Monday, January 25, 2010

Yellow Daisies, 24 x 24




A relatively quick still life painting done about a week ago, I tried to find any excuse to push concepts of warm and cool while keeping an overall sense of the original color.  Still life painting can be such a good exercise and I can eat the fruit afterward.


I don't think there is a painting I wouldn't change if I had it to do over again....but I usually screw it up if I try and 'fix' it after the fact.  About 3 1/2 hours.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Docent


I think his name is Paul and he leads tours at the Museum of Flight in south Seattle.  He has a droll sense of humor.  "How long did you work at Boeing?"  "About forty years.  I quit because it didn't seem like we were going to get along."

  And if you are new here or haven't gotten the idea, no predrawing with lines...just blocking in of major shapes and going for a likeness.

Friday, January 22, 2010

My Bugs Bunny Tie


Ok.  I admit it.  This is a blast to do.  I'd rather do this than eat....almost. 

I began at the head and then moved down, quickly establishing the shadowed side of the jacket and the drape of the tie.  Then back to the head to get a likeness and everything else fell into place.  Just two pencils, white and some sort of earth color, and an eraser.  Probably 75 minutes.  (I want this guy's tie....)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Kate



Recently I heard Kathryn Stats talk about drawing in the subject before painting and I thought she summarized what I've been experiencing really well.  "What you gain in accuracy (by pre-drawing) you lose in rhythm and spontaneity."  That seems right to me....except by not drawing I've curiously been getting more accurate as well as keeping rhythm and shape.   (Check out Kathryn's paintings.  A true colorist.)

Kate took about an hour or a bit more perhaps.  Beats me.  I was busy being spontaneous and having fun.  No lines, no pre-drawing, no agony. 

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Remodelling



I'm taking time to remodel....but still had to throw in some art.  This is a digital painting from one of my 'critters' that I draw in moments of whimsy.   Should be back posting in about a week.  Keep drawing, keep painting, keep on.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Little People


I had to take a quick ferry today to deliver some materials and, lacking any other diversions, I drew. The son of a friend is in school for digital art (and will soon be published in ImagineFX, the magazine). I saw his sketchbook the other day and he had filled a page with the coolest small people drawings....so I wanted to see what I could do. I had a pen and a marker with me so for you marker drawers why not give this a try? The smallest figure is 1" and the largest is 2"....so this is only the top half of my sketchbook that you see. Pencil sketch a little and then ink in if you want. Just don't try and be too literal. Get the idea and large shapes down and then let the marker shading bring out the form. I only got a glimpse of each figure and drew from memory. It was fun. Thanks Cody, yours were much better.