Space 301-the male figger 2/3

I'm not particularly interested in drawing male models but this young man did a good job. Really didn't think much of what I'd done but reviewing it the next day they weren't so bad.

This is a rather heroic pose.

This drawing really just re-enforces my resolve to get

away from pencil and get to a broader stroke medium.

Too much hatching.

The little quickie at the bottom of this drawing may

be the best thing all night. Hard to get on a photo. I

scanned it below. May be a little better view.

Lucifer Hummer-Acrylic-30x28

I posted this little painting once before and took it down. Since I've redone much of it several times. The paint is getting thick and it's time to quit. Upward and onward.

The Beat Goes On at 301

Hannah modeled for us at Space 301 on the 23rd. At some point her friend who had driven her over asked if they could pose together. Of course. Believe it or don't, it was the first time I'd ever tried to draw 2 models. 25 minutes wasn't enough.

The light during the day in the Clerestory Studio is great.

Sharon modeled for us on the 20th. These little 2 minute sketches started off the evening. I liked the one in the upper right so much I gave it a star.

I always tend to add a few pounds to Sharon. Hope that's OK.

Hannah at the Eastern Shore Art Center-1/16/10

I've tried several physical approaches to drawing lately; standing at an easel, sitting at an easel. a table easel and just can't get comfortable. These are on a 14 x 17 sketch book propped on the edge of a table. This isn't deep artistic discussion but it worked pretty well for this time at least.

A good session this time. Last Wednesday at 301 we had a male model who, through no fault of his, I don't like to draw so that was a bummer. I should have gone home.

E.S.A.C. had some interesting stuff on exhibit. First an primative installation of work by Tres Taylor that was written up on the Mobile "Living Arts" section this morning. It was interesting to a degree but grew awfully repetitious rather quickly. This is a self taught "artist". Reading the techniques that he used in this morning's paper was disturbing. Apparently the work was done on "tar paper" which I believe is actually roofing felt, plywood, house paint, acrylics and gold leaf. I wonder if it's actually gold leaf considering the craft required to use gold leaf, and considering the other materials used. I've always felt that an artist had a responsibility to know his craft and practice it as best they could if they're going to hang it on a wall with a price on it.

Oh well, someone told me how happy Tres is so I guess if he's happy, I'm happy. Yeah!

A really interesting exhibit was wooden objects and sculpture. These people knew their craft and used it well. Really good stuff.

While I'm on a tear; parts of the currant exhibition at Space 301 disturb me, just a little. That part being polaroid pictures, a bunch of them, stuck on the wall. The premise seems to be that written on each picture(of a person) is what they want to do before they die. Frankly, dear readers, I don't give a rats ass what these people want to do before they die. There are other arrangements of photos but I didn't bother figuring out the schtick for them. This is one of the nicest galleries around and they ought to show art.

There is some 3-D work in the gallery that I don't believe is connected to the above stuff.

Have a nice day.

In With The New

Our first Saturday drawing session at Space 301. Joni is a wonderful model.

First painting finished in '10 although started in '09. The Lucifer Hummer is an evil looking little dude. As usual the photography is just a bit off.

TAKEN DOWN FOR RENOVATION "Lucifer Hummer" 32 x 30

Starting off figure drawing for the year. Sharon on Wed. night. I wish that I knew whether I've made any progress.

New model in Fair hope. We've had some extreme poses there lately.

I need to wax poetic and come up with some exotic titles for these things.

"Contemplating her Muse"

More Fun in Fairhope 12/19

Interesting new model this session. I hope she can stick with us for a while. This does it for drawing in 2009. Time to get a new portfolio and label it 2010. Looking back over what I've done this year I can feel some progress.

Good Day at Fairhope- Nov 21

Ron Thomson did a great job setting up for this week's drawing group. We didn't get to use everything but with Joni modeling it was a good day. Most of these are in the 20-25 minute time frame. A little more time might be good. She's got a wonderful face and I just can't seem to get to it. May try to turn one of these into a painting.

I Thought I Saw A Puddy Cat.....I Did, I Did, Acrylic 32 x 30

I sure spent too much time on the cats and I'm a dog person. Takes me forever to get to a stopping point on these things. I do know I've got to get a better lighting setup for photographing. Things are just a smidge off.

MEOW!

Recent Figure Drawings

GROUP 301 11/5

This was a brand new model and she did very well. All these were 20 minute drawings. We've decided to put aside the warm-up quickies for the time being. May have to think about that. It might be good for the model.

These are all charcoal. It may not be my best medium or maybe I need more time. So fragments.

FAIRHOPE 10/31

Same model we've had there the 3 times I've been. Good model.

The last 2 were about 25 minutes. Maybe graphite isn't my best medium.
What's left?

Painting Produce #3-Red Delicious,Acrylic on canvas 42 x 38

Can't get the color perfect on this one. Actually I added the apples to make this a produce painting. May take them out. These were numbered in the starting order and #1 hasn't showed up yet. Maybe the tomatoes will turn up one day.

More Figger Drawing in Fairhope

Not as bad as I thought on Saturday. The drawing group the is a wonderful except for getting there. Ron Thomson who's in charge does a great job, the model for the times I've been there is good, works hard, holds the pose and has a personality. Hope we can set up a group that functions this well on our side of the bay.

Walked through a couple of galleries afterward. Lo and behold, Ron Thomson's work was the best I saw. There was some work from Ocean Springs at the ESAC that I found pretty spotty quality-wise.

Painting Produce #5, Corn-O-Copia USA, 20" x 20", Acrylic/Faux copper on Canvas

The Devil made me do it. I've still got one more produce painting that's almost finished. That may be the end.

Figure Drawing at 301- 9/24

Last night was the first night of the Space 301 figure drawing group and it went very well. Sharon who modeled this summer for Ben Shamback's class was the model and moderator. Multi-tasking. She will continue to monitor the group and will model one more time this quarter. For information call Space 301.

A few examples:

I've really got to get serious about hands and particularly feets.

Drawing Figures in Fairhope

Even though I was very tired this was a good day. Professionally run. Model didn't take long breaks. Monitored by a man named Ron Thomson who does a very good job. This group is tentatively scheduled for twice a month through Dec. I recommend it.

Nothing new about any of this. I've really got to start dealing with hands and feet.

Painting Produce #4, 30 x 28, Acrylic

Another effort in immortalizing groceries. Next will probably be red delicious apples.



Last night was the first session of the Downtown Figure Drawing Group meeting back at the Temple. I wasn't in the group in the past when they regularly met there. It's unfortunate but I don't think I can deal with that space. Guess it will be Space 301 only. I was going to do both.

Painting Produce #2, Bell Pepper, 18 x 18, Oil

I had started to paint this Alla Prima as most of the Painting A Day paintings are done but the colors seem to become muddy that way and the translucent colors of the red bell pepper were lost. So there were glazes over opaque and vise versa and it took a long time even using alkyd medium. I really like working better in acrylic but there are things you can get with oil that don't look quite the same in acrylic.

There are more produce paintings nearing completion.

An artist friend sent the below photos when she heard I was painting produce. They are called Peter Peppers. Enough said.

I understand that seeds are available from: Totally Tomatoes, P.O. Box1626, Augusta, Ga 30903-1926

Hummers 2, 18 x 18, Acrylic

I nearly dumped this little painting and still may do. It certainly isn't up to the first Hummer painting. Guess which one's the female.