Capturing the light of Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Sometimes when I’m out hiking I see a scene I need to capture through drawing or painting. Here is a quick sketch of Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Quaint library in Paso Robles

Spent a few days in Paso Robles and while waiting for my beloved wife, Katya, to finish her shopping I did a quick sketch of the library.

What is the cutest and most playful animal?

A bit Modigliani like don't you think?

Quick sketch of Frida Kahlo with my new Blackwing pencils.  I really like the versatility of these graphite utensils.

The Captains House

Just a quick sketch while picnicking at Coyote Point.  The building in the background is actually the restroom while the Captains House is behind me.

Pushkin

It's been awhile since I did a portrait so I'm a bit rusty.  This is a copy of a drawing from the cover of a book of Pushkin poetry.

Montara Beach

Enjoyed a beautiful day hiking near Montara Beach.  Before the hike I did a couple of seascape sketches.  I'm trying to work on rendering waves and tides.  Definitely challenging but I'm convinced if I really observe and practice I'll eventually get the hang of it

Classic Greek male torso

it was a beautiful day in California today so after my morning jog, a little work, and some lunch I headed down to the Stanford Cantor museum to hang out in the Rodin garden and read a book.  After a while I went into the museum where I enjoyed a display of Souix Native American drawings that told the story of the Battle at Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand).  Then I stumbled onto a sculptor of a classic Greek male torso circa 50 B.C. and decided to sketch it.  Here is my sketch.

Salsa dancers 1

I have taking some Salsa dancing lessons off and on and admire those couples that turn, spin, and step with such rhythmic beauty.  Here is a sketch were I first did a gesture drawing and then refined it with some line and form.

More figures

It's been awhile since I did some figure drawing so I was feeling a bit rusty.  My daughter Marcie was in town who is an excellent artist so I invited her to join me.  Here are a few of the 20 minute poses I sketched.  Hope to do many more in 2016.

Life Drawing

I discovered a fantastic group of artists in San Francisco that hosts a weekly figure drawing workshop  every Saturday morning.  The models are very professional and provide some very beautiful (and challenging) short poses.   It starts with 2 minute poses and ends with 20 minute poses for about 3 hours.  Instead of a workshop it should be called a workout because it takes a lot of concentration to sincerely capture the beauty and humanity of these models.  Here are a few drawings from September.

Moroccan Saddling Horse after Delacroix

Eugene Delacroix was a master storyteller through his paintings.  Here is a drawing copy I did of his Moroccan Saddling a Horse.  He vividly portrays the love between this man and his horse and how they are dependent on each other for survival.  Delacroix draws you into the scene as you figuratively become the man and feel yourself hoisting the saddle onto the horse.

Henri Fantin-Latour

I am a big fan of Henri Fantin-Latour's floral compositions and I'm not even sure I can explain why.  I  simply like the shapes, colors, and energy in his paintings.  Here is a copy of a self portrait.  The eyes are a bit too close too each other so I need to be more diligent at measuring before I commit the darker values.

White and Pink Roses

If you look at a Henri Fantin-Latour floral painting it has a calming effect to transport you to a world of pure beauty.  Here is a sketch of one of his many floral paintings.  I started with the big shapes and then added in enough detail until it looked believable.

Lion King

In our living room stands this ferocious lion plaster statue.  Every now and then I sketch the lion.  Here is my latest attempt to capture a true form and representation.

Filoli Rose

The shapes and patterns in roses are endless and can easily entrance an artist for hours.  Here is a drawing of a rose based on a picture I took at Filoli last year.

Seated Dancer Pulling Up Her Tights - after Degas

Degas' drawings of dancers captured the rhythm and beauty of dancers like no other.  Through line, form, an texture he draws you into intimate scenes.  Here is a copy after Degas of a dancer pulling up her tights.

Giving hands

It was a beautiful Christmas this year with Sarah hosting the annual cookie party and cooking the traditional Christmas Eve goose, mom cooking the Christmas turkey, and everyone home for the holidays.  As we come to the end of another year lets not forget to embrace the spirit of giving and keep that spirit throughout the new year.

Leelee

I found a beautiful portrait of Leelee Sobieski on IMDB and sketched this drawing in the order that William Maughan recommends in his book Drawing the Head - gesture, proportion, shadow shapes, then details.