The (un) cruel shoes.. ('and now for something completely different!)

Charcoal on smooth newsprint.   about 11 x 14" - I found these at the Angel Island Flea Market. they look quite old and are nicely smashed and beaten.  (Child's shoes from the 1940's and 50's possibely earlier)  3 Dollars after much negotiation.. a study for a still life painting..

some recent studies in charcoal:

Don Knotts, Joe Don Baker, Harlan Williams and Jason Stathan.  For an assignment where clear character was required to be illustrated ( for Glen Orbik's class).

Above - design and edge study for G.O.

A quick charcoal portrait of Sophie Kramer-Dahlin

Casey..

Last FRiday's portrait..

10" x 12" on Canvas board.

13 year-old boy from life

He was my first young person posing from life!  Not easy but I enjoyed the process and the outcome!

He took about 4.5 hours and is on gesso'd birch ply wood panel 12" x 12".

And below is Etta, in a limited palette of Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, White and Ultramarine Blue. (from photo reference) about 11 x 13"

A few quick figures..

That would be Signe (in hat), Mery ( two top series of gestures), then Signe and Mery again at the bottom of this group. 

Road Work.

A few painting studies from my time on the road. These are from the Robert Liberace workshop in Kimberly, Wisconsin via the Richeson art school and manufacturing center. Lots of great info and some nice work from other artists as well!

Above is Nikki, about 5 hours on Utrecht panel (about 10 x 12").  I enjoyed the challenge of this pose and might have benefited from a smoother surface given the short time-frame.   lots of glare on the weave - I will take another photo when it gets here ( shipped) and re-post if that is better.  I learned quite a few things I will work to add to my arsenal with the head and figure.  Thanks much Sir Liberace!

This head study (below) is my painting previous to the above.  He was a fun model to paint though quite hot and red under the yellow-ish lights!  about 3 hours on canvas panel and 8 x 10".

Above a figure study of Chris - great model - about 3 hours or so in three tubes - burnt umber, burnt sienna and white.  Nothing like keeping things unified to have it all make sense!

a 30 minute grisaille ( in burnt umber) of Nikkie..  meant to be a wipe-out and re-use but I liked the feel of it so I kept her "alive!"

And two 40 and 30 minute figure studies..  8 x 10 cotton canvas utrecht panel..

Ms Dottie Johnson Alla Prima......

Oil on birch panel - about 3/4 or 1/2 life-size. From life and I did some refinements when I got home!  Thank you Dottie and glad Big Dave and Hiroshi could join in the painting fun in 402.  Very quiet w/no one in the bldg!

I think I pointed the spot right at her eyes so she squinted a bit..  and Dottie smiles the whole time she poses! about 3 hours..

Final day.. 2.5 hour painting of my classmate Olivia and 4 hour painting of Sophie..

Exhausted but had a great day painting !

Had to "represent" with Gue, Hiroshi and Tomutsu painting with me!   really pleased with this painting.. Thank you O-wib-ee-ah for posing !

And a progression  ( had the camera along as usual at school!)

Olivia progression above.. about 1 hour.. 1.5 and 2.5 or so..

Study of Sophie,  Sophie is great and beautiful (too, as is Olivia!) but very challenging features for me!  I think working on this warmed me up for the Olivia painting above so I breezed through that and it was just a joy to paint! ( usually Asian woman are like..  Nooooo!)  (e.g., difficult, very subtle plane changes etc.,)..  hope you enjoy!

some drawings from clothed figure (including a "hair design" drawing lower left)..  great class lots of things I learned (and need to incorporate!)..  Thank you Glen!  ( below, with a little help from Master Orbik!)

Some new studies from life and the super-fat drooling fat-baby (for charity)

This is Luri ( I am not sure of her spelling, hopefully she can correct me!) - about 4 hours - from life on 1.99 party-fun store canvas 8 x 10"

 This is a painting I did a while back for practice and fun, I have updated it to prepare for a charity auction my sister-in-law is involved in.  What I didn't know then, could fill a phonebook about painting ( two years ago)..  I can still fill a phone book, it's just a different one now.

About an hour - Kaycee from Sean Connor's friday figure workshop.. First figure drawing in a while!

One of my spring show entries..

This is a portrait of one of the student scholars at the Academy and an artist in his own right.  Oil on birch board  with a gesso ground and warm grey wash.   Yes the tattoo is real (as are the nose barbell and ear piercings and nipple area tattoo!).   about 20 x 16 or so.

The title is "..of Course I Am!"

Quick Painting Class at Laguna College of Art and Design May 23- June 10 for 3 weeks!

I will be teaching a 3 week workshop - I hope to see some of you there!  See the flyer below:

To Register - send a note to Laura Patrick via email: LPatrick@Laguanacollege.edu
or ring directly on 949 376 6000 extension 224.    Laguna Beach will be amazing in late May!

And now for the middle of the story..

Mostly these are in-the-works things except for the alla prima drawings and paintings ( below, dudes whatnot)..   Less and less do a post my underpantings [sic]..  just trying to get the word "underpant" back into the daily lexicon.

Above oil on masonite - about 2 hours .. I forgot her name: I am offically old!  (ok old-ish)

Cliff - my neighbor - the first image is after 20 or so minutes of add'l refinement (edges, light, form etc.,) of the original 20 minute study ( the below image).  This is a study for a painting..  Charcoal pencil on newsprint.

Dottie J - a new model for me - 20 or 40 minutes from life - charcoal pencil on newsprint and yes I didn't get her other eye built.

"Benjamin," speedy head study on the side of a wood panel in oil paint.

Sophie, a figure in progress - lots to do, lots broken but I am happy with the direction! and now - sleep!