Nude Female Figure Drawing

12″ x 9″ graphite on paper

Last night I had the opportunity to attend the weekly uninstructed evening workshop at 3 Kicks Studio in Pasadena and draw the lovely model, Malo.

close-up

“Reflection” self-portrait

10" x 8" graphite on paper

Here is a self-portrait that I’ve been working on the last few days since returning to Los Angeles. Comparing this drawing to the self-portrait from a month ago, I can really see my progress.  Although I am quite happy with it, I still see much room for improvement.

Below are some progress images.

stage 2, shadows filled in

stage 1, line drawing

Grand Central Academy: Saturday Cast Drawing

Unfinished Cast Drawing, 14" x 11", graphite on paper, 8 hrs.

begin shading

flattening the shadows

block-in

Grand Central Academy: Saturday Figure Drawing

'Richard' 17" x 11", graphite on paper, 8 hour drawing

flattening the shadows

block-in drawing

Grand Central Academy: Portrait Painting Night Class

'Antonio' 10" x 8" oil on linen, 24 hour painting

continue final pass

begin final pass

full color ebauche (underpainting)

detailed block-in

initial block-in

Grand Central Academy: Figurative Sculpture

Here is a progression of my sculpture of our model, Andre Antoine, in reverse chronological order. This was a 21 hour sculpture in Mason Sullivan’s evening sculpture class and is half life size.

Finished sculpture, 21 hours

18 hours

15 hours

12 hours

9 hours

6 hours

3 hours

1.) Beginning with positioning the wire armature, we added the egg and box shape for the rib cage and pelvis, paying special attention to the tilt and gesture of the pose. A base was inserted under the feet.

2.) Using a primarily sight-size approach to sculpting, we added pieces of clay, using the contours of the model for reference. Our sculptures were placed close to the the model, and we would stand back often to measure tilts and placement. We would turn the model every 10 minutes a quarter turn, and as we progressed, every 20 minutes.

3.) Anatomical details were refined as well as surface texture.

*A book highly recommended by Mason on figurative sculpture is Edouard Lanteri’s Modeling and Sculpting the Human Figure.

 

Grand Central Academy of Art

I’ve nearly completed two weeks of night classes at GCA. What a great art school! There is a wonderful combination of talent, motivation, dedication, and a cohesive vision to revitalize classical art. I would love to move back to NY to study here full time. This is what my schedule looks like:

Monday/Wednesday: Mason Sullivan’s Figurative Sculpture

Tuesday/Thursday: Joshua LaRock and Scott Waddell’s Portrait Drawing/Painting

Saturday: Cast Drawing with Nicholas Hiltner and Figure Drawing with Sam Wisneski

NYC subway sketches

I’m in New York this month taking classes at the Grand Central Academy. During the commute from Brooklyn, I enjoy sketching fellow passengers. Here are a few.

ink on paper

Alaska Sketches

Here are some animal sketches that were done in Alaska.

ink and waterbrush on paper

Alaska Pictures

We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to Alaska. We flew into Anchorage, rented a car and visited the Matanuska Valley, Denali National Park, Fairbanks (and drove up to the Dalton Hwy, near the Arctic Circle), down the stunning Richardson Hwy to Valdez, over to Seward, to Whittier, and back to Anchorage. It was a whirlwind of a trip where we put nearly 2,000 miles on the rental. The best parts were the hiking through the fall foliage and glaciers, as well as seeing abundant wildlife. Here are a few pictures.

Snow leopard looking bored at the Alaskan Zoo in Anchorage

Sweet baby musk ox at the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer

That's me looking into a crevasse at the Matanuska Glacier

Matanuska Glacier with two people (lower left)

Dall Sheep at Denali National Park

Mama Grizzly bear with two cubs at Denali National Park

Female moose at Denali National Park

A clear day with views of Mt. Whitney at Denali National Park

Breathtaking Worthington Glacier near Valdez

Valdez, who knew you were so beautiful?

Wicked-cool starfish at the Alaskan Sea Life Center in Seward

Alaskan fall colors