Drawing - step #1

I have good news as far as galleries for the new year. I intend to be producing a stack of new oil paintings. Here is a new drawing study for a painting. I will try to keep a image record of my process for this one and post it. I hope I don't screw it up.

in progress

I found a really interest statue in the St. Vitus cathedral in Prague this spring. Obviously a Christ statue but a great medieval look to it.

Besides the great view from the tower this cathedral had the greatest Alphonse Mucha stained glass window.

drawing exercise

I am ashamed to say that I've found myself getting away from drawing too much lately. It has lead to distortions increasingly sneaking their way into my work. Drawing is an exercise that can't be avoided for long. It's like practice for a sports player, neglect it at your own peril.

And a Merry Christmas to all!

Drawing at the MET

Finally an oil painting. This is from some reference taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the life of a dedicated artist sitting on the hard chairs trying to block out the loud tourists and get a competent depiction of the sculptures.

The colors shifts were really subtle and a little tricky mainly because I was trying to push the loose brush work on this one. It also makes it looks kind of rough as a digital image. Seems to work okay as a piece of art though.
Another problem I keep running into is how to get a good idea of the real colors when the paint dries and turns from the wet vivid colors to the low contrast mat variety. Some colors are more mat then others(black) and I haven't figured out how to avoid that problem.
I'll have to keep thinking on it. I usually paint a piece then it will sit propped against a wall for a few months in my peripheral vision so I can decide if it'll work out. Often it is useful to have it sitting on it's side or even upside down to get a feel for how the shapes and colors work.

Study for a painting

A new painting on the easel currently. I hope the composition is interesting but this is the drawing of the main figure, my wife.

*Updated* Figure drawing #26

Update- I had some time last night so I took a while and improved the figure drawing done a couple weeks ago. I added some darks and smoothed the shading. The drawing becomes necessarily more generic as I worked because the model isn't there and I have no reference except the digital image of the original. I think it helped quite a bit to just take it and focus on the finish without the worries that are rushing through your head as you try to finish in the time that the model is there sitting for you.

Chacoal on paper 18"x24"
original post

figure drawing #22

NuPastel on paper 18"x24"

I wonder if it is ever possible to be truly happy with a figure drawing. Doubt it.