Figure Drawing

01Jul09

Today is a deadline for proposing some new classes for various events… I’m taking a risk and proposing a 3-hour figure drawing class…  the mixed media art events that I usually teach at (Art & Soul, ArtUnraveled, and Artfest) are not known for emphasizing a traditional approach to artmaking (of which figure drawing would belong)… but I found drawing from life to be such an integral part of my own journey that I’m hoping there will be an interest… I’ll let you know if it gets picked!!

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Pinkies

21Jun09

This is a drawing inspired from a little doodle done years ago that I recently found (my studio is in chaos right now, and all of these older drawings and doodles are popping up). It’s marker, pencil, colored pencil and charcoal on Fabriano hot press #140 lb paper… I have a stack of this stuff cut down to 5″x7″ sheets and right now they are serving as my “sketchbook.” 

While working at the drawing table this week I’ve been really enjoying some podcasts that Danny Gregory produced last fall, and especially enjoyed Roz Stendahl’s two segments…  During my internet time I’m also trying to go through all of the archive posts at Doodler’s Anonymous. Great work over there!!

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Poodle Power

19Jun09

Have I posted this one before? I did this in the early spring…

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Awhile back Catherine Witherell tagged me with the the prompt, which we are supposed to keep answering until we run out of answers:

If you were going to write down the things you were about at this particular moment or day in time, what would they be?

So here goes!

• Right now I am about getting our house ready to sell: touching up paint, pulling weeds, cleaning windows, etc. — every spare moment (except when my body rebels).
• Right now I am about trying to go through 46 years of “stuff” and really weed it out.
• Right now I am about trying to relax amidst the chaos and write a fun book.
• Right now I am about enjoying our last summer in Colorado.
• Right now I am about being grateful that my husband is busy shooting.
• Right now I am about praying a lot that we will make it to Seattle by the end of August.
• Right now I am about being overwhelmed by all my crap.
• Right now I am about reading some classics that I’ve missed (To Kill a Mockingbird and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two).
• Right now I am about appreciating my little cat (whose jungle habitats keep getting destroyed).
• Right now I am about “to-do” lists.

I tag YOU, now, and feel free to write your answers in the comments section if you wish!!

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And the winner is….

18Jun09

The winner of the first Collaborative Drawing Experiment is…

… kathy stewart! (You’ll just have to trust me that she was number 78 on the list of 87 names/comments.)

Thank you again, EVERYONE, for sticking through the process! I had fun, I had a hard time, both!!! It was definitely a stretching exercise, and I recommend you try a modified version yourselves!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled blog programming…

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Penguin and Windmill…

18Jun09

I decided to go small with these last additions, and add horizon lines to support them. Here’s the full image:

BUT! It’s not done yet! I’ve already made some changes, hopefully to strengthen the drawing… add shading, etc. I’ve even gotten out the big guns: acrylics. Will post the final and announce the winner of the piece later today!!

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Hello There

16Jun09

Self Portrait by Wes Sonheim

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I just wanted to quickly post and say thank you to all of the people who have taken part in my Drawing Experiment… it has been a very interesting and enlightening experience for me… I didn’t know this when I started, but I think it would make a great workshop exercise, as there have been so many benefits… here are two:

1. Exercised My Problem Solving Muscles. It has been fun and challenging to figure out how work the random suggestions into the composition.
2. Pushed Me to Keep At It. There have been several times during the process where I would have quit and abandoned the piece… doing this project this way forced me to just keep at it.

There are more but I’ll stop for now… last chance to “play” with me… go here!

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Last Round (I Think): Collaborative Drawing Experiment

15Jun09

Here are last round’s additions: sun, moon, stars & lollipops. I think we’ll go one more round and see what happens, as it’s feeling close to done for me. Post your suggestion for the next portion of the drawing on THIS post (one suggestion per round… TWO winners to be picked Wednesday at noon). Thanks!! (Original details of this Experiment here.)

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Paula is the first winner with “penguin, parachute, star flowers”… you’re killing me!!!!!

The second winner was Jonna, of course, who suggested “windmill.” 

I’ve found that each addition takes more and more time to figure out… I will post the drawing tomorrow after I sleep on it!! And… after that, I think I will need to really scrutinize it and see if I can connect it together somehow… then we’ll pick the winner of the piece. Thanks to everyone!

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Round 5: Collective Drawing Experiment

13Jun09

Here are the balloons and horse/rider additions (with creative license taken on “rider”)… Time for Round 5! Post your suggestion for the next portion of the drawing on THIS post (one suggestion per round… TWO winners to be picked Monday at noon). Thanks!! (Original details of this Experiment here.)

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Wow, Jonna won again, this time with “sun and moon and stars.” I will block those into the drawing before I pick this round’s second winner! Stay tuned…

Second winner was #10, Susan G’s “lollipops.”

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Round 4: Collective Drawing Experiment

11Jun09

Phew! I lucked out with the “orange” pick… Time for Round 4! Post your suggestion for the next portion of the drawing on THIS post (one suggestion per round… TWO winners to be picked Saturday at noon). Thanks!! (Original details of this Experiment here.)

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The FIRST winner is #2, Snap with “balloons.” I will work those into the painting and then pick the second winner later today (I want to keep the influences separate!) Be back soon (though I’m painting my studio floor today, so I will be slower than usual…)

SECOND winner is #6, Jonna with “horse and rider.” I’m officially challenged. Will post the result later this afternoon. Thanks everyone!!

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I Can’t Resist Showing You This

10Jun09

This is a page from a little ‘zine I did about 9 years ago now… when Wes was four I was able to quit my full-time job and be home with him more… just in time to write down some of his fabulous words!! OMGosh, the kid was cute. 

One of the assignments in the Drawing Lab book will be “Illustrating Kids’ Quotes,” and so I went looking for this list. Look at these last three!!

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