Ink Life Drawings

Hello! Here are some life drawings done with Japanese brush pen in a Moleskine sketchbook. Hope you like them!

Watercolor Pencils

I discovered watercolor pencils recently and I'm loving them.

EVE sits on my office desk and keeps me company.

At Barnes and Noble.

Drawathon

I hit the Pratt Drawathon last Friday night and broke out my pastels for the first time in 4-5 years. Here's the only two I liked...

Noses

I needed some practice with noses, so a while back, I kept a large piece of paper at the side of my desk at work. Sometimes during lunch or lulls in work, I drew a few from photographs. Here's the result. I hope to make this into a habit.

Bodies

I was fortunate enough to be able to head out to South Street Seaport this past weekend to visit the Bodies Exhibition, sketchbook in hand. I've been thinking about picking up an écorché, but given how expensive they are, I figured visiting Bodies would help me decide if I really needed/wanted one. So here are the sketches!

This hand was my favorite. I wanted to see how cartilage affected the back of the hand.

I was not as happy with this foot study. You can tell I struggled with the toes. Also, I was drawing with a lead hand.

Finally, a back study, because my understanding of the back muscles is woefully lacking.

A skull I drew at home to familiarize myself with conté pencils.

PS: Some of you would probably find the practice of drawing, or even being around, cadavers a disturbing process. Nothing I can say would assuage your feelings. I can say this: it is a place of learning, where a few select people have donated their bodies to the advancement of science, knowledge and ultimately, wisdom. These people deserve our highest respect and esteem.

Tragically, some of these exhibits came from unclaimed bodies. It's a sad state of affairs that people in this world really do die alone, unclaimed and forgotten. I pray that these lonely souls will find comfort in knowing that their earthly vessels now touch the lives and minds of the millions around the world who come to see them.

Life Paintings Part 1

New Year, New Decade, New Possibilities, Bloody Old Medium.

Andrew

Last night at my portrait painting class, our model was a no-show. So while we waited for her replacement, our instructor, Andrew Lattimore stepped in to pose. Here's a 10-ish minute sketch I did with a Japanese brush pen.

I've been trying to explore inks a lot more after reading David Apatoff's article, 'Ink and Commitment'.

Post 100

It seems somehow serendipitous that on my 100th blog post, I should display my recent foray back into more traditional media (or analog media, for the nerds in the audience). Here's an oil portrait I did recently (after have not painted in oil for about 4 years). It was done in three hours.

Do I have a lot of work ahead of me? Of course. That's why artists do what they do for their entire lives. Am I satisfied with this painting? Yes and no. Yes, because I wasn't sure how much I've lost over the years of not painting in oil. I'm pleased to say I didn't lose too much and I'm almost ready to say that I'm exactly where I left off. And at the same time, I know things can be better.

Well, I've got the rest of my life to learn more and produce better work. Not nearly enough time.

Oodles of Life Drawings

Some more life drawings from my class at WCC. Let me tell you, coming back to these life studies after 4 years feels like visiting your old college. A little dusty, but everything's still there. I'm grateful I didn't lose it all. I owe it all to my old teachers at the Academy: Chuck, Lisa, Sherrie, Jian, Xao Ming, Henry, Warren, Valerie, Bill, Oliver and Barbara (God bless her soul). And of course, I'm indebted to my current teacher, Bruce. Thank you all!

Life Drawings

It's been 4 years since I took a life drawing class and tonight, I got to try it again. If any of you good readers live near White Plains, NY and are looking for some good art continuing ed classes look up the Westchester Art Workshop right here.

Anywho, I feel rustier than a Ford Model T that was half drowned in the Louisiana Bayou. Hope you guys like it anyway. Oh and sorry about the less than professional photos. I'll see if I can make better ones later.