Study In Progress

This is a study in progress (SIP) on canvas board that I am doing using underpainting gray-scale with 5 values. I intend to glaze this to had very subtle color. This is white on white. I am searching for a colored object to place in the composition and see what that does to the white and the color and the composition.

It has to be something that will give the eggs relativity in size or maybe not. I am also studying folds. I'm planning to keep the table cloth white but with a white design.

Can anyone guess what I am trying to say?

Lesson2 - Big Forms

These three compositions are bigger shapes but I think they need to be more abstract. I tried to make the drawing purly abstract forms but it wasn't making an impact on my thinking; I therefore, returned to more recognizable forms. I need guidance in this area. The impact of the composition, however, is more powerful although the middle ground and background are difficult to conceive.

Pressing on ... I think i will turn these into drawings that have more detail and texture.

Cennini Lessons on-Line...

Compositional abstractions. These are difficult to design! It would be easier, I think, if I did not know how to draw. The art lesson in composition is designed to teach how to "speak forth a message" visually from an imaginary story and it is challenging my mental ability. With that said, I am beginning to see how crucial it is to think this way before ever swiping a brush loaded with paint onto the surface of a canvas.

Here is my initial failed attempt.



(Moderator) Rob gives us an imaginary story of an Indian brave who wants to join his departed bride in the after life and his acceptance of that separation. He wants big abstract forms to tell the story. "What do you want to say?" Now, I must take that story and say something abstractly without using details, or symbolism, or rendering. I see that this is the key to creating a powerful statement.

I will post my progress and see if I can eventually come up with something acceptable. Right now, my drawings show how shallow my thinking has been. Instead of making big form abstractions, I went straight to rendering expressions which is big mistake and the focus in on the wrong character. The brave is the focus not the medicine man. The bride needs to look ghostly.

In reviewing this composition however, I did employ a compositional method without knowing it. I made the space narrow forcing the figures to come out. Originally, I chose to make pyramid shapes; pretty obvious. The moderator suggested that I strengthen these shapes and abstract them. I had trouble placing these in a composition so I decided to work on posing the figures separately hoping to work out a composition in steps. Here are the two sketches. I am still "drawing" instead of making abstractions. I am back to doing quick compositions in black marker on index cards. I think some designs are beginning to come forth. I will post these next.

Practicing the Piano = Skeleton From Memory

REVISED DRAWING

In the original draft, I forgot to adjust the radius/ulna and humerous joints upwards but this is still not quite right. It is the hand and fingers that are not in proportion. Will need to revise it again. I see how important accuracy is.

Like playing scales on a piano, I will get faster and more accurate as I practice these drawings.
----------------

It's a good start and I pat myself on the back. I am going to continue drawing these to gain speed and accuracy ... a good discipline. Like practicing the paino, you just have to do it to get better.

Next comes the muscles. Whew.

(Just a coincidence that these skeletons are posted in October. I do not celebrate Halloween as most of this Christian nation does because it celebrates and promotes darkness and evil. I do, however, love to dress up in nutty costumes, act silly, and gain at least a pound eating candy ... yum .... and that is how my children enjoyed this national holiday. Fight evil with good behavior and faith. More on this in another post.)

Beloved Poppie

After Lesson #76 learning to draw the skeleton from memory, I sketched this of pop (my dad who passed away 10 years ago this September) ...drawn from a formal portrait that was done for my parent's 50th anniversary. It surprised me easy and swift I got his likeness; the drawing lessons I am doing have made a huge difference. I am drawing faster.

After years of unfinished paintings and destroying much of what I have made because it was mediocre, I have finally come to realize how prudent that was. Until just recently, after years and years of drawing, my skill when to a new level. It has taken me THAT long. Now at this point I realize this: I cannot express what I am trying to say if I do not have the proper technical skills mastered...this fact, I am totally convinced of. Then and only then will I see if I am any good at all as a painter.

Anyone can learn to draw; not everyone can breathe life into a drawing. That is my goal. Same thing is true with painting...which is next. First step is Technical Boot Camp - Cennini Form's Rob Howard held Nov 1 in Haverhill Mass.

October Drawing Lesson: Contours

This lesson is suggested in the Great Master's Techniques Book: to draw a complete contour using little or no shading to define the form. I did this without grids, eyeballing everything and I am quite proud of myself for how clean (except for the coffee spill on his arm) and accurate it came out. It surprised me. I used the eraser only a very few times so it made me concentrate hard; a good discipline.

(Looks like Darren to me from a photo.)

Feeling Stupid

This is a very quick drawing of my Ozzie boy, a mixed breed white schnauzer who found us five years ago. Often when I draw my pets as soon as they see me staring at them they literally turn their entire bodies the other way and hide their heads. It is really funny.

This drawing is typical back of the head sketch.

Today, however, Oz was snoozing on the couch facing me with his usual one leg hanging off; I loved the way he was nonchalantly posed motivating me to reach for my sketchbook.

I’m quickly sketching away (don’t wake up Oz…) when slowly he opened his eyes but he didn’t move a whisker. “Just lie still,” I whispered. “Good boy,” with not too much enthusiasm in my voice. “I love sketching you, little guy.” Soon, the quick sketch was done. He yawned and rolled over. I'm a dog whisperer!!!

Why am I feeling stupid?

I can’t figure out how to get a small detailed gray scale jpeg. I’ve tried everything. I’ve read every thread I could find, tried all their suggestions with no really good results.

I wish someone could enlighten me how to do this without losing the lighter side of the gray scale.