Saturday, June 6, 2020

Faces -

Sorry, it's been awhile since I have posted.  Here are a few more faces - done with France online at Sktchy.  I feel I have improved.  I used to not work so deeply on my portraits, but drawing along with someone as good as France, makes me feel the depth which is needed to portray the character in detail.  She helps you look at every little nuance as you draw.




Other things are happening here...I have begun a complete going through of the studio.  I figured  there is no better time than the present.  Gardening is happening, as well, the growing season is pretty short up here at 8500 feet elevation.  Today the wind and rain are happening...that will keep me inside. Hardly EVER a day when you wake up and it's already raining..that weather event is usually left for the afternoon and evening in these parts.

NOTES on the virus - I live in a small mountain community, where there are and have been 2 confirmed cases.  There is no hospital within 50 miles of here.  There is barely medical care..just a small clinic with nurses.  Therefore, we DON'T have much of a safety net and we don't go out much. If we do it's with a mask on, to protect others mainly.  We order take-out on occasion...and eat in the car.  We even had margaritas TO GO the other day with our taco lunch.  That was fun.  But that's it, other than a trip to the grocery store about every week and a half and the post office every 3 - 4 days.

I chose to give up my activity in the local gallery for this year which amounts to no longer being a gallery host, or having my art on the walls, or manning the sales desk during monthly ART receptions.  No more Monday Paint Group.  Too much hassle for personal social distancing...being amongst too many strange and 'from faraway' visitors, as well as familiar friends.  

One thing I understand and it actually pains me to consider it, I have come to look at this situation as EVERYONE is infected.  And although it should be stated 'could be' infected, for me it's 'IS' and that is just how I have chosen to look at it.  This virus does not discriminate.  This has also eliminated visitors or company or going to someone's house as a visitor, including my daughter and her family who live in the northern part of the state. Summer RV travel will be a welcome activity...if we can get a reservation, they seem to be not so available..but with RVing, you don't NEED to be around anyone else if you choose not to be.  I notice that the reopening of many things that were closed down, has seemed to bring on this sense of relaxed concern for the spreading of the virus..a false sense it would seem, since case numbers are increasing.  Anyway, I try not to dwell on this..I stay super busy and let ART save the day.  Stay safe and social distance.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Drawing Along, Filling the Days

This is Dennis in blue ballpoint pen on Moleskin.

This is Big Al Lopez in HB, aquarelle graphite and 6B pencil on Canson XL.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Only in Procreate

Last two days..in the app Procreate..which is starting to become NOT such a mystery!
I think I have enough grasp of it to start experimenting on my own.


"Matt"

"Alan"


Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Add 2 More

Sharing a couple of new daily drawings,
a Saturday 'draw along' and today's Lesson 5.

Matt ~ in green ballpoint pen


Stephanie ~ graphite


Saturday, May 9, 2020

400+

There are 400+ members in my online drawing class on Sktchy, however, I think our live session was only in the neighborhood of about 200.  What fun to start the day drawing ONLINE with others.  France, our instructor, took time to answer lots of questions.  This is Dylan, done in ballpoint pen.


Friday, May 8, 2020

More Portrait Practice

Here is Thursday's and today's pieces from 'Drawing at Home with France' - a month long class on the Sktchy app.
Mandy is done in Aquarelle graphite


Rick N. is done on the iPad in the app, Procreate.
I have had that app on my iPad for an eternity, but never quite
knew what to do with it. When I got online with You Tube lessons, the
person generally went to quickly and it was over my head.
Today, France only used 2 tools and went slow enough, I actually got a result I liked.
I have gone far enough now, that I can teach myself a little more.
Sometimes, all you need is a gentle nudge.


Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Studio Happenings and Learning ONLINE

Currently I am involved in two 'online learning' experiences. This type of learning suits my needs - just fine.  I can DO it when I have time, at any hour, and at any speed.  My first one, I jumped on the bandwagon a few weeks back by joining a Patreon group with Ali Cavanaugh - who does amazing watercolor portraits.  I was late in joining her - this event started back in October 2019, but I'm racing through each of her posts and instructional vids.  Racing isn't a very good word for what I am doing, because I am savoring each video, sharing, comments, and lessons.  Here is a piece I did this past week, we were exploring 'stripes'.  The second I went looking for a PERSON who had striped shadows or clothing I ran across a photo for a zebra..my choice when painting, is always animals.  There is also a chance to dialogue with others through a venue set-up on Discord.  I find I can't keep up with that, too.  Seems other artists spend a lot of time chatting with one another, don't know how they have time to paint.

My second learning attack is through the app Sktchy.  France Van Stone is teaching a month of drawing faces.  It is a more structured type of class with postings of lessons every few days.
First one was a 'draw along' of a face with a definite expression, in ballpoint pen in my Moleskin tablet.  Today, the next lesson is ready for us and I peeked at it - going to be FUN.  And the pacing is OK, because I HAVE the TIME.  There is also artist sharing and dialogue happening on Mighty Network.  Lots of extra apps to download..but so worth the time spent on these two focuses for now. 



Adventures in Pyrography

 Last year about this time, I purchased a cheapo woodburning set and some little wood pieces and tried my hand at woodburning.  I made a few...