Work in Progress

{Watercolor in Progress, 2012}

I've been taking a watercolor class on Tuesday afternoons and it has been really enjoyable. We still have several weeks left, which is good because I have only been working on this piece during the class time. If things settle down at my home studio I will plan on working on this more at home too. I plan to work up the foreground figure completely before I decide what to do to finish the background. I have a feeling I am going to need to tone down the three red poppies, but I won't know until I finish the figure. I've really enjoyed working on this piece so far!

Figure Painting Study

{Acrylic on Canvas, 2010}

My most recent study of the figure. I painted the model from two different places in the room. I like the negative spaces that the two figures create together. I am also really enjoying using acrylics when I paint from life because they dry fast and I can stay loose as I try to record as much information as possible in the allotted studio time.

Illustration Friday - Spent

{Acrylic on Canvas, 2010}

{Detail, Acrylic on Canvas, 2010}

Today I finished this piece in the figure painting class I am taking at the Des Moines Art Center. I thought it was perfect for the topic of "Spent" because the twist of the body and the hand laying lifelessly in the foreground give the feeling of tiredness and spent energy. I know this isn't my usual Illustration Friday fodder, but in this instance it will do just perfectly!

Figure Study

{Watercolor Detail, 2010}

{Watercolor Sketch, 2010}

Today was the first day of a figure studio class I am taking at the Des Moines Art Center with instructor Tracy Duran. I worked on a small watercolor study today (probably around 16"x20"). Drawing from life is one of my favorite things to do because no matter how long you've been at it, a new pose always provides a new challenge.

Gestural Figure Drawings

{Charcoal on Newsprint, 2009}

{Charcoal on Newsprint, 2009}

{Charcoal and Conte on Newsprint, 2009}

This is a sampling of some of the warm up gesture exercises we have been doing in the figure class at the Des Moines Art Center. I admit, I have never really been that great at gesture drawing. In college, I would sort of just "get through them", but Jack, the instructor, is pushing us by trying various techniques. (he can also tell if you are just going through the motions, and I like that he calls me on it). He often makes a great point, that drawing the figure quicker and quicker is good for the artist and more importantly, the model. (because obviously they can't hold poses forever) That has been one of my major goals during this 13 weeks period; to become a better gesture drawer. I am pleased to say, I think I have improved at it a little!

Figure Drawing

{Graphite on Bristol, 2009}

Last night, in figure class, we focused on the muscles of the back. The teacher had selected a model with a very long back and a lean physique so we could see bone and muscle working together. The drawing is roughly 14"x 16".

Legs and Feet Study

{Subtractive and Additive Graphite, 2009}

{Foot Detail}

This is a study focusing on legs from one of my latest sessions in the figure drawing class that I take at the Des Moines Art Center. I love when we get to use graphite, its generally a more subtler method than the chunks of charcoal that we sometimes use. I think I like that its a little less messy too. I hate washing charcoal out from underneath my finger nails for three days!

Whoa! What a Week!

{Graphite, 2009}

This is from tonight's figure drawing class at the Des Moines Art Center. The focus was on legs and feet. I didn't get all the way through it, but its an improvement on some of my past feet. I have been SO busy this week just trying to finish up projects that are coming to a close and are due ASAP. I did manage to get a minute to sign up for the Nebraska SCBWI event that will be in Omaha on March 28, 2009. I am really excited to go and see what its all about. I've been a member for almost a year, but have only read the bulletins and used the website minimally. I hope to get a few snapshots while I am there to share on my blog. I have a feeling that it will be a good experience!

Figure Drawing

{Charcoal on Toned Paper, 2009}

This is the drawing from tonight's figure class. We were focusing on just the torso. I usually hang the drawing from the previous week in my studio so it can "soak in". That way I can learn from any mistakes or think of ways to improve upon techniques. 

Figure Drawing

{charcoal on toned paper, 2009}

{detail, 2009}

This is the "long pose" from class tonight. I have some issues with areas, but I feel that I am definitely benefitting from taking the class. I always used to enjoy drawing females more than males, but recently I am indifferent. I think its mostly due to the fact that I am seeing shapes more than seeing "a person". 

Figure Drawing

{Charcoal on BFK Rives, 2009}

This is from my class last night. I was bummed that I ran out of time to finish the hand, but we were supposed to be focusing on the muscle and bone structure of the torso. I assume we will focus on hands and feet at a later time.

Illustration Friday - Flawed

{Charcoal on BFK, 2009}

I did this last night in the figure drawing class that I am taking. When I woke up this morning, I saw the theme was flawed. How perfect! Not only is the human body innately flawed...so are my drawing skills. While I know I have improved over the past few years, I still always see flaws and things that could be worked on. Happy Friday everyone!

Winter and Spring

{Graphite on Bristol, 2008}

I finished this today for the Crossroads Iowa Conference and Showcase. The piece is titled "Winter and Spring" and is graphite on bristol paper. I think it might be fun to do an accompanying piece of Summer and Fall too!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and is getting a jump start on all of the holiday traditions, festivities and wonder that surround this time of year!

Figure Painting Class

The pictures above are of my second painting for figure class at the Des Moines Art Center. I added two pictures because the top one shows the composition and the bottom one has a better representation of the colors. Yellow light casts can really do things to the colors!!
These are graphite studies in my sketchbook with some watercolor. This will be our model for the next oil painting sessions at the Des Moines Art Center. The first two are the ones I spent the most time on. The third study I spent 15 minutes, so it looks a little more loose and the lines are less detailed.

Cindy DiBlasi has given me this blog award! So here are the rules:

1. Must display award.

2. Must link back to the person who gave it.

3. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the bloggity love onto.

4. Let them know they have been chosen.

Here are my choices:

Sara Butcher

Erin Waineo

Gaia Bordiccia

Honor Bowden

Kelly B.

Lisa M. Griffin

Melissa Langer

Alright, now I am back to my crazy "list of things I cannot accomplish in one day but seem to expect of myself anyways"!! Wish me luck!

Figure Drawing & Painting Class

These are some quick sketches for composition from the figure painting class that I take on Tuesday nights at the Des Moines Art Center. I will be starting the final painting next week!
The top one is in graphite in my sketchbook and the one below it is graphite with a few watercolor washes (also in my sketchbook). I was really pleases to find out that my new sketchbook that I started a few weeks ago takes some water media without bleeding through the page.

This is my first finished painting from the class. It is oil and 18"x 20" on MDF board. Its a terrible picture taken with Photobooth on my MacBook, but it gives a pretty good idea of what is going on. (the photo looks a bit grainy and dark! oh...and you can totally see my hand at the top of the board.)

All in all, I am really enjoying the class!