Figure Drawing Update

We've had a great model for the last two weeks. The quick poses are filled with action and grace. The 1 and 5 minute poses give me an endorphin rush. I love doing them.
In reviewing the sketches from the first week of class I think I've made progress. These are the most recent 1 and 5 minute poses and one 20 minute pose. The proportions seem better and the line a little more confident.

Stand, Smile, Sell, Smile, Sketch

This last week has been hectic. I was working a trade show all week. My cheeks hurt from smiling and my feet hurt from standing. It's good to put my feet up and relax! I managed to get to figure drawing on Tuesday and did some quick sketches that I'll post tomorrow. I have to photograph them first since they're on 18" x 24" newsprint.

Figure Drawing Progress(?)

I'm struggling a little in the figure drawing class. The figures seem a little lifeless. In this sketch I totally missed the subtle backward lean of the pose. 

That being said, I'm still having a great time renewing my skills. It is remarkable how much I had forgotten about basic sighting.

I'm thinking about buying one of the virtual pose reference series books, the kind with the DVD. I don't know how useful it would really be.

Cats, Computers and Blogs

Does everyone who sketches and blogs have a cat who thinks the computer is hers?

                                                   Nutmeg

Postcard on Project.2

My admiration for bloggers has skyrocketed! It's pretty difficult to go, see, draw, enjoy, scan, post and keep up with everything else. Whew!

I've just returned from San Francisco and the Traveling Sketching™ Workshop taught by Richard Scott. What a great experience it was, marvelous classroom instruction in the morning, practical plein air experience and critiques in the afternoon.

The first day I had a life and death struggle with the fountain pen. The second day I relaxed and went back to my trusty Micron for the ink work. Surrounded by such an enthusiastic and friendly group my misgivings about working outside in public were nonexistent. I plan to do much more of it and build on what I've learned.

A bonus to the trip was a fun visit with my son, Andrew, and his wife, Genevieve, who live in San Francisco!

Here's a sampling of what I did in the workshop.

Classroom exercise (I added the watercolor later)

Thumbnails from the first day

Thumbnails from the second day

Quick color sketches from the second day