Life Drawing in Summer

Life Drawing in summer is one of the best ways to work on those old drawing skills. Here are 2 of my attempts at portrait drawings (25-minute sessions) from this Monday night’s “life drawing” class. We did portraits of a beautiful high school volleyball player who sat real still, which makes the drawing or painting much easier on all of us.

When I started going in January 2021, I was terrible. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get a likeness of the model. Now, things are improving. It is amazing what a little practice can do.

figure drawing 1 This class is an artist date night for me. I get to see fellow artists and visit with what is important to us. We are a fun group of artists and we have all become friends. We meet for a three-hour life drawing session with a live model every Monday evening at Terry Lee’s studio in Coeur d’Alene, ID. However thanks to good old COVID, attendance dropped, so we changed to 2 Mondays each month for the rest of the summer. You can contact Terry at the link above or me anytime if you’d like to come to join us. There is nothing more challenging to draw than the human form.

Drawing on Mondays

Drawing Figure 04/19/21

Drawing on Monday, from a live model is wonderful. During the past two weeks, our models were interesting and held quite still. Last week, the male model posed in different positions for 25-minute sets, and here is my best out of the group of pencil drawings created that evening.

It is amazing how challenging it is to draw a human figure. A slight change in angle or lighting makes the drawing totally different. I dearly love the time spent at Terry Lee’s studio in Coeur d’Alene ID. Talking with the other artists and seeing everyone’s work is a true inspiration. We have artists working in watercolor, oils, pencil, and acrylics. There is a collection of some really talented local artists. Sometimes, I feel like I have just finished doing a 5 mile run after three hours of intense drawing, but it improves my drawing every time.

Figure 04/26/21 The next week we had a female model posing for portrait night. This is where we have the same pose for all three hours. The model takes a break after 25 minutes and then comes back to the same position again after the break, throughout the 3-hour session. Here is the best portrait rendered in charcoal, from a group of three drawings for the night.

Piano Tuned Today

Schiller Piano 07 I had my Schiller piano tuned this morning by a real professional, Mike Paul. He has been tuning for years and years. He says she is a really beautiful instrument, sounding so full and vibrant. She makes practicing a pleasure as our house fills with music.

History of the Piano

This Schiller upright grand piano was purchased for Spokane Washington Symphony but kept in storage because they did not need it. Later, it was sold to a lady who wanted her daughter to learn to play. Unfortunately, her daughter never did learn to play. Peter and Linda used to own a second-hand store, and they bought it from that family’s estate sale. They passed the piano down to nephews & nieces (none played). so, it has been carefully moved and not played for more than a century. In 2016 it was given to us and I have loved playing it ever since.

Mike Paul told me to take a picture of the serial number and ask the manufacturer to find out what it is worth. I contacted the manufacturer’s restorer, even though it doesn’t need any repairs at Antique Piano Shop. It appears to be exotic grain walnut wood in the carved Louis XV style, built circa 1911. Schiller Piano 01

Schiller Keyboard 1

The warranty on the inside of the lid.

This is to Certify that this instrument is Warranted for the term of TEN YEARS from the date of its manufacture, and should the instrument, with proper care and use, prove defective in material or workmanship within that time, it is hereby agreed to put it in good repair upon delivery to our factory.

Schiller Piano Company F. G. Jones Prest., Oregon, Ill.

Schiller Lid Warranty

Check out on the top left on the harp, “$425.oo Net Cash Price at Factory” – Schiller Oregon Ill. How much was $425 worth in 1911? Schiller Piano 04 We are so blessed.

Fiddlin’ Red Simpson Model

FiddlinRedSimpson We had Fiddlin’ Red Simpson as our model for life drawing this week. He is a wild west personality and owner of the music store in Sandpoint Idaho (111 Church St). This wonderful character posed for three hours at the studio of fellow artist Terry Lee for our life drawing class. This sketch above is my favorite 20-minute image from the night.

Fiddlin Red Photo

Surprise, Surprise!

FiddlinRed480

During the breaks “Fiddlin’ Red Simpson,” showed us an 1800’s fiddle that he found in his homestead cabin. He refurbished it and listening to him play it, was truly a gift. We heard a sound that was absolutely beautiful! Talk changed to be about the many adventures that this man has participated in, along with many kinds of music venues experienced. It was like being in the company of my Mom again to hear this caliber of talent musically.

As we drew I found myself easily seeing a wagon train journey, envisioning horseback riding across the prairies or Yellowstone. What a great era to live in. It was a very welcome walk back-in-time for me.

This man performs for small and large events with a 2 to 4 person band called the Risky Gents, see the Monarch Mountain Band. If you hear of any gigs, please let him know at fiddlinredsmusic@gmail.com. As I looked at the information on the internet about Fiddlin’ Red, it became clear that we were really lucky to have him in the studio Monday night. I look forward to seeing him again.

Minerva Amaryllis Watercolor

Minerva Amaryllis 01 This is a photograph of “Minerva Amaryllis”, one of our blossoming beauties that I will be painting in watercolor. Its petals range in color from salmon to pink with white tiger stripes extending out from the center. Peter grows this one, and many others in our kitchen window. When they quickly spring up with their bright blossoms it can literally take your breath away. Amaryllis always cheer up the house in the winter.

Step-By-Step

Minerva Amaryllis 02
First, I sketch the shapes using a 2H pencil, drawing very lightly so lines are erasable later. Then, I wet the first petal area being very careful to reserve (keep dry) the area in the middle. This dry area is where the white stripes will be. Proceeding on, I combine colors “wet-on-wet” in this pre-wetted area. Starting with a mixture of orange and gamboge yellow, then apply drops of quinacridone magenta and alizarin crimson for the darkest edges.

It is fascinating how the watercolors do almost all the work by themselves. They combine in expressive gradations until they make edges that are sharp right where the wetness stops. This picture shows how very brightly the colors look when wet, but, remember that they will fade as they dry.

Minerva Amaryllis 03

You can see how much the colors fade when dry when you compare the first image with this one.
Minerva Amaryllis 04 The approach for the second, third (behind), and fourth petals are pretty much the same except for how the lighting and shadows change as they stack on top of each other. Minerva Amaryllis 05

Where a petal would cast a shadow on the petal underneath or behind it I add a touch more of the alizarin to darken it. Minerva Amaryllis 06

Next, look at the beginning of where the light and shadow occur on the flower surfaces. The stem below the blossom is heavily darkened.

Minerva Amaryllis 08 Following this, apply a light wash in the background petals that is more muted in value to exaggerate distance.

Minerva Amaryllis 10

With a light wash showing the sky background and greenery texture from below to eye level, we can begin painting the details.

Model Pencil

Pencil Portrait Drawing from a model in pencil. We had a great model for portraiture last week. After the drawing session, I did a quick sketch of her from a picture I got of her between poses. Her face is so expressive.

Civil Rights in American History

Civil Rights

I grew up in Hawaii and in our schools there was no extensive study of the founding fathers and the creation of American Civil Rights. Our level of education generally wasn’t the greatest. So, I am taking a free course online at Hillsdale College to learn about them now.

Learning

The first lecture was, “Why Civil Rights Matter“. It introduced me to begin considering things I have never really sat down and thought about.

The second lecture was, “Civil Rights and the American Founding.” Now, I have to bust out the dictionary to keep up but the effort is well worth it. It kind of explains the different types of rights involved. I am learning about American politics and how things are supposed to work.

Before being confronted the next time, maybe you too would like to be more informed. How is our government supposed to work? Hopefully, the next confrontation with an excited liberal will be less stressful. I want to be able to talk calmly and intelligently about truth, instead of reacting to inflated emotions?

I’d suggest that you take this course. In fact, I wish all Americans would.

Dream Inspirations

Dream Inspiraiton, Jesus Focus With Dove — 14.5″w x 17″h pencil on sketch paper. Jesus focus is embodied in rays illuminating out of His left eye, as he beckons us and His dove with his right hand.

Dreams

A lot of my images are gift dream inspirations. A vivid dream occurs with an image or sound and sometimes words are spoken. If I am lucky, it flashes through my mind right as I wake up and I run down to the studio to put it down on paper before it fades away. This pencil sketch is one of those dreams.

Answers

I went to bed worried about the state of the world asking, “What am I going to do Lord?”. You know, one of those times when the world’s troubles monopolize your mind making it impossible to feel any serenity.

Be careful when you ask the Man Upstairs for advice, cause you usually get a real direct reply. This was a reply with Him standing in the wind saying, “Don’t lose your Focus!” as He reached out to me, and right then, a bright white dove returned home to sit on His hand. His eye had a great sparkle that extended out making everything bright. Right then I knew everything would be alright.

Jesus Focus With Dove 1 — Progress shot showing beginning layout with facial features.

Steps to do a pencil rendering of that dream. I first sketch out a very preliminary layout moving items here and there to get the basic idea down. I begin to search my image files and the internet for references for the hand position, and the facial expression. Next is a search for a flying dove image in my reference books and online. With the help of PhotoShop I am able to build a layout to work from that fits what I remember.

Jesus Focus With Dove 2 — His right hand extending toward the viewer is rendered.

Jesus Focus With Dove 3 — The background shading reveals the dove’s flight.

Jesus Focus With Dove 4 — With the hair in the wind and other background surfaces shaded it comes to life.

A Child Pencil Portrait

child portrait EM — 18″w x 12″h pencil sketch on paper

Here is a pencil portrait that is drawn from pictures of a friend when their family came out to visit. Her picture was just so perfect I had to see if I could capture her with a sketch. I think I have pretty much got her personality here. I love her fabulous bone structure and she is so very very photogenic.

You don’t often get photographs that actually relay the lively personality of their model but this little girl’s photo is the epitome of that. She is a person who loves to play in snow smiling and laughing often.

Unethical

Sketching About Unethical

It’s only unethical if you get caught.

Serendipity or is it just part of the plan? Yesterday I completed a pencil sketch of these items noticed on my window sill by my desk in the studio. Three items just happened to be right in front of me and it was a little freaky because….they made me think. Which is a scary situation all in itself.

Usually, I get inspiration from dreams that need to be drawn immediately. This was different because it was a realization when I was fully awake, similar to having a lightbulb come on for me as I gazed at the items on the window sill. Wow, check that out. The items themselves are not phenomenal by themselves but their juxtaposition created quite a thought process to spin around in my mind. There is more than one rendition of this scene on the blog, check the pen & ink drawing.

Thoughts

First off, that saying really caught my eye because it’s a thought I have had a lot of lately. Next to this contradictable saying sets an old-fashioned “source of light” (God). Then, a light source that lights our way when the electricity is out at our home. You can see that both of these items rest on top of my bible lying on the desk.
Unethical is Unethical