Study: "Asia": 3' x 5' (Acrylic)

We painted a lovely model (Asia) in David Fox's class today.

David's contemporary painting class is experimental. We use cheap paint (Rustoleum), work on cheap cardboard, and use cheap Home Depot brushes. And, we work fast, finishing a BIG painting in 2 hours.

I like today's brushwork, and the limited palette worked better than others I've done. Fun!

Painting exercise: 20-minute value study

Dean Fisher has us begin every figure painting class with a 20-minute study on a toned panel. Working fast, we define the light areas and let the toned panel stand in for the shadow/mid tones. An interesting exercise!

Figure Study, Week Two

For the second week on this figure, I spent most of my time trying to fix her legs (top image). Not sure it improved things! That's painting from a model for you -- even when the pose is marked with tape, it changes. Next week, I'll use color.

3 Studies, Same Model: 16" x 20" Oil

Today I  painted this model (Maeve) for the third time (far right).  Ismael says to paint looser ... but how? He suggested I study the figurative works of J. Sorolla.

2 Studies, Same model (16" x 20" Oil)

I painted today's model 6 months ago (left) and then again today (right). Ismael's observation is that I start out trying to be too precise. His advice is to begin with looser and more gestural brushwork.

Figure Study, Week One (16" x 20" Oil)

I started a new life painting class today, with Dean Fisher, at the Silvermine Art Center in CT.

He asked me to work monochromatically, and the drawing and initial block in got off to a good start. The same model will pose next week -- looking forward to finishing what I started.

Life Drawing: Male Model

Today, David Fox talked about the British painter Euan Uglow. So for the final 20 minute pose, I tried to define each contiguous plane with color, despite limited pastels on hand. 

Even though the colors completely lacked the subtle beauty of Uglow, I made an interesting discovery when I looked at the image in grey scale. At least the values worked:) 

It was a fun 20 minute exercise. Check out Uglow's paintings if you don't know his work. Amazing.

Study of Girl (16" x 20" Oil)

This model's skin tones presented a challenge, especially in shadow. At one point, Ismael mixed a greenish color on my palette and pointed to where it should go (cheek, neck, eyebrow). I gasped! .... then added it and of course it was spot on. This portrait would have fallen very short without Ismael's color nudge!

Study of Girl (16" x 20" Oil)

I returned to Ismael Checo's weekly portrait painting class at the Rye Art Center, after a summer of little painting. Very rusty, but it felt good to be at the easel again!

I'm usually too conservative with skin tones, so today I tried to exaggerate the colors in her skin; maybe I overdid it, but I learned from the process. Note to self: next time, ask the model to look up!

Drawing Tools: Conte compressed charcoal

This is the charcoal we used in Melanie Reim's drawing workshop. It can be used for line work and for a fast painterly block in, when used on drawing paper that can take a wet mediu (see below on the ballet leotards).

Great stuff!

Melanie Reim Life Drawing Workshop

Here are a few of my favorite drawings from the Life Drawing Workshop with Melanie Reim. We used a compressed charcoal which, when wet, could be used for quick painterly marks, especially useful in a solid area like the ballet leotard.