St Joan WIP

I started this one before the storm hit. Almost done, just need to add the Sacred Heart tattoo on her chest.

Ecstasy and Vanity

An artist and old friend, Jirahr Zorthian once said there is only Ecstasy and  Vanity. I think I know what he meant and it appies to most every human experience, but certainly the creative process.

Repose

New workshop, new model at the “Space” Jax hosted by Matt Bennett.

Pretty Boy

I thought the model was a girl until the first break when we spoke.

Tarted this one by smudging the dark masses in before the line layout.

 

2 at 20

Meanwhile, back at the Art League;

2 – 20 minute sketches in charcoal.

Blackhive

And so it comes around. 2 years ago I made a commitment to myself to the practice of figurative works. I got my first tattoo to remind myself of that dedication at a shop called Blackhive. This is a portrait of the Nick Wagner who owns Blackhive tattoo.

Charcoal 14×17″ 2 hours.

Equinox

The longest night of the year is a good night for ghosts.

The model for the Art League portrait workshop showed up in a complete Civil War era costume with a hoop dress and Hair doo. She is part of a re-enactment club here called the “Golden Teacups”. It was very inspiring, just wish I had brought some colors.

 

Madonna

Sunday’s model was Scandinavian in ancestry. She had a high forehead and long neck. Her neck was not as long as the one I drew, I just wanted to accentuate it like one of the Russian Icon paintings of Madonna. I would like to experiment with elongating the entire figure as El Greco did. If I could just stop being afraid of the results of experimenting.

 

Tonal range

Vine Charcoal on Newsprint and Bond.

Cool thing about this charcoal is the tonal range you can get by manipulating the marks.

It does not stick to the newsprint very well so I tried conté and then changed paper on the profile.

 

Aurelio

Charcoal is very dynamic but hard to control. This is soft 7/16 willow and highlighted with kneaded eraser.