Portrait drawing (take 2)

I took another class on portrait drawing to get some more people practice (who doesn't). The same instructor made the skills practice a little easier and the steps more concrete. I really focused on going light and taking my time--two things I need a ton of work on. 

We had two models for two weeks at a time--polar opposites: an older lumberjack and a young, hip woman. 

A few nights were a struggle but I was persistent and plowed through the "I don't wannas". Some hardcore hip-hop seemed to do the trick too. Something about Lil' Wayne yelling at you makes you want to push on.

INKtober

INKtober is a monthly drawing challenge that was started by an artist: Jake Parker. It's a pretty simple process: draw in ink, every day, and then post it online for all to see. He even includes a prompt list for inspiration! I did keep up with every single day except one drawing I started in pencil on a friday and inked in on saturday--but who's counting. 

Below are a few selections from INKtober. 

(brace yourself) Boathouses!

My first--and greatest--student teacher was in town and she wanted to have an art-geek morning and go plein air painting! How could I resist?! We set up camp at non other than the Canandaigua Boathouses! Wendy ended up selling one of her pieces almost right off her easel! 


[oil paint on gessoboard panel, W+N oil paints on an allaprimapochade.com box]

Wendy's setup

More of her setup

action shot

finished painting

both of our finished pieces!

Plein Air--trees

More plein-air painting at a ridiculous hour. 

This painting is now SOLD--woo hoo. Maybe some pics from it's new home will follow! 


[oil paint on gessoboard panel, W+N oil paints on an allaprimapochade.com box]

Not the boathouses--but close

If you've read any of my past posts you will notice that I like to sketch or paint the historic boathouses in Canandaigua. This particular day was too nice of a day to sit inside, so I made the trek down to the boathouses but instead of drawing them I sketched a lazy sailboat just opposite them.



[TWSBI Diamond 580, broad nib, w/Rohrer & Klingner Document ink, D+S watercolors in a Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook-softcover]

Caught on camera

My very talented friend took some awesome pictures while we were celebrating our 40th birthdays in Montreal, Canada. It isn't often I get pictures of me actually creating artwork--it's a little hard to take a selfie while sketching! Thanks Scott!

Marine Center--Ponce Inlet

What a better way to spend an afternoon in Florida during the August humidity than indoors! We headed over to the Marine Science Center for an afternoon of underwater creatures and injured turtles. This place is an adorable space with a lot of aquatic creatures awaiting the return to the wild. Not only were there some gigantic loggerhead turtles but there was an awesome octopus and a creepy eel! 

[LAMY Safari, medium nib, w/Rohrer & Klingner Document ink, D+S watercolors in a Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook-softcover]

Plein Air--Ganondagan

We got up at an obscenely early time for a sunday and went painting/photo-bug-hunting at a near by Native American Community/Museum. They have some great hiking trails and grasslands open to the public--which coincidentally for my fiancee--contain a ton of creepy crawly spiders for her to take pictures of. Meanwhile, I can set up the ole easel and paint away! 

[oil paint on gessoboard panel, W+N oil paints on an allaprimapochade.com box]

ITALIA!

bought a new TWSBI pen at Stilograhica! 

I am not sure where to begin! I was in Italy for 13 days and had my Stillman and Birn, Beta, softcover sketchbook to fill. So below will be some sketches from that journey! 

NYS Transportation museum (7-10-16)

I met my sketching buddy out for a nice outing at the NYS Transportation museum. Which is basically like you grandfathers attic but much larger and filled with train stuff. It's such a weird experience and a great sketching location. 

(the green tint on the one photo is from the very odd skylights in the larger room--not a tinted sketchbook)

[Laloran sketchbook (http://laloranstore.bigcartel.com), with some various pens I obtained from jet pens and D+S watercolors]

Sonnenberg gardens

During the Fingerlakes Plein Air Festival there is one day where the Sonnenberg Gardens are open to the public and free. Being the cheap-o guy that I am I hurried up there for some sketching! [namiki falcon and a Lamy Safari with DeArtementis Document ink, D+S watercolors in a Stillman & Birn Gamma sketchbook-landscape]