NOVA SCOTIA PAINTOUT

Peggy's Point (5X11 graphite sketch)

This is my entry to Bill Guffey's Virtual Paintout. I really like this old boat located at 152 Peggys Point, Nova Scotia. I wanted to do an oil painting at this location but thought there were too many small details which I could not see how to simplify while keeping the character of the old boat. I am working on a painting just a few yards from this location, and will post it on my PAINTING IN OILS Blog site.

BELFAST PAINTOUT

Bill Guffe's October Virtual Paintout site is Belfast, Northern Ireland. I really enjoy visiting cities all over the world. I am submitting the following two sketches and hope to complete an oil painting soon.

Farm sketches (10.5 x 8.5 Ballpoint pen)
I found the old rusty tank at 94 Ballyvallagh Rd, Larne, Northern Ireland [Ref Photo].
The farm animals are from various locations in Northern Ireland.


Pathway (9 x 7 ball point pen)
I liked the composition of this path, with interesting light and dark and patterns. This pathway is at 24 Balleyrickard Rd, Larne, Northern Ireland [Ref Photo]. It was on my short list for potential paintings.

LISBON PAINTOUT

I did these two sketches for Bill Guffey's blog Virtual Paintout.
I want to do an oil painting so may only post one of these sketches.
Mosteiro de Sao Vicente de Fora (8 x 11 ballpoint pen) REF Photo

The original Saint Vincent was built outside the city walls "de Fora", around 1147. The Monastery was built over the original Church between 1582 and 1629. It suffered extensive earthquake damage in 1755, and was restored in 1855. The entrance to the right is to the monastery.


Statue Niche (11 x 8 ballpoint pen) REF Photo
This is a sketch of the statue lower niche in left tower.

LONDON PAINTOUT

Jewel Tower ( 7 x 9 blue ballpoint pen) Reference photo:

The Jewel Tower, in London is one of only two surviving structures of the medieval Palace of Westminster. It was built in 1365 to house the treasures of Edward III, and is alternatively known as the "King's Privy Wardrobe". It was a corner tower to the walled palace. You can see remnants of the two walls. One wall extended to the right next to the door, and other wall was attached just to the right of the small window and came forward. The building with all the spires is Westminster Abby.

LIFE DRAWING

I have been attending life drawing sessions for years. Drawing the human figure is the best way to develop draftsmanship skills. I attended life drawing sessions at Allan Hancock Collage, Cal Poly University, and Morro Bay drawing group. I have found an excellent paper source for life drawing. Costco has rolls of light weight paper in huge 18 inch widths. This paper is intended for covering picnic tables or other such uses. I cut the paper in 24 inch length and clip it on to a drawing board. The paper works well with graphite or charcoal, and does not yellow or degrade with light exposure.
I know that some people are offended by nude images. I have carefully selected the following images and hope they do not offended.


Barbara is a terrific model. I like to do foreshortened posses with lots of overlaps. They are the most challenging to draw.


Frank was one of the regular models at Cal Poly.

Another foreshortened posse, I believe this was done at Morro Bay.

Virgil was a regular model at Hancock College. He had good muscle definition which makes him a good model. I did an oil painting of him which is hanging in my office.

Sometimes you get a strong light and dark patterns that are interesting to draw.

This was from one of the Hancock College sessions.

MORE PORTRAITS

The first group of images are from Marti Fasts life drawing class. Occasionally you have no model, but that has never held Marti back. She just has the students take turns being the model, and we have a great portrait drawing session. Those are some of my favorite sessions and the images bellow are from one of those evenings. Most of these posses are for 20 minute.

I like drawing glasses in portraits they cast interesting shadows, and are often best defined by values rather than line. Notice the lost edges of the lower left side of the glass in the image above. Your eye will see the complete lens.

Sketching musicians is always fun there is some movement, so you have to be prepared for changes.

I liked the hair and profile on this one, and use a really soft pencil to get the deep contrast.

--------------------------------------------
The next two drawings are from Kathy Yorba's portrait class at Allan Hancock College. They probably would not be classified as sketches but as finished drawings. I think these were done in three 20 minute sittings.

This drawing is framed and the photo was shot the glass.

--------------------------------------------

The last three drawing were done with art instructor Robert Densham at Cal Poly University.

He used to have Saturday morning life drawing sessions on campus open to the general public for a nominal fee to help pay for the model. Roberts was a terrific teacher and very giving of his time. I learned a lot form his drawing sessions which often had only 8 to 10 participants.

Again this one was photoed through the glass. I liked the hand gesture and the tattered cuff on the old leather jacket. This was done in several 20 minute posses. Both these matted drawings are hanging in my office.

This fellow is a member of the San Luis Obispo Symphony. It is fun to be entertained while drawing.

Robert had a model cancel one session so he sat for us. There were only two or three of us left in his drawing group and this was one of the last session I attended.

PORTRAITS

CLICK images to ENLARGE.

The first four sketches are from the doctors' waiting rooms. I seem to spend more time in such location lately. These sketches are often given away but some models depart before I finish the sketch. I recently sketched a boy at the dentists office and his mother said it looks just like him. The boy said "he didn't draw my hair". While his mom was paying and making her next appointment, the boy got his book and sat back in the same position. I managed to sketch in his hair and some light indication of the book. He loved the sketch.

I liked the long brush cut hair on this boy. He was playing game-boy, which helps to make for a good pose.


The pose from behind makes for an interesting composition.




People reading usually remain fairly still and are easier to sketch. Although some do fidget quite a bit particularly if they are looking thorough a magazine.


This Air Force Sargent was at the Lompoc Honda Dealer. She was probably stationed at Vandenberg AFB.


This man was watching an art lecture at Allen Hancock College.


This one was sketched at the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Auction. Group sketches are a little more challenging. You have to watch perspective and be more concerned with the larger shapes and pay less attention to the details.

INTERIORS

Sketching interior of buildings can be fun. A simple chair and table can make an interesting composition. The upholstered chair with a sham on the back is the more interesting sketch.

I sketched my bath towel late one evening. It is a simple subject but a bit of a challenge.

STREET SCENES

I had taken my wife to Santa Maria for her dental appointment, and sketched the BMW dealership across the street.


This sketch was drawn on a side street next to the Lompoc Hospital.


This is a sketch of the back side on the main street in Arroyo Grande. Is this a sketch or should I call it a pencil drawing? The term sketch implies a quick suggestive drawing. Either way this image has some possibility for a painting. I would have to work a little on the light and dark pattern.
The gray appearance of the paper on these sketches is due to my lowering the contrast level with the photo editor. It seems to improve the definition in the reproduction.
The sketches with the warm gray background tone are actually on a light gray paper. Again the image was darkened a bit to bring out the subtle half tones in the pencil.

Click any image to view larger image.