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, November 27, 2013

Always From Life (III)

It would be hard for me to overstate how exhilarating it is to work from the live nude. I'm always nervous and maybe even a bit scared when starting a figure session. Fear of failure is probably the source. Whatever the reason it's a very strong emotional state. All your senses are heightened. This heightened state can lead you to free expressive work or freeze you into being tight and timid. I've been both places.

Reclining Nude, oil pastel, 6 3/4" X 11 3/8",  2012

I confess to having become an absolutist regarding working from life. Using a photographic image removes you from the subject and and makes it nearly impossible to connect in any meaningful way. For me even a minor reliance on photos can pollute and take the life out of an entire work. Ultimately the benefits of working from life don't just outweigh the negatives they trump them.

Being an absolutist on any subject is probably not a good idea but it's where I am right now.

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  1. BloggerNovember 6, 2016 at 7:47 AM

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