Illustration Friday: Asleep
Originally uploaded by Sultry

Hubby and the cat were, at one point, in almost the exact same positions, sleeping in front of the television. When I went to get the camera (to use in Photoshop and thus avoid the risks of a "figurative drawing," the cat followed me. Curiosity!
So. I sketched in my sketched pad, once, and then free-hand re-sketched withthe mouse. THEN I fiddled with layers and colors to get the result above.

I'm sure there will be ample opportunities to try again!

Siblings pose

Mar-24-09-Life-Drawing-(1)
Originally uploaded by Sultry

Due to low attendance, my instructor is changing her Tuesday evening offering. But tonight, another student brought her two children who were relaxed and friendly enough to pose in close quarters.
The boy liked my drawing and immediatelly turned his foot upside down because HE hadn't ever noticed the pattern on the soles of his shoes.
20 minute pose.

A good evening in life drawing class!

A 45 minute study. Nupastel on charcoal paper. Our model fell asleep for part of the pose and snored softly. I love the curves in her body.

Life Drawing. Kate 2-2-2009

30 minute study. Graphite
This was the last pose of the class and I definitely like it the best. Click through to see the others.

Life Drawings from Water Dance

And an EDM journal page done during staff meeting this morning.

Whether I like my "product" or not, I feel more confident with my drawing, and sometimes even capture the mood and some resemblance! AND I get to spend time in "the zone" of concentration, flow. Afterwards, it is remembered as joy and pleasure.
More at Flickr if you click on the image.

Good Night at Life Drawing

I had a successful evening of life drawing last night. Finally, even I can tell I'm getting more artistic, more accurage and with a bit more style.

Click on the image to go to Flickr and see the entire pose and one other.

Painting Made My Day

I can't think when I had such a good time.

I don't have all that much to show for it here, but I laid down lots of layers of leaves on my fantasy flowers painting. With painting knife and just a wee bit of brush work. And GOBS of paint.

And because the leafy bits needed to dry, I got going on background glazes for my next "work."







Last week, I did sketches in a couple of meetings.

Pat brought Freda, her Yorky, to staff meeting.

Leticia presented some counter-intuitive materials about psychotropic medications at supervision group. As usual, she was her bright self, and she's in her UCLA Alma Mater colors.
This is Rosalinda's purse.












I also took photographs of a bunch of tulips. I wanted to commemorate this bunch because the delicate pale pink ones I bought last week drooped before I had time to even enjoy them.

I'd meant to take pictures early in the day (since I really WAS worried about the droop speed), but the light was SO much better late in the afternoon when I finally got around to them. I think the photograph looks painterly!
Puppy The Cat was uncooperative as usual when I wanted her to pose! (But if you click on the image, you can find some better ones at Flickr!)

And Life Drawing Class was last night. (Likewise, there are more at Flickr.)
Let me tell you, trying to get TWO people gestured onto a page in one minute is definitely a challenge. And as they got into their poses, I couldn't help but wonder just what they were thinking!

Thursday at the easel (and Tuesday in class)

DH seems to have had some sort of food poisoning Wednesday evening, and felt ghastly all day yesterday. I'd planned to paint all day anyway, so I was able to keep him hydrated with 7 up (and later pudding) while listening to the local classical music station and painting and painting and painting.
I think the tomatoes and onions are "done."
They're hardly "realism" but they're recognizeable and with careful observation (and a bit of patience) I managed to capture some "shine" on the vegetables AND the tray. It amuses me to do two almost identical paintings at the same time. The biggest intentional difference is the initial undercoat. One "warm" and one "cool."













The "Inspired by Wolf Kahn" pieces need more layers and more contrast. It is certainly amazing to get the intensity of color he does. I'm beginning to "get" the color schemes he uses!

The Tuesday model was diabolical in her poses!! (more at Flickr)

Tuesday's Life Drawings

Click on image for more poses. (Some better, some worse..)