Samm gets comfortable

 I'm pretty happy with this one, the wonderful cast shadows and the elegant tilt to the pose.  This is a nice one (in my extremely humble opinion).

Shadows and shapes

 This was a fun little experiment in abstract realism.  Only about 10 minutes with this one so I chose to just focus on an area.

Samm at rest

 Just a study in unfinished body parts.  A couple of fingers here, a hint of hip, a start of the head.  You know, not even an attempt to finish this one.

Two fer one

 I stuck two poses on the same page.  Wish I had moved the second drawing down further...

Gestures of Samm

 The normal 10 sketches with Samm putting her all into it.  

Lost edges and heavy shadows

 This fifteen minute sketch was my favorite of the evening.  A lot of great shadows and some fun lost edges really make this an image I can be okay with.

Long pose

 This was coming along fairly nicely when, surprise, time ran out.  So many nice shadows defining some really great shapes.  This was a lot of fun to work on.

Conté profile

 

A profile study.  Meh, not my best effort.

Hippy hippy shake

Loved the movement and the really fun cast shadow across the belly.  This makes for some really fun time at the easel.
 

Gestures of Lady D

 A small group of four artists got to have Dylan all to themselves.  The gestures were dynamic, as always.  Would love to have had the time to work on a few of them for a bit longer (or much longer).  But that's the same old line I use every Friday, ain't it.

My favorite from the evening

 

This one has it all, aside from a full figure.  The motion implied and the simplicity of the choices of what to render make this more art than just a sketch.  This is my favorite style of figure drawing.

The long pose

 We got about 52 minutes out of this one.  Dylan probably regrets this one as she was resting on her left hand.  Great job, for sure.

10 minutes

 We had two 10 minute poses.  This was the second.  Just a study in form and and mass.  

15 minutes

I was moving too slowly on this one and really didn't get far enough in the time allotted.  If anybody reads my comments you may think I just cut and paste the same statement, ad nauseam.  I don't, but I do repeat myself... a lot.
 

Gestures of Dylan

 Dylan came in after a delay at the train tracks and just knocked out great pose after great pose.  Fun night with a small group.

The long pose

 If I decide to finish her face this could be a pretty nice drawing.  Either way, I'm very pleased with the forms and sense of mass that this one conveys.  Yep, very happy.

20 minutes

 I got a little precious with this one.  I spent an inordinate amount of time on her left shoulder.  I had a fixation on that shadow and just couldn't let it be.

10 minute head study

 This one just didn't gel.  It happens... sometimes.

10 minutes and counting

 This one had a lot, a lot, of potential.  Derailed by a lack of time.  I was having an absolute ball making the marks on this and I'm fairly upset that I didn't get the time to "flesh" this one out.

Samm is back

 Gestures.  Yep, just gestures.  Samm gave us some wonderful poses to work with.

I have a plan for this one

 I intentionally didn't complete her right arm as it disappeared into shadow, and I intend to plunge it back into shadows again, along with finishing her face.  In the studio I'll be able to take my time and finish it the way I envision, with a soft black background that melds her arm into the darkness.

 I started this one with the right arm, investing a lot of time into the shadow and trying to make sure it looks in perspective.  I then tried to play catch-up with the rest of the figure and face.

The long pose

 So much information and, even at 45 minutes, not enough time to get it all down.  So many interesting shapes, especially the legs.  I need to at least finish her face.  For me, her mouth is tough to really get right and I plan on doing that much correct.

The classic Dylan pose

 Dylan is very long and lean and she uses that to great advantage.  When she bends her figure creates such angular shapes that make for beautiful lines.  Of course, 10 minutes is never enough time to really do any of these poses justice.  

My fourth set of gestures of Dylan

Dylan took some really nice gesture poses, a couple of which I wish would have been much longer than a minute each.  The nature of the game, it seems.
 

Twelve minutes

 This seems to be the go to pose for me to get a decent drawing.  Long and lean with that bend.  Just a nice stance to work with.

Long pose

 There is a lot I like about this drawing but, ultimately, my failure to capture her face makes this a sketch I'm just not happy with.

Ten minute torso

 A study in shapes and mass and connections.

Ten minutes...

 ... not nearly enough time.  This pose, right out of the gate, was one I really wanted to explore.  And for that, I... NEED... MORE... TIME!!!!  A real lost opportunity.

Gestures of Dylan

 Another terrific session with Dylan.  Wonderful set of 1 minute poses.  I would love a chance to work with some of these poses for longer than a minute.

Long pose

 I really enjoy these longer poses, especially when the model is relaxed and elongated.  So many great shapes and masses, twists and such that draw the eye around the figure.

A fuller partial torso study in conté

 This was my favorite drawing of the session.  Only fifteen minutes, but still my favorite.

Partial torso study in charcoal

 I became a bit fascinated with the cast shadow to the detriment of the complete torso.  A study is a study.

Head study

 A little study of Dylan's face.  Not real happy with this, but not unhappy either.  Just getting to know the newest model and I hope to do a few more head studies as the summer progresses.

Some gestures of Dylan

 Dylan returned for an encore with our little group and these are the quick one minute sketches to start the evening.

Dylan in 45 minutes... almost

 I intend to do some adjusting to this in the studio.  Some areas are more defined than they need to be and others not enough.  The framework is all there (except for the face) and I hope to be able to bring a bit more life to this from memory.  So much to like about this that it is a shame to let it go...

About 12 minutes for this one

Similar to yesterday's post but more fleshed out.  Still focusing on the shadows but bringing out more of the figure.

10 minute study #2

 I found the action line with this pose but chose to keep it relatively focused on the shadows.  I'm pretty happy with this one.

10 minute study #1

 Kind of a tentative approach to the first sketch.  As the session progressed I became a bit more assured.

Introducing Dylan

 

It's always exciting and intimidating to work with a new model.  I tend to need a couple of sessions to separate the model as a person and begin seeing them as a series of shapes, shadows and lines.  Creating mass and motion.  I think Dylan will be a wonderful model to work with.

My fave of the sesh

 Why is it my fave?  'cause I was having an absolute blast constructing her leg and starting to build up the incredible shadows she was casting.  Didn't finish, but that doesn't make it any less fun.

 Ouch, this one had so much potential and I just didn't handle it right.  Maybe a different medium would have been a better choice.  Probably should have gone with charcoal or maybe black conté.

Blurry charcoal

 I so desperately wanted this one to turn out and it just didn't.  It might at some point, but that's a long way in the future.

Second page of gestures

 Not as messy but also not exactly a frame worthy piece of art...