Duce: Drawings, Paintings, Words

Sixty First Find

2012-02-13T22:59:00.000-05:00

Sixty First Find

The time of year

The time in life

It just came to me

Where I should be

A few days from now

Even if I don’t

Actually go

I finally found a way

The place

Anytime

The sixty first find

Why has it taken

So dam long

I did do a sketch to determine what I wasseeing in my head, before painting this. The painting continued to evolve as Imostly guessed where to save the white areas on the paper. I attempted usingwax again, with mixed results.

I do like where the painting took me, and howeasy it was to finally escape to a place I wouldn’t mind being, even if I’mnot.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Showering Together

2012-02-13T00:24:00.000-05:00

Showering Together

An early morning shower before heading out tobreakfast, inspired the quick study here.

11”x 14” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Street Stands

2012-02-11T22:44:00.001-05:00

Street Stands

The doodle was done yesterday in the morningas I sat on a stool in a studio, waiting as others arrived, for the sessionwith a model to start. I was being a little anti social. It was too early inthe morning to be smiling and acting all happy about the day. I sketchedavoiding contact, the meeting with others eye.

Soon the street began to take shape and I sawmyself walking along, through. Others like me soon appeared. Some were settingup stands, maybe for an open market, to sell stuff, when the morning was readyto really start. I’m not sure. They went about what they were doing on thisearly morning street, leaving me alone.

5” x 3.5” Ink on card stock

Model "G" One Man Act

2012-02-11T22:41:00.002-05:00

Model “G” One Man Act

This morning I went to the drop in lifedrawing session I usually attend. We finally had a decent snow overnight,covering the roads. The attendance was light. “G” didn’t have the usual crowdto draw him. There were enough quiet soles in the studio though, for him to actout his one-man show.

He was on the stage, seated for the last twoposes of the day. As I drew him I couldn’t help think he was silently actingout a one man play, being someone famous, talking silently. Some drama from ascript, or maybe giving advice on how to live a full life. I was listening. I’mnot sure now what I didn’t hear.

Both: 18”x 24” Graphite on 80# paper

Model "D" Fading

2012-02-11T22:36:00.002-05:00

Model “D” Fading

“D” posed most of the day yesterday. Shestarted with an hour pose to warm up, and then spent the rest of the day in asecond pose, a more comfortable pose then the first.

The first image is from the hour pose. Thesecond is what I worked on most of the day. I continuing to make adjustments as“D” slowly faded back into the cushions she was leaning on.

Top: 12”x 16” Acrylic on canvas pad

Second: 20”x 24” Acrylic on stretched canvas

Unused Road

2012-02-09T22:23:00.000-05:00

Unused Road

Two tire tracks of mud

Tall grass in the middle

Going through the wilderness

Remembered as a kid

Part of an early morning run

Summer training for sports

Played in the fall

Graded and graveled over

A path between two shores

A father walking with his kids

Trough the woods

From one shore to another

A car passing by

Once in a while

Paved for expected traffic

An older man moves away

Once the wilderness is removed

Abandoned development

Without the woods

Only a road

A road no longer used

A second painting worked on while anotherpainting dried a few days ago. This is sort of a doodle started with washes ofpaint, and some pretty good music. It encouraged me to remember and old path,and what it might look like now. I haven’t gone back and visited, for a numberof years.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

With A Rose

2012-02-09T00:30:00.001-05:00

With A Rose

The setting was already in place when Ientered the studio yesterday afternoon. I missed the drama associated withinterviewing and then working with the models to decide where they would stand.The rose refusing to stand and was also difficult for me to portray. The jugand small tray ended up being perfect models, ignoring the rose.

I spent yesterday morning drawing “C” for thefirst time. And after painting these three characters, I went back in theevening and did some more drawings of “C” wearing a costume.

It was a full day of drawing and painting yesterday.

18”x 14” Acrylic on canvas panel

Model "C" First Time

2012-02-09T00:25:00.002-05:00

First Time

I couldn’t wait for the first time

To do so many things

And now after all these years

So many first times accomplished

You’d think I’d have run out

Of the first times in my life

But no they keep coming

Though with less of a yearning

Many not wished for

Some I’d rather put off

But they keep coming

And I am still amazed

How often I get excited

With each new first time

I had so many times before

With each new someone

That walks through mydoor

Yesterday in the morning I drew some drawingsof a model I haven’t drawn before. Included here is my sketch of a longer pose“C” provided at the end of the session yesterday.

I spent most of the time for the pose drawingwhere the light was. I let the rest of her sort of fade away.

The words above, I write back on February 17,2010 for another “First Time”.

19”x 24” Graphite and chalk on grey tintedpaper.

Model "C" Evening Pose

2012-02-09T00:20:00.000-05:00

Model “C” Evening Pose

Yesterday in the evening I drew some moredrawings from poses “C” provided, this time in costume. She posed nude in themorning (post to follow). The period for the cloths was announced as being inthe middle 1800’s. The drawing included here is from a pose “C” held for overan hour. She did take a few breaks. The background was made up. She did have aprop for her arm, but only blank walls were actually behind her.

19”x 24” Sanguine and colored pencil on 80#paper

Five Strangers

2012-02-07T23:28:00.000-05:00

Five Strangers

It looked more like a line up than a stilllife setting today. Those posing acted like strangers, though, except for thefruit, they had been sharing the same storage room for years. They wereencouraged to provide more interesting poses. Unfortunately the interactiondidn’t take place.

17”x 14” Pastel on sanded bristol board

Stone Jumper Point

2012-02-07T23:24:00.002-05:00

Stone Jumper Point

There is a story here

Evolving

Then left dormant

For years

The years going by

So fast

The characters

The drama

The location

Come together

As the milestones pass

The images imagined

Many have been drawn

If only the ending

Could be decided

If only fear

To face the future

Could be overcome

Without the need

To live to find out

Just another doodle while waiting,impatiently for others to show up. A doodle I could have drawn and redrawn andpainted a final version of, a long time ago. I know the place so well.

But I waiting impatiently for others to showup instead. Maybe when all the models have posed, when I’m tired of drawingthem, the ending will come, and the story can be told.

5”x 3.5” Ink on card stock

Looking South

2012-02-06T23:20:00.001-05:00

Looking South

Today I painted the street I live on, as itlooked a couple of years ago at this time of the year. There was snow. From themiddle of the street in front of the house, this was the view looking south.

Off course today the sun was out and it waswarm, almost reaching 50 degrees(F).

18”x 12” Watercolor on 140# cold press.

Conversation in a Crowd

2012-02-05T23:15:00.000-05:00

Conversation in a Crowd

Spectators

Faces in a crowd

I notice her

I notice him

The light

Two faces

Hers and his

Standing out

From a dark

Shadow

The rest

Except for

Her and him

And the conversation

It shouldn’t matter

If only this was true

A doodle conversation

Started with an ink brush pen

Crowding out

Most areas of white

Until only they remain

A silent conversation

Faces in the light

3.5”x 5” Ink on card stock

Model "S" A Week Later

2012-02-05T23:10:00.001-05:00

Model “S” A Week Later

Model “S” posed in the setting for a secondweek, a couple of days ago. I spent another couple of hours finishing up thepainting I had started of her, the first week. I posted where I was here.Mostly the sculpture at her side was worked on a little more.

Then there were abunch of small adjustments and second thoughts, until I became tired ofcorrecting what I had already corrected too many times before. And as usualwhen I have way too much time, I liked where I was, better than where I decidedto stop.

24”x 18” Acrylic on canvas panel

Wilderness Again

2012-02-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

Wilderness Again

This is the latest version of “Wilderness”. The original version painted and postedon December 12th came from my imagination. I had started the original paintingusing wax to define areas of the paper I was going to leave white. Thepreplanning didn’t work out so well, so I painted and posted another version as“Wilderness 2” on December 17th. I again was notsatisfied. There were too many trees in the foreground.

I was fooling around and painted anotherversion as “Wilderness 3” on a scrap piece ofmat board, and posted it on January 3^rd. It was sort of small.

So it’s been a month. And now there is“Wilderness Again”. I’m no longer sure why I’m painting it again. It is bigger,though you can’t really tell here. And there are fewer trees.

I’ve explained the premise for the piecebefore. The wilderness as a crowded city scares me way more than a wildernessaway from it all, where fewer people tread.

24”x 18” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Rainy Night

2012-02-02T22:24:00.004-05:00

Rainy Night

I did this pastel version of a rainy night,based on a photo I’d taken last summer in Edinburgh, on Prince Street. I hadpainted a watercolor version back in October and posted it here. It was fun todo again in pastel.

17”x 14” Pastel on sanded Bristol paper.

Pitcher and Shawl

2012-02-01T23:07:00.002-05:00

Pitcher and Shawl

What is shown was painted in the afternoontoday. The pitcher and the red shawl captured my attention. Seeing themtogether reminded me of a painting I did a couple of years ago, titled “Pot and Shawl”. I sold the piece in a show, not too long ago. The shawl was the sameshawl, no worse for wear. The pitcher was a rookie hoping the shawl would makeher as known as the pot once was.

14”x 18” Acrylic on canvas board

Model "R" Evening Playing Golf

2012-02-01T23:01:00.001-05:00

Model “R” Evening Playing Golf

“R” posed in the evening today for a costumedlife drawing session. He posed as a golfer. Shown is from a longer pose. Iadded the golf course behind him.

The golfer behind is really just him,sketched in from another pose “R” provided earlier in the session.

18”x 24” Graphite on 80# paper.

Model "R" Morning Looking Spiritual

2012-02-01T22:57:00.000-05:00

Model “R” Morning Looking Spiritual

“R” provided a lot of poses during the lifedrawing session this morning. Shown is from one of the longer poses. He drapedhimself in a robe, and was looking a bit like Gandhi.

18”x 24” Pastel on 80# paper.

Between Colored Fabrics

2012-01-31T19:02:00.000-05:00

Between Colored fabrics

One of the characters for this still life, Ihave drawn before. The bottle and I are on a first name basis now, afterspending five or six hours together, a couple of weeks ago. The bottle posedthen for a still life titled “To Start”.

The fruit was new, but fruit always tends tobe new. They have short careers especially in the dead state required of themto be part of any still life. Rotten fruit rarely gets selected.

The pot was new, but only to the setting. Heinterviews all the time. Today he finally made the cut.

And then there was the fabric. The fabric inthe foreground and the fabric in the background weren’t content to lie flat.They insisted on forming a very hilly terrain. The posing characters were forced, in the end, to fit inbetween.

14”x 17” Pastel on 100# sanded Bristol paper

Waterfront 2

2012-01-30T22:47:00.001-05:00

Waterfront 2

The second in a couple of doodles I did theother morning while waiting for a setting to be arranged, and a model to showup, and for her to find a comfortable pose, for the rest of the day.

The first doodle was included in a previouspost as “Waterfront 1”.

I was thinking of old waterfront villages that startedwith the lumber trade, then fishing, and then attempted to survive catering tocottagers and tourists. I remember the old warehouses and dilapidated dockswhere outboard motorboats once tied. It’s what I remember as a kid when kidswere free to explore. Of course these places have changed since then, those that have survived. The docks now hold large mobile floating homes pretendingto be seafaring yachts. They rarely go anywhere.

5”x 3.5” Ink and on card stock

Waterfront 1

2012-01-29T23:29:00.000-05:00

Waterfront 1

Looking through liquid

Glazed with reflections

Textured with scum

Filtered particles

Stirred up mud

Gold and silver gray

From the sun

For a long moment

Stopped in time

The conversation ignored

Until a sentence comes through

Reminding me

She still wants to know

Is it her

The next wave

Disturbing the view

Into the deep world

Below the surface

The answer is so obvious

Why is she still

Trying to compete

The first of a couple of doodles I did theother morning while waiting for a setting to be arranged, and a model to showup, and for her to find a comfortable pose, for the rest of the day.

Although this doodle started from scratch, Iwas more aware than usual where I wanted it to go. The two standing on a dockwas intentional, a memory, almost, a conversation without a voice to break thesilence.

5”x 3.5” Ink and colored brush pens on cardstock.

Model "S" First Week

2012-01-27T23:31:00.003-05:00

Model “S” First Week

I spent much of today painting “S” posingnext to a china sculpture and a copper pot. Today was the first of a twosessions “S” will be posing in the same setting. I’m showing what was finishedtoday. Next week I might work some more on this, or start another, from adifferent vantage point in the studio. I may just paint the sculpture. I almostfinished “S”.

Below is the initial compositional sketch.

24”x18” Acrylic on canvas panel

Seltzer Over Brick

2012-01-25T23:55:00.001-05:00

Seltzer Over Brick

The empty seltzer bottle insisted on being ontop. For the brick there wasn’t really a choice, other than not having anycontact at all. The small bowl wasn’t even going to be in the pose. I’m notsure, but I think the bowl is a finger bowl. I think she had someone pullingfor her from higher up. I was visualizing some important woman with paintedpurple nails at the end of her long slender fingers, insisting the small bowlbe included.

I have to admit they looked pretty good whenthey all game together to pose for this still life.

14”x 18” Acrylic on canvas panel

Model "B" Front View

2012-01-25T23:52:00.001-05:00

Model “B” Front View

I did a lot of drawings of “B” today. In theevening, she posed in leggings and a dress. In the morning she posed nude.

I’ve included here, one of my drawings of herposing in the evening, a front view. To see her in the morning, see theprevious post.

18”x 24” Pastel on 80# paper

Model "B" Back View

2012-01-25T23:50:00.000-05:00

Model “B” Back View

I did a lot of drawings of “B” today. In themorning, she posed in the nude. In the evening she posed again in a dress andleggings.

I’ve included here, one of my drawings of herposing this morning with her back to me. To see her in the evening, view thepost that follows this.

18”x 24” Charcoal on 65# paper

Copper and Glass

2012-01-24T22:49:00.001-05:00

Copper and Glass

Today’s still life for me wasn’t veryinteresting. The models just sort of stood on the stage, ignoring each other,ignoring me. I tried to pull a little drama from each of them, but they seemeddetermined to keep any emotions they may have had, to themselves.

17”x 14” Pastel on sanded Bristol paper.

Slide Show

2012-01-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

Slide Show

Images on a studio wall

Paintings he collected

And loved

By artists

All of them dead

Except for a few

Painted by him

Long ago

His sight was fading

Had been for many years

But he could see them

Projected large

On the studio wall

A story was provided

For each image

Glowing back at us

About the artist

The movement

When the painting

Was done

How each made him feel

By the last slide

A few hundred years

Had passed before our eyes

Of art

Of history

Of seeing

Through him

I was doodling again, waiting for others toarrive. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m still surprised what comesforth when doodling, not having anything in particular clogging up my mind.

My doodles in a short time, before thesession started, turned into the image above. When I finished, it reminded meof slide shows in the same studio a few years ago. A wonderful artist andinstructor presented them. He retired a few years ago, as his sight fadedfurther.

3.5”x 5” Ink on card stock

Bronze Cat

2012-01-21T21:43:00.003-05:00

Bronze Cat

The cat was sketched with pastels lastTuesday. I’d finished the Still life “ To Start ” and had some time to kill. Thebronze cat was beside the still life setup, feeling rejected.

So sketched the cat in his own still life.

17”x 14” Pastel on Bristol paper

Model "T" Good Poses

2012-01-21T21:37:00.000-05:00

Model “T” Good Poses

Above are a couple of sketches, mostly toshow some of the great poses “T” provided today. This morning I was at theSaturday drop in life drawing session, at the local art center.

I had one of those days. My drawings of herposes didn’t turn out so well.

Sanguine drawings on 18”x 24” paper

Model "A" Second Week with Flowers

2012-01-20T19:01:00.000-05:00

Model “A” Second Week with Flowers

Today I spent most of the day painting “A” inthe same pose she was in last Friday. I finished my first painting of her bythe end of the last session, so I painted her again today, moving to adifferent vantage point in the studio.

The top painting is from today, followed bythe painting of “A” I did last week.

I painted “A” in a similar pose last Junealso posing with flowers. She wore a summer dress. It was much warmer then. Youcan see the painting here.

Top: 18”x 24” Acrylic on canvas panel

Bottom: 20”x 24” Acrylic on stretched canvas

Gourd and Friends

2012-01-19T22:42:00.001-05:00

Gourd and Friends

I avoided the gourd, until yesterday. Therewere other options before. If the gourd were being considered for the part, Iwould move on to another still life. But the bottle and the grapes werefriends, so I painted the three of them together, even though the gourd’s posesoon overpowered the poses of the friends.

14”x 18” Acrylic on canvas panel

Model "JO" Photographing Her

2012-01-19T22:40:00.000-05:00

Model “JO” Photographing Her

Above was from a pose of “JO” with hiscamera. He was posing for a costumed drawing session yesterday. He was posingas himself, as “JO” is a photographer as well as a model. he probably doesother things too I’m not aware of. Other sketches of the session are includedin the previous post.

The woman being photographed, and the settingin the sketch I pulled from my head, as the pose lasted fairly long. He neededsomeone other than me to photograph. I was attempting to make her look a bitlike his wife, another model I’ve drawn and painted in the past.

This could turn into an interesting painting.Another project to add to a list that is already too long.

18”x 24” Graphite on 80# paper

Model "JO" Morning and Evening

2012-01-19T22:37:00.001-05:00

Model “JO” Morning and Evening

Yesterday in the morning “JO” posed for alife drawing session. Above are a couple of quick sketches of his back andfront.

That same evening I went back to the studioand did some more drawings of “JO” posing as a photographer. Above are a fewquick sketches of “JO” photographing others and me in the studio, as weattempted to draw him.

Drawing “JO” as a photographer fullyclothed was easier, and more interesting for me than another long session ofdrawing him in the nude.

Both drawings: 18”x 24” graphite on 65# paper

She's Gone

2012-01-18T23:53:00.001-05:00

She’s Gone

We left her behind

We sailed away

Heading back to the world

I spent so many years hiding from

Hiding away pursing her

She’s in the dark

Inside the open doorway

I know she’s in the shadows

Thinking I’ll return

Even as I sailed away

With you

She was the girl

Just out of sight in the woods

Watching me when I was young

She was the woman waiting on the rocks

By the evening shore

Who disappeared

Just before I appeared

To share the setting sun

Hoping she’d return

In the middle years

She was the young lady on the deck

Almost nude in the sun

At the cottage on the point

She watched me sail by

Waved sometimes

Went inside

When I sailed too close

She’s the girl I forgot to look for

When walking the trails

With you

She’s the woman I forgot to wait for

On the rocks by the shore

When the sun had set

And we shared the dark

Afterwards

She is the young lady on the deck

Under an umbrella at the point

I point her out to you as we sail by

The one I pursued

Until I found you

A small sketch of a few days ago. It startedwith lines searching for a meaning and turned into a place on a familiar bay. Aplace gone now these many years, sold to someone else.

3.5”x 5” Ink on card stock

To Start

2012-01-17T18:17:00.000-05:00

To Start

A stein, bottle and ashtray. I guess thesecan go together. Someone thought so when placing them together in this settingto pose. I questioned the ashtray being used to hold the bottle. But I guess somepurpose had to be found, now that smoking isn’t cool.

They would go together asa way to start the evening, only a few years ago, some places in this world.

Today I used pastel. I was a little surprisedhow much the piece ended up looking like a painting.

17”x 14” Pastel on sanded Bristol paper

Staying Dry

2012-01-16T23:17:00.000-05:00

Staying Dry

The end of land

The very edge

Can’t even turn

No place to move

Even the wind

Blows the wrong way

The water below

Goes on forever

Possibilities endless

If only I could let go

Allow myself

To get wet

Just some doodling while conversing on thephone with mom.

4.5”x 6” Ink of graph paper

Model "R" In Sanguine

2012-01-15T23:54:00.000-05:00

Model “R” In Sanguine

Above are a few more drawings I did yesterdaymorning at the drop in life drawing session at the local art center. Theprevious post shows some of the shorter poses from this session with “R”, theones I did in graphite. The two above were longer poses. I’ve drawn “R” so manytimes. I’m beginning to know his poses, even before he settles into them. Beloware some of my drawings of “R” from last year, in similar poses to those above.

The sketches are both on 18”x 24” 80# paper

Model "R" In Graphite

2012-01-15T23:48:00.000-05:00

Model “R” In Graphite

The Saturday drop in life drawing sessionshave started again. Yesterday morning was the first session since mid Decemberwhen the local art center basically closed down for the holidays. “R” was themodel. He is very popular. He is asked to model often. My drawings of him endup on my blog almost every month. Above are some of my graphite and one darkcolored pencil drawings from his ten to fifteen minute poses.

The sketches are all on 18”x 24” 65# paper.

Model "A" With Flowers

2012-01-13T18:16:00.002-05:00

Model “A” With Flowers

The flowers and “A” posed for most of theday. “A” took a few more breaks. I thought they looked so good together, so Ipainted them.

20”x24” Acrylic on stretched canvas

Model "D" The Role

2012-01-12T22:35:00.000-05:00

The Role

She played the role

Tight skirts and heals

When younger

Before she realized

It doesn’t matter

As long as she plays

As long as they know

These are a few more poses of “D” from thecostume figure session I attended yesterday.

She held these poses long enough for me toadd some company, and get her away from the studio.

The previous post shows more of the eveningcostume drawing session with “D” and a morning figure session with “D” wearingher other costume.

18”x 24” Sanguine on 80# paper

Model "D" Natural and in Costume

2012-01-12T21:04:00.001-05:00

Model “D” Natural and in Costume

Above are some drawings of “D”. She posed fortwo sessions I attended yesterday.

In the morning she provided the poses I’vedrawn of her so many times before. She played the role, looking serious,staring into the distance, a blank studio wall, or the underside of the roof.

Although exposed, much of her remainedsomewhere else, in an invisible costume, especially made for the role.

The lasttime I attempted capturing her exposed, was on December 7th, shown here.

In the afternoon “D” posed in costume. Atrench coat and hat were added to what she poses in everyday, before arriving,and after leaving the studio. She became someone new, playing out a role,showing off a bit.

But most of all "D" was lookingdirectly at those of us trying to capture her. She was finally letting us seeher, being natural, pretending to be someone else.

All sketches are sanguine and/or coloredpencil on pretty good 18”x 24”paper.

Tomato and Coffee

2012-01-11T23:52:00.000-05:00

Tomato and Coffee

They thought they would look good togetherbeing complimentary colors and all. So they were allowed to pose for a fewothers and me today. I wasn’t too excited, wanting a few more dead thingsincluded in the setting. And I am not convinced coffee and a tomato haveanything in common, not enough to create the drama I was looking for.

I have missed not having others to paint withfor a while.

16”x 18” Acrylic on canvas panel

Sharing Furniture

2012-01-08T22:48:00.002-05:00

Sharing Furniture

A life lived by both

In once separate worlds

Entered too young

Lasted too long

The one feeling more guilt

Leaves the furniture behind

A new life

Shared again

With someone new

After many year

Uncomfortable memories

The furniture talks

Of relationships

Before them

Uncomfortable furniture

Removed

Another experiment

Finding furniture again

Learning again

To share

I was sketching figures based on otherfigures I have drawn, putting them together on the same page, in the same room.They were both sitting, so I encouraged them to share the same stool.

I think she is suggesting shopping for morefurniture. I’ve been in his place too.

The sketch became the painting above.

Below is the original sketch.

Above: 15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Below: 11”x 14” Graphite on Bristol paper

Sharing An Arm

2012-01-08T22:42:00.003-05:00

Sharing An Arm

Another sketch based on people noticed in thecrowd, the last time I was in London.

This is a second painting started whilewaiting for another painting to dry.

11”x 15” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Sharing a Wall

2012-01-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

Sharing a Wall

They looked good together on the wall. Enough so for a daughter to take the reference photo I referred to when painting these three related girls.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

January Visit

2012-01-05T23:31:00.000-05:00

January Visit

I was wanting to get away from too many days in this city, sitting in this studio. So I painted a familiar shore along Lake Huron on an early spring day, today, here, in January.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Random Clarity

2012-01-05T23:28:00.000-05:00

Random Clarity

Colored water

Runs

Fans

Streaks

Blurs

Looking for clarity

Random storms blow through

Actions taken

Through the years

Attempts

To be included

Here

9”x 7” Watercolor on matt board

He didn’t know

2012-01-05T23:25:00.002-05:00

He didn’t know

It’s been since early December of last year since I’ve attended a life drawing session. It will be another week before the drop in life drawing sessions at the local art center start again. So I’ve been sketching from a book with models in various poses, published for the purpose of sketching, when a living person can’t be found to pose.

I think four of the five knew something, the fifth just found out.

14”x 11” Colored pencil on Bristol board

Wilderness 3

2012-01-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

Wilderness 3

This is my first painting of 2012, and the third version of “Wilderness”, the man made kind. I posted the first version on December 12 and the second on December 17.

This is the smallest version, painted to date. I painted it of a scrap piece of matt board.

I think I like it the best.

14”x 5” Watercolor on matt board

Within Bubbles

2011-12-31T23:27:00.001-05:00

Within Bubbles

The sketch responds to images that surfaced in an early morning dream, in between sleeping and waking up. There were squirrels in the dream. I was looking out a second story window at them on the ground below. I began seeing bubbles floating above the squirrels. Within the bubbles women began to form. And once formed they slowly floated up into the canopy of trees. The bubbles popped, just outside my window. The women disappeared. I remember being a little disappointed.

I didn’t keep track of the squirrels after that. I wonder if they felt relief, unburdened from whatever connection they had with these women?

I did the sketch without the squirrels first (below); thinking the bubbles holding women was enough of the dream to show. I even added a crowd as witnesses to whatever was going on. But of course, the sketch lacked reality.

I eventually gave in and did the sketch again, with the squirrels. And as you can see, what is happening, is so much easier to understand.

Graphite on waxy paper

Happy New Year

Green Bottle

2011-12-30T22:46:00.000-05:00

Green Bottle

The original request

To be included in a still life

Was denied

The excuse

The wine remained inside

Bleeding as yet

Had not occurred

Of course there was despair

After all

The bottle was dead

As was the blood

Perfect

For a still life

With some sole searching

A role was found

Not in a still life

But the experience

Would serve well

For future roles

Posing on a table

Women

In conversation

Long into the night

Perfect for

The bleeding to occur

The painting has been leaning against a wall in my studio, waiting to be finished. I decided it is done enough for now. I may play with it some more when the bottle makes it into a still life, part of a history for the bottles career.

16”x 20” Acrylic on canvas panel

Park with Guys

2011-12-29T22:59:00.000-05:00

Park with Guys

The painting is based on photos taken last summer in London. These guys are in a corner of Hyde Park near Marble Arch. I painted this yesterday while working on another painting of women on a beach. There was this foolish sense of accomplishment, working with a figurative composition, where women weren’t included. Almost. I think the guy in the middle is pointing out otherwise.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Off the Grid

2011-12-29T00:18:00.000-05:00

Off the Grid

I used to escape far away north

This week before the New Year

A cold place with blazing fires

And candlelight at night

Blinded by the snow and wind

During the day

A cottage on an abandoned shore

Neighbors spending the season

Some place warm

Off the grid for a week

Before another year

Some escape far away to islands

In the Caribbean

Blazing torches and beating drums

With candles and crystal glasses

Colored liquids being served

On linen covered table tops at night

Sun warmed sand and breezes

During the day

Free together

On an abandoned shore

Planning ways

To staying off the grid forever

I finally sat down and painted today, a couple of days before the New Year. The references for the bathers, are from my volumes of sketches from life drawing sessions in the past year.

18”x 12” Watercolor on 140# cold press

After

2011-12-22T23:51:00.000-05:00

After

The painting is loosely based on thumbnail sketches I did last Thursday, posted as “Before and After”. This is my watercolor version of “After”. The place is imagined.

This was intended to be of the same shore as “Before” but in the future, when the wilderness as forest, is replaced by another kind of wilderness. See the previous post for “Before” .

My lifetime on a similar shore started after “Before”, and hopefully will be over before the “After” here, ever occurs.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 14# cold press

Before

2011-12-22T23:46:00.000-05:00

Before

The painting is loosely based on thumbnail sketches I did last Thursday, posted as “Before and After”. This is my watercolor version of “Before”. The place is imagined. I never walked this shore. But I have wondered while walking similar shores along Lake Huron, about what might have came before, when such shores were first discovered, before, and I guess during the time when the original wilderness forests were being lumbered out.

I painted this painting and another titled “After” imagining what this same shore might look like in the future, if another form of wilderness took over. I will post “After” after I’ve posted this.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Scott Monument

2011-12-22T23:40:00.002-05:00

Scott Monument

A painting I did today based on a photo taken in Edinburgh. The monument ended up in a number of the photos I took while visiting this past summer.

11”X 15” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Breathing Room

2011-12-21T23:03:00.000-05:00

Breathing Room

A pastel sketch based on a crowd photo, taken this summer in Edinburgh.

12”x 18” Pastel on 80# gray tint paper

Home

2011-12-21T23:01:00.000-05:00

Home

I’ve been playing with pastels. I found the reference photo for this sketch in an old magazine.

12”x 18” Pastel on 80# gray tint paper

Embedded

2011-12-20T23:38:00.000-05:00

Embedded

Summer escapes

Away to a bay

A great distance

From the craziness

Walking through forests

Along wind swept shores

Laying on a dock

Over smooth black water

In the dark

Except for stars

Sometimes a glowing moon

A perfect sunset

Sailing away from all

Potential perfect storms

If only I could have stayed

If only there was a wall

Between the two worlds

If only I could spend

The rest of life

Living in a place

Embedded in

My memories

Images like I painted here are embedded. They float up to the surface when I want/need to escape the latest news, sensationalizing again what’s bad in the world.

This is a smaller painting of a composition I have painted before. It’s for an upcoming show where what I show has to all fit within a limited space.

9”x 7” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Waiting for a Beautiful Woman

2011-12-19T22:40:00.000-05:00

Waiting for a Beautiful Woman

There are these images. They reoccur from time to time. Today while another painting I was working on, dried, a little, I started sketching with paint left on the brush. I was soon back in London in the rain, standing under the roof overhang of a small restaurant in Russell Square, watching the crowd move through, from one end to the other.

I remember I was waiting for a beautiful woman, to join me for lunch.

15”x 5.5” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Through Branches

2011-12-19T22:35:00.001-05:00

Through Branches

Imagine I’m not here

I don’t exist

Please don’t notice me

Not now

There was a time

But now

I know you too well

I imagined climbing down

Many times

Wanting to exist

In your eyes

Before

There was a time

Before

Much can be learned

Through branches

I did a few paintings today including looking through these branches from above. The reference photo was taken looking down across the Flushing River, a couple of years ago, while visiting the town where I attended high school. I was experimenting with wax again, which accounts for the foaming white areas pretending to be branches.

18”x 6.5” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Secret and Silence

2011-12-19T22:31:00.000-05:00

Secret and Silence

I don’t know how they knew

What did I tell them

What could have been leaked

With my silence

I know how

What was discovered

Spread

Once they knew

It was a secret

I was doodling a while ago. I was in the waiting room of the car dealership while oil was being changed. I must have been waiting for someone to tell me something I hadn’t heard.

Using a black brush pen reduced all the usual doodle nonsense to solid black over white.

Both: 3.5”x 6” Ink brush on card stock

Wilderness 2

2011-12-17T23:38:00.000-05:00

Wilderness 2

I painted and posted the first version of “Wilderness” on December 12^th. I experimented with wax in the first version, and was not happy with the overall result. The painting here is an attempt to improve the composition, and to have a wax-less version of “Wilderness”.

I will probably end up doing a version 3.

18”x 12” Watercolor on 140# cold press

After and Before

2011-12-15T00:25:00.000-05:00

After and Before

I spent much of the day drawing thumbnail sketches, thinking up compositions for future paintings, and maybe ideas that lead to potential words.

I did quite a few. Hopefully I will carry through and do paintings of most.

Above are two compositions that intentionally go together. I’m looking forward to doing the paintings, and playing with some words.

Both: 14”x 9” Graphite on the unused side of discarded life drawings.

Tuesday

2011-12-15T00:22:00.000-05:00

Tuesday

On Tuesday in the evening I did the sketch above, based on a stranger in a crowd photographed long ago. I thought I’d figure out her story as I drew, something to put into words. But nothing came. I gave up and went to bed. And today I had moved on. I was sketching compositions for future paintings.

I decided to leave her alone and let her be just another face in the crowd, I got around to drawing on a Tuesday.

11”x 14” Sanguine and colored pencil on Bristol, tinted a little.

Wilderness

2011-12-12T23:23:00.002-05:00

Wilderness

Above is imaginary. I did a few sketches prior to starting the painting. In the sketches the wilderness beyond was a forest of trees. By the time I started painting I was thinking of a man made wilderness.

20”x 15” Watercolor on 140#

Wall of Wax

2011-12-12T23:21:00.000-05:00

Wall of Wax

I was experimenting with wax to establish predetermined permanent locations to leave the paper white. As you can see, I miscalculated a bit. The composition was out of my head, although, I know I’ve been at a place like this in the past.

20”x 15” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Castle and On a Stage

2011-12-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

Castle and On a Stage

I was on the phone a couple of times today talking with some of my family. I find I doodle while talking, mostly listening. Above is what I drew. A few words were captured too, when I cropped.

4.5”x 10” red ink on graph paper

Model “S” Waking Up

2011-12-10T22:26:00.000-05:00

Model “S” Waking Up

“S” posed this morning at the drop in life drawing session I attend most Saturdays. She did many shorter poses and then posed for the drawing above, the last pose of the day. To me she looks like she is just waking up, with an early morning stretch. “S” put a nice twist into the pose.

18”x 24” Sanguine and colored pencil on 80# paper

Model “S” Waiting

2011-12-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

Waiting

A case of waiting

A bag of old dreams

Plopped on top

Closed within a room

Hidden in the dark

Till she lets him in

A case of waiting

Old dreams laid out

The case

Opened a little

Just in case

Enough to

Light up the room

A case of waiting

An empty bag

Plopped on top

In the corner

The open door

Waiting

Still a little light

In case he comes back

Above are a couple of my drawings of short poses “S” modeled for this morning at a drop in life drawing session I attend most Saturdays.

Both: 18”x 24” Sanguine on 80# paper

Model “C” Red Glow

2011-12-09T23:18:00.001-05:00

Model “C” Red Glow

Today I spent much of the day drawing “C” using pastels. She was in the same pose as last week, when I painted her with acrylics. The lighting for the pose was filtered with tinted red theatre film, making “C” glow where the light was strongest.

The painting I did of “C” last week was from a different vantage point in the studio. I didn’t post it. I’m much happier with the pastel drawing than last weeks painting. I wasn’t able to get the painting too glow, and I think “C” looks better from the view I captured her in today.

Below is the painting of “C” I did last week from the different vantage point in the studio.

Above: 24”x 20” Pastel on grey colored paper

Below 24”x 20” Acrylic on stretched canvas.

Stand

2011-12-09T23:15:00.000-05:00

Stand

Somewhere in the middle

Of trying to live a happy life

When trying didn’t seem to be enough

Somewhere in the middle

Of struggling to move forward

When the advancement stopped

Replaced with survival

Life began to suck

For most

Somewhere in the middle

As they always expected

When dreams were realized

Life improved

Became easier

For a few

Somewhere in the middle

Of enjoying the good life

When crowds start to form

Life now includes fear

And anger

For everyone

Another doodle today while waiting for a model to show up at the studio. She was late.

3.5”x 6” Ink on card stock

Model “D” Placing Her

2011-12-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

Model “D” Placing Her

Today in the morning “D” posed as shown in the drawing, for most of the session. I added a background that wasn’t in the studio to place her somewhere other than the stage. I started the drawing using conte, but ended up using pastels. “D” didn’t care.

24”X 18” Pastel on gray colored paper

Dead Fish

2011-12-07T23:32:00.000-05:00

Dead Fish

Today in the afternoon, a couple of dead fish were brought in to pose, along with the usual crowd. They fit quite well with the others in the setting, for an hour or two under the hot stage light. It was during the third hour, when their smell became very noticeable and spread throughout the studio.

18”x 14” Acrylic on canvas board.

Pool

2011-12-05T22:35:00.002-05:00

Pool

A warm up sketch based on a photo. It never did warm up. I’d be there if I could.

11”x15” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Acting

2011-12-05T22:34:00.000-05:00

Acting

I’ve decided they’re just acting, making something up.

11”x14” Watercolor and ink on Bristol.

Redhead

2011-12-04T22:55:00.000-05:00

Redhead

She had unnaturally red hair, enough so to stand out on the crowd, and end up in one of the many photos taken in Edinburgh this past summer. She ended up in a couple of sketches today, while fooling around with colored pencils on Bristol paper.

She may show up again when I get around to paint this week.

Top: 6”x 11”

Bottom: 8”x 13”

Model “S” A few Poses

2011-12-03T20:37:00.000-05:00

Model “S” A few Poses

This morning at the drop in life drawing session “S” was the model. Above are my drawings from a few of his long poses.

Looking at the drawings now, not in the studio, out of context, maybe, has me thinking of a man in irons with a problem, not knowing what to do.

“S” played the part well. He isn’t like this at all.

18”x 24” Graphite on 80# paper

Oblivious

2011-11-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

Oblivious

This started with these two strangers in a crowd, laying them out on the page, thinking something more would develop as I went along. Maybe another character would join them in the foreground. Maybe the overdrawing of an out of scale face would appear, to make the drawing weird. I even used mix media paper thinking of color at some point.

But the drawing mimicked the reference photo I started with of these two, on a crowded street, taken in Edinburgh this past summer. I got caught up in making them look like who they were. They didn’t seem interested in being something more. In the end I decided to leave them oblivious, as they were when I started.

14”x 17” Graphite on mix media paper

Sipping Soup

2011-11-30T22:48:00.000-05:00

Sipping Soup

The drawing was started based on someone I know. Eventually though, this stranger appeared, with only a few similar characteristics.

I do like the expression on her face though. I wish I’d captured the rest of her.

14”x17” Pastel on Mix media paper

Small Surprises

2011-11-29T22:37:00.000-05:00

Small Surprises

She’s still surprised

By the little things

Annoying to those

Who aren’t

She interacts

With everyone

Uncomfortable

To those who don’t

I’m still surprised

The little things

She does

Oblivious of them

Who frown

Her continued

Curiosity

And surprise

Of what’s

Around her

Even them

Part of the day was spent working on this painting. I incorporated images from a few of the crowd photos; I have been collecting for a while. I fell a little in love with the woman standing on the wall. I’m not sure the others feel the same.

I’m sure I could work on the painting more, but have decided it’s done.

16”x20” Acrylic on canvas board

Reminder

2011-11-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

Reminder

This is what I saw

Looking out

Over this abandoned shore

Although

We were never there

At the same time

This is where I sat

On the same rocks

After each arrival

Disappointed

This is what I drew

From memory

Of this abandoned shore

Finally

placing her there

At the same time

As me

Above is the painting I did today from memory. The figure was added to provide scale . The memory of the rocks and the water, and the distant island comes from over forty years of walking a trail that ended with this view. Usually I was alone, but not always. The seated figure brings back memories too.

15”x 11” Watercolor on 140# cold press

The initial sketch, below, was used to pull the memory from within, and to develop the composition.

The painting below is where my thoughts went as the day went on. I started it while waiting for paint to dry in the painting above. I didn’t bother with an initial sketch. This alternative wilderness comes from memories too, uncomfortable dreams.

15”x 11” watercolor on 140# cold press

Allusion

2011-11-27T18:15:00.000-05:00

Allusion

They figured this out

I think

By accident at first

It took a little time

Convincing all these strangers

By limiting who viewed

To sit next to each other

Even pay

To be Uncomfortable

For too many hours

Watching a select few

For a few hours

Live in a world

Of very strange rules

Another doodle sketch a couple of days ago, thinking about spending the next day dealing with claustrophobia.

5’5”x 8.5” Ink on 60# paper

Under Hoods

2011-11-27T18:13:00.000-05:00

Under Hoods

They weren’t really there

As the lines went down

Looking out

A couple of hoods

Unmarked cruisers

Under a canopy

Out of the sun

I started seeing them

Moving about

Living between lines

Finding identities

Where they could

For as long as the moment lasted

Until

The cruisers moved on

A fussy world

Seen sometimes

When my seeing isn’t on

Not quite on

Others aren’t looking either

Seeing forms

Life existing

Only sometimes

Between

Too many lines

A sketch drawn on Thursday while looking under a carport, taking in some sun, while others cooked for later in the day.

5.5”x 8.5” Ink on 60# paper

Ridge and Dome

2011-11-21T22:36:00.000-05:00

Ridge and Dome:

The above painting started as an exercise set to music, to loosen up. When the music (something classical I can’t begin to name) ended, I went back and connected some of the lines and shapes, puzzling out the images. It ended up looking like two paintings, the upper portion being much different than the lower. So I cropped the original image and came away with the two paintings below.

I can’t decide if I like them together or apart.

Above: 24”x18” Watercolor on 140# cold press.

Distant Island

2011-11-21T22:32:00.000-05:00

Distant Island:

The above painting reminded me of the view out to the Fishing Islands, between Oliphant and Howdenvale, on the road that follows the Lake Huron side of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. I’m not sure it is, but it’s how I remember it on the many trips to and from the family cottage.

I painted a couple of watercolor paintings today, including this view on an overcast day looking out to the Fishing Islands.

18”x12” Watercolor on 140# cold press.

Legs in the Rain

2011-11-21T22:27:00.000-05:00

Legs in the Rain

Looking out through the rain

Remembering

A crowded street

In Edinburgh

Woman together

Under umbrellas

Dark grays and blacks

Above flush pink poles

Legs in the rain

The painting above is based on a doodle sketch I posted back in September along with the poem. I’ve included the original sketch below along with another painting based on a photo I took of umbrellas and legs, on a rainy day last summer in Edinburgh.

I did the painting above for a competition called “Think Small”. So I painted it small.

The poem doesn’t work as well with the latest painting. I left out the grays and blacks.

7”x9” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Asking When One More Time

2011-11-20T19:42:00.001-05:00

Asking When

She complained to them all

When do you stop obeying him

They stopped to listen

Feeling embarrassed for him

And maybe just a little

For her too

“When” was the question

Shouted with her loudest voice

When would they

Stand up to him

Any one of them

She pleaded

When would they realize

It was really her

I watched from a distance

Maybe she was just

Pointing out the obvious

A last attempted effort

To confirm

Were they with him

Or had they

Been following her

All along

The painting is new, completed a few days ago. I painted it small, intending to enter it in a competition called “Think Small” where all entries have to be, well, small. I did a few of these small paintings from previous sketches. I submitted one of the others, but not the painting above. It doesn’t make much sense without the poem. And only the painting would be accepted into the competition.

The poem I posted before, back in February, with the original doodle sketch the painting above is based on.

Below is the original sketch followed by another, and then an acrylic version, that didn’t turn out very well.

As you can see in the present version, she’s taken the trench coat off. She asked me to. I told her I didn’t think it would help.

7”x9” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Model “T” Behind and in Front

2011-11-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

Model “T” Behind and in Front:

Above are two of a number of drawings I did of “T” as she posed yesterday in the morning for a drop in life drawing session. Her hair was up when I drew her from behind. She let her hair down when she turned for the second drawing. I guess that’s obvious.

Both: 18”x24” Sanguine on 80# paper

Model “J” Same Costume

2011-11-18T22:30:00.000-05:00

Model “J” Same Costume:

This morning I had a chance to paint with the Independent Paints Group. It has been a while, longer than the last time I’d been in a session “J” posed for. I did drawings of “J” in September wearing the same costume. I posted them here.

Above is my painting of “J” in a three hour pose.

16”x20” Acrylic on canvas board

Balancing Act

2011-11-16T20:48:00.000-05:00

Balancing Act:

Today the actors were few. The orchid and a dish won the parts. To me neither really qualified. They didn’t attempt to pose on their own. Neither could stand up alone. The dish ended up leaning against the backdrop. A bent rod was attached to the stem of the orchid to hold it up. And the pot, too small for the plant, was ready at anytime to overturn. Although in the end, it remained in balance, until the end of the pose.

14”x18” Acrylic on canvas board

Cluttered Horizon

2011-11-15T16:51:00.000-05:00

Cluttered Horizon:

Above is the last of the four paintings I did yesterday from my imagination. I started with the sky and a low horizon, to make it more about the sky than the earth. But of course I couldn’t leave where the sky meets the earth alone.

It didn’t seem natural.

15”x12” Watercolor on 140# cols press

Shallow End

2011-11-15T16:49:00.000-05:00

Shallow End:

Above is another painting from yesterday. I was on a roll, painting from my imagination. Although above was more a memory than what I was imagining. I wasn’t sure where I was heading when I started, but soon found myself back in a once familiar place.

This was the view at the end of the bay my family had a cottage on for many years. The view is from the water. My brother and I would paddle down the bay, usually in a yellow canoe, to watch the sun set over this shallow marshy area off to the west, where cottages didn’t then exist. The water was too shallow there, for most boats. The view doesn’t exist anymore. Cottages have been built, even there.

15”x12” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Between Walls

2011-11-14T23:19:00.000-05:00

Between Walls

A wilderness

Returns

The ruins

An abandoned

Past life

Like a tired tree

Fallen long ago

Framing

New life

One of the paintings I did today, without a reference, idea, or goal. They came after, when looking for a title, and a few words.

15”x12” Watercolor on 140# cold press

Remembering A Tree

2011-11-14T23:17:00.000-05:00

Remembering A Tree

Carved my initials

When young

In a young tree

A scout knife

I still have

I know where it was

But the trees

They have aged

As have I

And the tree

Marked by me

Like me

Must have moved

Away

I did a few paintings today starting from scratch. For the painting above there was just an image in my head. The initial strokes took shape while listening to heavy metal. By the time the forest was filled in, there was silence, and memories of being within.

24”x18” Watercolor on 140# cold press

A Lie About Elephants

2011-11-13T18:17:00.000-05:00

A Lie About Elephants

The elephants won’t save you

They never could

They can’t save themselves

I know we said they would

They could

If you ever needed them

They’d come

When they didn’t

You had to save yourself

You were good

I know

I told you

The elephants would come

Thought you knew

I know she did

The sketches are of the one who knew all along, and a few who didn’t.

Ink, colored pencil, and graphite on the backs of old life drawings

Model “M” Watching Them

2011-11-12T18:36:00.000-05:00

Model “M” Watching Them:

Above is the other model “M”, not the “M” who modeled last week, the one I like so much. I think I did drawings of him a couple of months ago, in the same studio.

At the Saturday drop in life drawing session this morning, I did drawings of this other “M”. In the pose for the drawing above he was looking away from me at those on the other side, looking back at us. I had time near the end of the pose to draw some of the others in. Those on the other side were taking their time. I looked when the pose ended. They didn’t leave time to include me.

Below is another drawing of “M” I did from one of his shorter poses. I didn’t leave any time, here, to draw the others in.

18”x24” Sanguine, and a little colored pencil, on 80# paper

Model ”G” Holding a Sphere

2011-11-09T22:51:00.000-05:00

Model ”G” Holding a Sphere:

Above is a drawing of a number of short poses “G” provided today, holding a white ball. I’m not sure the significance of the sphere. I guess it did keep him amused.

24”x20” Pastel on “Oyster” colored paper

Model “C” Drumming

2011-11-09T22:50:00.000-05:00

Model “C” Drumming:

A little while ago “C” posed in one of his Scottish costumes. This is what I drew.

20”x24” Pastel on “Oyster” colored paper