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.