Turned On

In order to do a meaningful drawing or painting I have to be excited or turned on by the scene in front of me. There has to be a core or essence that excites me. In my experience a successful work has to capture that essence to fully resonate.

Since turning my attention to the figure almost two years ago, I've done only a handful of non figurative works. This set up turns me on. The simple composition. The pickle/pepper greens contrasting with the deep red background. The strong shadows and translucent glass.  I like this subject so much I've done three versions.

Pickles and Peppers III, Oil on canvas, 18" X 22", 2013

Talk about being excited. At a group session last year I set up around the side of the model and was immediately awe struck. I really was. I had forgotten my pencil sharpener or something and had to go across the room to fetch it. I was excited like a kid called in for dinner wanting to get back outside to play ball. The torso twist. The mussel and bone structures. The lighting. I was hooked.

 Nude Study, oil pastel, 2012

Working from a live female nude can be complicated for a heterosexual male. I'll tackle that topic in a future post.