The next step

I have worked from the live nude periodically since the early 1970's. This blog started August 9th, 2012 in my second year of working almost exclusively from the figure.

In the fall of 2015 I reintroduced still lifes and an occasional cityscape into my painting repertoire. Rather than abandon this figure blog or start a new one I decided to add them to the conservation.

All drawings and paintings posted on this blog were done entirely from live models or on location.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Rust

For nearly three years I have been attending a weekly figure drawing session. Anywhere from five to twelve artists show up to work from the live nude. These sessions have helped my work immeasurably. Not just the figurative work but my still life and cityscape painting have benefited. Drawing from the live model regularly keeps you sharp and loose.

This lesson came home dramatically this week. The drawing group is taking a well deserved August recess.  I've worked several painting sessions in the last two weeks but drawing is somehow different. Instinctively I set up a private session with a long time model. I knew I would be rusty but I wasn't prepared for how rusty. My hand felt tight and timid on the page. There was an obvious disconnect between model and paper. It wasn't until well into the second hour things began to connect and flow.

Nude With Robe, oil pastel, 9" X 9 1/2",  40 minuets

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