunch. He filled me in on his life and I brought him up to date. I saw him only one more time, in passing, a couple of years ago. Why do I tell you all this? He remembered me from track and cross country in high school. I was a senior and he, I believe, was a sophomore. I didn't have much to do with my own class let alone a lower class. Steve reminded me how I helped acclimate him to the group and that I would run with him at times. Honestly, I don't remember. From the obituary and the eulogies I realize that Steve was a man who made it his goal to put everyone ahead of himself. A lesson I am still learning. Funny how I can miss someone I hardly knew.

Lot's of fun here

The mass, the lines, the great shapes! I loved working on this one. I wish I had more time with it and more paper. I would love to have worked on this for a full hour. Two. So much to do, so little time.

Liking this better

Much more to my liking. I like the shading and even the rendering of this one. Lost edges, spotty darks... just wish I had been a little less rusty overall.

A bit sketchy

Still not in the groove. I fear for my return at the next session, nearly a month from now.

I'm a wee bit older today

Well, technically, I'm a wee bit older every day, hour, minute, second of my life. But that is neither here nor there, I've just turned 47 today. I wish I felt older but for some reason I don't think I've ever progressed much past 15. Oh well, I'm just using this as an excuse to take up another day of not posting a drawing so I can stretch out the last session as long as I can.

Nice pose, Sara

I really like the execution of this sketch. Quick and accurate. Simplified forms and loose lines. I wish I could give myself permission to render a lot of my work this way.

A bit better

I really like the shadows created here. I'll avoid the familiar plaint of not enough time. Oops, guess I didn't avoid it. I like this drawing for certain things, but don't like it for others. A good way to get my hand back into life drawing after nearly a month off. And now there will be another month off. Sigh

Eh...

Hey, give me a break here. It has been almost a month, ya know. Alright, alright, no excuse. Not my best but I think there are better ones to come.

More gestures

Streeeeeeetttcccchhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg it out. Just a couple more gesture drawings.

FINALLY!!!!!!

Last session of the year, unfortunately. So it was a good session to end on, I think. Here is the first of the gestures from last night.

Back to work

Tonight we will meet for possibly the last time this year. Maybe the 16th. Alas, I'm not happy about this but...

Up early...

so I thought I'd do a drawing. Just a quick little pencil sketch of one of my favorite models, Cep.

New Star Wars sketch

This was a quick sketch for a fan that I did Sunday. Hope he likes it.

Another unfinished (very unfinished) painting

This could be cool, if I push the mood. May take license and make the hair black and push the Asian theme with the mini Kimono. Don't know. This would be the last one I deal with, if at all.

Back on Monday

Gonna try and stretch the last couple out so I'm taking the weekend off.

Erin, where have you gone?

One of the problems with the field of life drawing (at least around these here parts) is that models come and go. When you find one you really like and rely on reality kicks in and they go about their lives. Erin is a case in point. Wherever she is, The Black Hand Group wishes her well.

Happy Thanksgiving

May everyone have a safe and memorable holiday with family and/or friends.

Pretty well done

I like the loose manner of the paint application and the very impressionistic background (I truly hate painting backgrounds) and chair. A bit more work on the right hand and the face would probably make me happy enough to call this one done.

Another unfinished painting

I suppose I should just view these as practice, which is what they were. I don't know why I think everything I start should be a finished product. Kind of stops me in my tracks too often. This is another image that I love the shapes that are so prominent, the right hip and the knees are great shapes. I really like the left arm and hand, perhaps because they are so unresolved. Just got to get over it.

My Wyeth

This one would be my Andrew Wyeth "Helga" painting if I ever get it done. Love the shapes and the weight of the figure in this one. I have to say that I am reticent to ruin anything that was done during the session but I really would love to have these finished up and see if they could be all that I imagined them to be.

Projects

Forgive me if some or all of these have been posted before...

The following paintings for the next few days are projects that were begun in live sessions. For the most part I have reference to finish them and that is my intention. I hope to show finished work in the coming weeks or so.

This piece was inspired by a Jeff Jones painting that I have adored. I have since shot reference that more closely resembles the piece but I really liked the start I got on this one.

Nothing till the weekend...

sorry.

Faceless

I was so wrapped up in this pose that I just didn't get to the face. I really love some of the stuff I did here, especially the right foot and the whole lower body. The relaxed upper body and the manner in which Sara draped her arms really makes this a great pose. Not even upset that I couldn't finish it, just too much nice stuff going on here. What a great way to go into the break.

relaxed

A distorted angle to begin with made all the more "dynamic" by the fact that I was seated and not standing for this drawing. I think I would have liked to explore this pose longer and when we get back to it I will probably ask Sara to take this one again. Extend the time on it as well. A lot of great shapes in here as well as some interesting, if subtle, transitions.

Okay, back to the drawings

I guess I am going to have to do something in lieu of the session drawings. Hmmmm, since I'm up so early these days why not DRAW!!!! Sheesh, it's so simple even I can do it.
Another drawing using the hair as a framing element. Kinda like it but there is a rushed and undirected feel to it. Guess I was feeling the angst of impending emptiness due to not having my weekly infusion of figure drawing.

Taking the weekend off

Gotta stretch out those last couple of drawings, donchaknow?

airball

This missed the mark. Not sure why because the basics are solid. I've always had difficulties with this particular pose, the face either being partially obscured or when it is laying on an arm or otherwise distorted. It messes with my preconceived notion of what I am looking at. Perhaps this only makes sense to me but then again it is my blog so I guess whatever nonsense that may be rolling around my skull at the moment I'm at the keyboard will, on occasion, make its way to the net. I digress. I tried to save the drawing with shading and that, obviously,didn't work. What I am saying is, this one just didn't work.

Great pose

And the execution wasn't too bad. Again, exploring the lines with minimal shading. I am kind of enjoying that. Maybe this will turn into something I can finally settle down with.

Pretty pleased with this one

I think this one may be as close to a finish as I've gotten in some time. Simple line work, finished face, the lost edges I so love to not do. I love the twist to the body in this one and the expression in the face.

Lot's o hair

Sara gives us a lot of different looks. I really like the way her hair frames the drawing in this and some ensuing sketches. However, in this particular image, I'm very pleased with the simple yet effective rendering of the legs. I had to make a choice of what was important to me as I knew I wouldn't be finishing this one and the lower body just appealed to me as the more interesting aspect of this pose.

Better...

although I seem to have fallen back on my "headless" figure again. This time I can blame it on running out of paper. Hmmm, that means I was planning poorly... I choose to change my answer to "I ran out of time". Yeah, that's the ticket...
As for the drawing itself I think it's much better. I was intrigued by the pose and the great relationships between the mid torso and the left hip. A beautiful pose that (cue familiar lament) I wish I had more time to explore.

Regrets

I allow my emotional state to affect me far too much for my own good. As this was the last session for a long while I was very much wanting every line to count, to mean something. Doesn't work that way.

The other gesture

I was called away to start the session so I only was able to sit in on three gesture poses. I'm stretching this out.

Beginning of the last session for November

I'm going to be stretching the drawings out this time since we will not be meeting again until December 2 due to our room being given to other groups for the next two weeks. Then Thanksgiving. You get the idea.
Not much to say about the gestures above other than I only got to sit in on three of them (another boring story) last night so...

Looking ahead

I'm pretty pleased with this one. Although I like the reclining pose from yesterday's post best, this one turned out very well from a technique standpoint.

Two fer

I'm happy with both of these although the reclining pose really was my favorite. Something about the lines and shapes and the fluidity of it all...

Almost happy

There is so much I like about this one that it's unfortunate that I messed up the jawline. She put forth so many great shapes and lines that it was an absolute joy to draw. A couple more minutes to step back and really observe the drawing would have been beneficial.

Gettin' there

A very nice pose that I just didn't capture well. At least the drawings are headed in the right direction.

Hmmmm, not sure what I was thinking here. But I am resolute to post my failures along with the ones I like. Bask in this tragedy of lost time, wasted paper and charcoal. sigh