Pen and Ink Study of a Tree

Pena and Ink on Sketch Paper

This drawing was done as a study for the ink drawing, Walking towards my Peace of Mind. The styling of the leaves were inspired by this painting by the artist Grant Wood.

Sketch of an Eagle

Pen and Ink on Sketch paper

Pencil sketch of my friend, Jeffro

Pencil on Sketch Paper

I did this caricature sketch of my friend and amazing artist, Jeff Kilpatrick.

Work in Progress

Always near,  during the painting of this artwork, I keep the pencil sketch, the painting study (behind the line drawing) and copy of the inspirational painting, The Return of Spring.

I did a great deal of research on the costumes of the storm trooper and Darth Vader.

Learning Corel Painter 2015

My first attempt to create "something" in Corel Painter. With only 10 minutes of watching video tutorials and playing around with the program I dived into the program trying to create a painting. I struggled with understanding the dynamics of the paintbrushes and was really lost on why the paintbrush would keep it's "dirty color." Obviously, making it very challenging to paint since I did not know what color my brush mixed into or how to "clean the brush." Furthermore, I naively expected Corel Painter to have similar keyboard shortcuts and tools than Photoshop.

Please note that these are not a complaints,  just observed reactions and part of my learning "as I go" process.

A detail of the concluded effort on the head of the cherub.

This old master drawing was my guide while painting the sketch.

Ink Sketch of a Woman

Often times, it is the unfinished areas of art that can be just as fascinating as the finished areas. I can see the foot on the left side of the drawing being drawn in 3 attempts. The first time is very loose and quickly abandoned, the second effort is higher up than the third and final time, extending her leg to accentuate the foreshortened pose.

Detail of Sketch of a Nude Woman

I did not intend to leave this area of the drawing unfinished, but I am sure glad it is.

Ballpoint Pen on Paper

Ink Sketch of a Woman

This drawing was likely completed during a 20 min pose. I am especially fond of the 2 drawn feet. With one foot behind the other and the front foot in perspective there is a successful design of depth.

Ballpoint Ink Pen on Paper

Progress Shot Part 2 - Refine the Drawing and Begin Adding the Detail

The painting is going through several subtle changes as I continue to study the flowers and it's leaves. One can see the unique evolution, specifically the wing-like thingees, the bleeding heart flowers (the pink flowers) goes though as they blossom.

Click on photo to enlarge.

A lot of calculation were made to create a properly scaled digital tablet. I am surprised how close to square it is.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

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To my good fortune, I have a few bleeding heart flowers growing in my yard. I plucked and studied a stem of leaves and discovered how poorly I interpreted my photo reference. I don't have access to any poppy flowers, but I can tell you that I discovered big differences in leaf type between the different poppy species. 

Metamorphosis

2 pages of thumbnail sketches

Finish sketch and tonal study

Unused Lead pencil drawing and digital coloring

Left image: A color experiment

Right image: The actual digital layer of the 

coloring of the dragonfly below

Finished art

Left image: The original white pencil on black paper drawing

Right image: My new business card

 

 

 

My new business card, when folded, is the size of the standard business card.
But, also hints at flapping of wings when opened and closed.

Sick Drawing

This is what I looked like when I felt ill.

More sketches and a in-progress painting

above-Studies in facial expression and body language.

Study of the pose with the shoulders down.

Works in Progress - part II

This is my third sketch with this concept of two women embracing. In comparison to the other two sketches, I stiffened the pose of the woman on the right and lowered her head to add fear into her form.

Here is my color study, well it's more of a tonal study than a color study, but I did attempt to plan out what colors to use for atmospheric mood. This scan of this study is not very faithful to the actual study, but it doesn't matter, I will be altering the colors. More studies are needed.

A few hours were devoted to developing heavy textures with soft textures, as well as the lights and darks of the "landscape." This is a fun painting to do. I have a vision in my head of what it should be. When I close my eyes, it is as clear as a glass of spring water. When I open my eyes, I am not clear of what I need to do to achieve my vision.

A series of sketches for a concept not developing the way I want it to. I am just not thinking of or feeling a meaningful reason for the three dancers. Maybe I will return to original concept the center woman stood alone.

Works in Progress

I am feverishly sketching and beginning a group of oil paintings in preparation for a August show at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. I will be sharing the downstairs gallery space with my good friend Steve Iwanczuk.

(Above) The left sketch has freehand drawn (made up) hands and arms. The right sketch was completed after two models assisted me (thank you, Valerie and Deanne) in understanding what the human anatomy can't do. Before I transfer to my recently prepped linens, I think I will complete a third sketch combining certain details of the two sketches.

The first of possibly many layers of paint.

In Progress...Part 2

I managed to squeeze in a day of painting during this busy week.

I know that I am going to devote at least 15 to 20 hours of time just to do a painting. Therefore, I don't want to gamble with the possibility that the painting may or may not turn out well because I didn't devote 2 two 3 hours gathering reference and experimenting with the sketch paper and pencil with layout, composition, lighting and emotional impact.

Below, on the left, is my page of photos I gathered from magazines and the internet to help guide me into drawing convincing hair in the wind. To the right is my second attempt to design the hair blowing in the wind.

Prepping for new works

In effort to participate in a group show in at the Philadelphia Sketch Club in celebration of The Philadelphia Flower show, I began these chalk studies of liles and cyclamen. I had high hopes for doing these in oil, but the deadline is too soon. So, watercolor it will be.