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.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

A Paradox

Excellent models offer artists an opportunity to do superior work. They also present a paradox. When confronted with a top notch model in an outstanding pose one can be gripped with a deep sense of inadequacy. I have always felt this when trying to paint a flower in full bloom. In both cases my first thought is that there is no way I can possibly do justice to the subject before me.

In these situations it is best to just start putting down brush strokes and hope that a small amount of the model's aura will make its way to the canvas.


Lise, oil on canvas, 14" X 12", 2018



Monday, July 16, 2018

The Apprentice

Early this spring I was introduced to a young artist who expressed interest in working from the live figure. Viewing her drawings it was clear she had talent. As my summer schedule was fairly open, I suggested she might be interested in an internship of some sort. Discussing the possibilities we decided "apprenticeship" would be a better designation. It didn't take me long to realize that she wasn't going to be the only apprentice. My learning curve was about to take a decided upward tilt.


Reclining Nude, oil on canvas, 8" X 10", 2018



Friday, July 6, 2018

Preaching to the Wind

By example I had hoped to entice other artists to abandon secondary source materials in favor of working from life. I might as well be advocating using smoke signals as a form of communication. Besides, I have come to realize that working exclusively from life might not be the best approach for most artists. So I'm done trying to convert anyone. I will continue to extol the inherent power of the live model.

Nude Study, oil on linen, 10" X 12", 2007