Painting Class

Today we had an afternoon painting session with a few friends. I haven't painted for a while, so I was really pleased (and surprised!) with my results. It needs a bit more work, but I wanted to post it 'as-is' after a 3 hour class.

This is one more in a series of portraits (some are on previous posts) from this wonderful model - it's always a pleasure to work with her.

Sketch of My Daughter

She is very patient with frequent requests to sit for my classes. Her forbearance is rewarded with gratitude and occasionally lunch at a favourite restaurant =).

Quick  Sketch

A former student kindly agreed to sit for our Thursday night Drawing Class at NPCC. This was done on the fly between making my rounds. I was pleased with the likeness.

Sergio

 Seated Nude

I've been experimenting with intensely coloured papers. This was an accurate but rather stiff rendering which I attacked one day in a fit of re-vision. Much happier with the results and the under-drawing holds it together.

Shel

Shel is a wonderfully expressive model. I caught this pensive pose on a pad of Staples Flip Chart paper with pastel. I like the feel of the pastel on this paper - it's inexpensive and not archival, but I really enjoy working on it.

Seated 

Same model, two views. In Pastel, the second one is on 'citrine' hemp paper.

Sleeping on the Job...

Three drawing of reclining figures. I love the challenge of the foreshortened views. The top two are pastel on a mid-tone ground. 

Spring Art Classes

Spring is here and a whole new opportunity to take Art classes starts up in April. I am scheduled for several Drawing Classes here and here. From Beginner Drawing to Intermediate, Explorations in Drawing and Introduction to Pastels. Looking forward to an exciting Spring!

there be dragons...

Recently I discovered that a local arts & crafts store stocked a variety of plastic dragons. I have been collecting one a week for my drawing classes and so far they've been a hit because who doesn't love dragons?

 Pastel Nude

 Sit!

Paul

Exhibited at NPCC for the Etobicoke Art Group's "Family" Show.

 Pastel Study

 Pencil Crayon Study

Pencil Crayon Study

I enjoy building up the colours for these fall leaf studies - the rich colours beg to be drawn.

Early One Morning

Pastel on Bamboo paper. Working with some different colours - all those luscious pinks and burgundies!

 Sketch

A friend agreed to model for our drawing class. This was done with a Lyra Graphite Crayon in my sketchbook. 

 Partial Blind Contour

I love the quality of the line in blind and partial blind contour drawings. Practising this form has improved my 'seeing' and drawing a great deal. 

Blind Contour

Done in sanguine FaberCastell archival marker in my sketchbook.

Cool Weather Makes Her Frisky

This won a People's Choice award at Neilson Park's 'Falling Leaves' Show in November. I was pleased to capture the incipient insanity of our lovely dog - a Shepherd/Lab mix. 

Pastel on ColourFix paper.

Pastel Chair

This piece was done on 400grit sandpaper. I was playing with some different surfaces. This was nice to work on, though it needs to be mounted on a board because the paper is so flimsy. It allowed some lush layering of the pastels.

Quick Sketches

A young friend sat for my drawing class a few times. These were from my sketchbook using a graphite crayon. Its size keeps me from obsessing about details. These were a good likeness, which I'm pleased about, but also nice and loose.

DreamSnatcher

Imagery from China Mieville's 'Perdido Street Station' - the Slakemoths were the jumping off point for this paper sculpture. Now I want to do a really big one.

2012 Sketchbook Project

The Sketchbook Project is the brainchild of the Brooklyn Art House Co-op. This is my contribution: mixed media - pencil sketches, prints, collage, laser prints, paint and pop-up...it evolved with each new page. The theme is "Life Underground".

Pastel Pencil

Sunflower

Metal tooling and acrylic paint.

Blue Jar and Rocks

Pencil crayon on Canson Mitient textured paper.