Just Charcoal

Fifteen artists attended our weekly drawing group last night. Some of them used pastels, oil pastels, and ink washes. As for me, just charcoal.

Just Reclining
Charcoal on newsprint

Just Standing
Charcoal on newsprint

Partial Figure
Charcoal on newsprint

Models at Artisans

Several Santa Fe models have a group called MUSE that promotes drawing and networking among artists and models. This summer they are providing a free two hour modeling session every Thursday at Artisan’s Art Supply from 11 am to 1 pm. Last Thursday 10 or 12 artists participated, with poses varying between two and twenty minutes.

For this print version, I scanned the sketch, then digitally exaggerated the paper texture, fingerprint smudges, and newsprint paper color.

Jessi at Artisan’s
Original: pencil on newsprint
24" x 18"

Gray Chair

During a recent Tuesday night drawing group, I switched to a heavy-weight colored paper for one of the charcoal life drawings. Towards the end of a 3-hour drawing session I’m usually feeling weary and tired of trying too hard. Then, sometimes, I relax and just draw for the fun of it without caring how accurate the drawing is.

That’s how I ended up with this image. Several weeks later I used oil pastels to add color to the drawing, added a texture to the background, then changed the color of the background and the chair.

The Gray Chair
Oil pastel on paper
30" x 34"

The Gray Chair
Detail

Woman With Umbrella

Woman With Umbrella
From original ink wash drawing

Woman With Umbrella
Detail

Tuesday Sketches

A few sketches from last Tuesday night’s weekly drawing session. A dozen artists, one model, two dozen Dunkin Donuts, wine. Reminds me, in a weird way, of the short-lived weekly art sessions in my southern Louisiana home town when I was a teenager. But without the artists, models, and refreshments. I’m sure it's different now. Ha.

     

Partially Draped

Etching artist Leslie arranged a special 3-hour pose last night at Argos, the gallery/etching studio where our Tuesday night drawing group meets. These specially scheduled poses are limited to six artists, so it's a bit different from the larger groups on Tuesday night. The artist that organizes the special event gets to set the pose and gets to choose their location in the room. Everyone else sets up wherever they can. This pose called for a partially draped model.

Partially Draped
Charcoal on white paper
24" x 18"

      

Influences

Artists are always influenced by other artists. Those influences don’t have to come from famous artists. During our drawing group’s Skin Deep exhibit last March I bought one of the drawings by one of our favorite regular artist attendees, George Donoho. As I organized a stack of drawings the other day, I unwrapped the Donoho drawing I’d bought and realized there's another drawing on the back side of the one I bought. After scanning the drawing I thought it would be interesting to base my own drawing on the Donoho drawing.

Young Woman
26" x 18"

The original Donoho drawing

Leg Shadows

Leg Shadows
Charcoal on white paper

Woman on a Pillow

Another print on aluminum made from an earlier drawing, charcoal on newsprint.

Woman on a Pillow
Digital print on aluminum
Black float frame (not shown)
16" x 24"

Thinking

A digital print made from one of the life drawings in the previous post. 

Thinking
Digital print on paper
40" x 30"

Drawing Then Maria’s

One of our favorite models returned last night and provided a variety of great poses. About a dozen artists attended. After three hours of drawing, pal Bob and I always stop by Maria’s Restaurant to have a beer with chips and salsa.  

Which makes for a quintessential Santa Fe Tuesday evening. But maybe that’s just me.

Thinking
Detail, charcoal on white paper

Thinking
Charcoal on white paper

On Her Side
Charcoal on white paper

Quick Pose
Charcoal on white paper

Bandaged Foot
Charcoal on white paper

Arched Back
Detail, charcoal on white paper

Arched Back
Charcoal on white paper

Model in Profile
Charcoal on newsprint

Brunette

Brunette
Digital print on metallic paper
28" x 30"

Color Abstraction

Detail from a new digital canvas in production.

Braided Pony Tail

Model with Braided Pony Tail
Charcoal on paper

Recent Models

Charcoal drawings from recent Tuesday night life drawing sketchpads. 

Sleeping Beauty
Charcoal on newsprint

Pondering While Posing
Charcoal on Canson paper

Zeus
Charcoal on newsprint

Leaning
Charcoal on newsprint

Model’s Stool
Charcoal on newsprint

Huddle-up
Charcoal on newsprint

Florentine Ambience

Finally got around to sending this image to the lab for a digital print on aluminum.

Florentine Ambience
24" x 24"

Blue Girl

Another digital canvas that originated from a charcoal on newsprint life drawing of a model wearing a bandana.

Blue Girl with White Bandana
28" x 28"

Bandana Art

Limited edition fine art bandanas. Affordable, wearable, washable art. 

This edition is available at CafePress.com/jtcanvas.

Blue Pillow
Digital print on bandana
22" x 22"

Graffiti

Graffiti from a web site that was created last century (late 1990s). As with any restroom graffiti, the opinions expressed on the wall of this restroom do not necessarily reflect my own personal opinions. Drawn with Corel Painter (from what I’m told). 

Model and Stool

The model holds on to a stool during pose. Or perhaps she’s a hitchhiker. Semaphore flag signalling? All sorts of possibilities.

Model and Stool