Drawing, Pick your tool...

There are few times in life that things seem to flow, work together in the manner you intend. This is one of the times it has for me.
This is charcoal on paper of a model at the Atelier, finished this month (15 x 11)
I love this image. Bathed in soft light the figure sleeps (she really did fall asleep) unaware of being watched. Subdued shadows define the form resting on the draped bed.
What does this make you think of? Perhaps it looks familiar? This is the same pose as an older post, but from the other side of the room.
I am in the process of doing the "Artist Way" by Julia Cameron. Part of the process includes weekly 'Artist's Date' or a time each week when you do an activity designed to feed your Inner Artist. This week I got finger paints and had a blast!
Here are three of my favorites:
First swirled on with no fingers, Next swirled on, finger swirled on half the sheet of paper then folded over to create mirror images,

and a Mono-print (made by swirling on paint, finger swirling and then placing paper on top of wet paint).

This date was so much better than last week when I purchased a few toys from the dollar store. One was a gun that shoots ping pong balls whose trigger broke on the first shot. Expensive toy!

And last, but definitely not least is out new puppy. Isn't he cute! And looks like a handfull at the same time, no?

Watching the figure. Anyone else not?

So the season of bathing suits is upon us. I for one will not be donning one this season. My mouth has taken control of the waist-line and, well it's just not a go for this year...
I have been watching other figures however . Want a peek?


There are faces and there are faces. These are the three faces of Mary... (These are in Ink on cotton)
The first (center) is 'Drag Mary'. "She looka like a mah(n)" Miss Swan.
Next we have 'Fake Tan Mary' (left). She felt bad being so pale and went nuts with the bronzer.
Last we have 'Serene Mary'. She is soft focus and beautiful, but awaits her appointment to get her brows fixed. Note though that 'Serene Mary' is the only one with her left eye showing. Wonder why? CAUSE I SCREWED THE OTHERS UP... this was not an attempt to copy Warhol, just an attempt to get it right. Perhaps 'Serene Mary' can indeed have her brows worked on otherwise She will be a quartet.

Bet you are wondering what purpose Mary serves in my work and on my blog! You will have to stay tuned to find out... (dun dun dah!)

This is Sue. Perhaps more accurately a depiction of Sue... I am trying out stitches for a 'drawn' portrait. Here 'Chain stitch' is employed to mixed results. I have been advised to try 'backstitch' and that will post upon it's completion. (Note: there is a janky spot in the drawing. I know it's there and I know you know it's there -- just proves that drawing really does count.)

This is a drawing, or rather drawings from the Atelier: The Contemporary Realist Academy in Memphis where I have been studying. This is on the pose currently underway.

This drawing was created using a variety of graphite (hardness's) in paper and two layers of velum. The paper layer is dedicated to the contour or outline of the model. The next vellum layer is dedicated to the space around the model, background and foreground. The final layer is the shading of the model.
It was done for specific purposes and the effect is lovely...
Designed in this manner to give me references to work from when I translate this to fabric. Something else you will have to check back to see...

Curious? Me too!