Getting Behind

All the above charcoal portraits were completed at the Literary Cafe. I recently started Instagram and neglected the upkeep of my blog, so here I am posting it all at once. Now, considering it's the end of the year, I have a few decisions to make considering this blog's direction and how I will separate it from other media. To post the same art in both places seems redundant. I hope to add a few more insights to this blog since that really is the purpose of a blog. Isn't it?

Today, I signed up to do thirty paintings in thirty days. I doubt I will have time to consistently paint every day for the next month, but I hope it will motivate me to set aside more creative time. Working full time, caring for an elderly parent, along with every day life, this challenge seems a bit impossible, but I'm going to see what happens. Maybe I'll try some abstraction in an attempt to loosen up my style, or focus on a specific goal or even a random one.  I feel a bit de ja vu being reminded of when I first started this blog. I have no idea of where it will lead - time will tell.

Bay Art Portrait Painting

Oil Painting

Lashanna Lawler posed 3 hours for this portrait at Bay Arts. I completed it in 4 hours. I only wish I had a larger canvas to capture her wonderful magenta dress.

Christine Vassallo

Charcoal 2 hours

Charcoal 45 minutes

Kellyn Nettles

Charcoal, 1 hour drawing

Charcoal, 2 hour drawing

3 hour oil study

Oil on linen,

It was a rare treat that I was able to paint along with other artists at Bay Arts - thanks to the holidays. Michelle did a great job sitting for us for a three hour session.

Dustin

Charcoal, 3 hour session

Charcoal, 1.5 hour

Charcoal, 1.25 hour sketch

I Forgot My Supplies!

Charcoal, 1 hour 45 minute pose

Pencil, 30 minute pose

I arrived at the Literary Cafe only to realize I forgot my supplies. Duh! I borrowed a 4B charcoal pencil, vine charcoal, a dark graphite pencil, a kneaded eraser and a couple sheets of medium tooth, 

Strathmore paper. When it comes right down to it, I can make by with only a few supplies!

charcoal

charcoal

charcoal, about 1.5 hour drawing

I was feeling a bit tired and didn't get to make additional drawings, but I did try out my new pounce bag. It worked better as a way to rub in loose charcoal and not so well actually pouncing. I've that some artists mix in baby powder, but it seems like a strange additive. I might try a small amount and see how it works.

charcoal, 45 minute sketch

charcoal, 50 minute sketch

pencil, about 20 minutes

pencil, about 30 minute sketch

Seize Any Opportunity to Draw

Charcoal, 2.25 hours

15 minute pencil drawing of Ali

I overheard this little five-year-old girl saying that she wanted to pose, so we had her sit during one of the fifteen minute breaks. It's so rare that we get to draw children. I could tell by her temperament that she would be able to sit still. She delivered! If someone offers to pose, seize the opportunity.

Trio of Portraits

Pencil, 1 hour 45 minute pose

This was a small quick sketch about 15 minutes that I made of Juan while he was drawing. Below is a ten minute or so sketch of Tim. I like the linear quality of my quicker sketches. Maybe I need to draw "less" while working on the weekly model.

Ohio Plein Air Society Paintout 2015 - Licking County, Ohio

I just returned from an OPAS paintout this weekend. It was great meeting so many wonderful and talented artists. I completed four paintings and a small sketch over the two and a half day event. The final show was on the streets near Sunbear Gallery in Alexandria, Ohio. This tiny rural town gave us a big warm welcome. :)

Here are street scenes of the paint sale:

...and close-ups of my two paintings...

To get this painting above, I dragged my gear to Blackhand Gorge using a luggage cart. I then carried all my stuff up a path with roots scattered like pick-up sticks. Then, I crossed a foot bridge, climbed down a few rocks and walked to a small beach oasis in the woods. I realized how dangerous this could potentially be if I ever broke an ankle - in the middle of nowhere. I'm seriously considering a switch to watercolor sketches. After the event, I headed down to Hocking Hills and did a few watercolor sketches while hiking. My gear was lightweight in a small drawstring backpack and I carried my folding stool using my yoga strap carrier across my shoulders. My hands were free to use hiking poles.  I'm thinking this is a good way to go.

_________

I entered a Granville house for the main competition.

...and painted a porch scene for the two hour quick draw.

My quick draw painting sold! Happy Day!

...and I was finally able to get a three night stay at one hotel. So, instead of driving around with my wet paintings, I stored them in my room closet. My drying rack (posted 9/6) worked great with the variety of panel sizes. Removing the back panel, I could adjust the size. It traveled with ease. I can even see flying with these, since they pack easily, or at least heading to a local Office Max to purchase them.

Erin in Triplicate

Charcoal, 45 minute pose

Charcoal, 35 minute pose

Charcoal, 50 minute pose

Tonight, at the Literary Cafe, I completed 3 sketches of Erin, our model. I also managed to do a quick sketch of one of the artists in the room. I hope to keep working this way - quickly establishing the crucial areas, light and dark patterns while attempting to be freer with my medium.

Man in Black

Charcoal on brown kraft - about 2 hours.
I love Emmanuel's Walter White hat!

Graphite, 30 minute pose

Art Panel Carrier - Cheap!

I've decided to join the Ohio Plein Air Society's annual competition at the end of the month. With this event only being a few weeks away, many hotels are booked on the last Friday. Unfortunately, this means finding a distant hotel or staying at the "pet friendly" one for the night. Switching hotels also means, I need to keep my paintings in the trunk of my car since having a hotel, home base as storage will not be an option. (knock on wood, the weather will not be too hot!) I have several RayMar carriers, but not one large enough for my 16" x 20" panels. I'd also like to avoid buying another carrier. I've seen a few elaborately made of cardboard, but I really didn't want to spend the time. Here's my solution:

For each side, I taped together two file racks from Office Max. A strip of duct tape was use to attach a 10" x 20" canvas panel to each side of the file racks. A long cord for a handle was attached to the opposite end of the racks. I already had the cord and panel handy...the grand total came to about $12!

In this image, I added in another panel into the slots and stood the carrier upright. I can keep it flat in my car trunk. One extra plus - I realized that I can take this carrier apart, when no longer needed, and use the separate pieces. The racks can be used to store my smaller paintings and I can still paint on the 10" x 20" panel. I hope this works out!

Graphite drawing

Graphite- 3 hour session

Mark Ferguson

3 hour pose, pencil

3 hour pose, charcoal

Wish I Used Washi Tape

Charcoal, 3 hour Pose

French artist Alexandra drew with the PTA before my time. She made wonderful drawings of portraits using washi tape. (Check out Larry Zuzik's colorful washi tape drawing of her through Tim Herron's facebook page or my Pinterest Designerly art/ paintings board.) Being in town visiting relatives, she agreed to pose for us. PTA artists pay the model with our drawings. If she takes this drawing home to Paris, I can officially say that my work is in a European collection! ha ha, lol!

water soluble graphite

water soluble graphite - 45 and 30 minute sketches

I finally experimented with water soluble graphite in my attempt to loosen up my style. I've had this Lyra graphite stick for some time and never tried using it as a wash. It was easy to use. I could draw with it like a pencil or rub it with a wet paintbrush to get a gray tone. I recently purchased a pan of ArtGraf watercolor graphite and will soon give it a try.

I definitely need to use larger brushes - maybe a large sumi brush. I find myself still wanting to noodle in the details. I'd like to find a balance between capturing a likeness and achieving meaningful marks with an aesthetic appeal. The portrait on the top left most resembles the model.

Revised painting

I finished the revision shortly after I painted the original version. I like that it has more distinct forms. Perhaps I need to think a bit more about composition before I start painting. Part of me wants to dive right in when I'm outdoors.  After all, the light changes so quickly. Yet, a few sketches beforehand would help clarify the composition of what I want to paint.