Toby Update

I haven't said a lot about Toby recently.  Let's just say that anyone who speaks of unconditional love from dogs is nuts or else hasn't met Toby.  He tests me a LOT.  Consequently I'm learning about relationships -- especially the kind of thing I avoided in the past like knowing and saying what I want and sticking to it.  Voicing disapproval and approval.  Closeness and affection.  Not easy given my history of no anger, no needs, no wants, no nothing -- not to mention my fear of animals!

But he IS a cutie, that's for sure.  He was at the groomer on Friday.  I'm really going to try this time to maintain his coat with daily brushing.  So far so good -- and he's getting almost used to it.  He's a very social animal.  Loves nothing more than playing -- fighting, chasing, wrestling -- with his friends.  Especially Fido and Tiger.  He's got me to be more social as well.  Now I know many many dogs and their owners though I usually only know the dog's name!

Last portrait class

Our last class was a couple weeks ago but I left my drawings in my locker along with the self-portrait which we looked at in class.  My teacher had some comments in terms of likeness as well as the character of the drawing.  No one else followed his suggestion to try one -- but then no one else was doing the class for credit!  I found the process most rewarding and I'll be trying again and again.  There are some aspects of this self-portrait that I really like.  (I photographed it again since my first try was quite out of focus.)

TSA Open House

I went to the opening party for the TSA Open House last night with my sister.  As always the show was set up beautifully.  The drawings from my portrait class were in the largest room, Studio 2.  There were only 5 who came to the class with any regularity and 4 with work on display.  I showed the portrait on prepared paper and a drawing from the last class.

Prepared paper

After a few five minute sketches we worked for the rest of portrait class on two drawings from the same pose.  For the first the teacher gave us some manila paper which we combined with a limited colour palate.  For the second drawing I used paper I'd "prepared" at home using ink on brown paper.  The results are pretty wild but I like it.



Open Drawing

I went to open drawing again this afternoon and did one portrait.

Ink

This week in portrait drawing after some initial sketches to warm up we experimented with ink.  We used different tools for each sketch -- steel pen, a calligraphy brush, the blunt end of a skewer and a torn skewer.  Yes, these portraits are all the same sitter.  In other words, ink is new to me and hard to control.

Weight of My World

I pick it up and put it down and then pick it up again.  I've had glimpses recently of what the absence of stress and worry and fear might feel like.  Very strange and unknown.

 

p.s.  I'VE FOUND A PLACE WHERE I CAN LEAVE THAT HEAVY WEIGHT!!!!

        I hope I can make it work.

Folds and Creases

In portrait drawing this week we learned about the way clothing folds and falls on a model.

Evolution of a Self-Portrait

aka The story of my life!  Very funny but true.

1985

2010

 

 

Open Drawing

I only stayed for one portrait this Sunday.  I'm finding an interesting connection between my feelings and the feelings I portray on the model.  Similarly with the self-portrait I did recently.  And doing one portrait over an hour is exhausting.  Utterly draining.

Contour and Composition

In portrait class this week we worked on two things.  After some quick warm-up sketches we did a couple drawings concentrating on contour lines.  Then we used a viewfinder to plan a few different compositions before choosing one to do for the final hour.



Head and Torso

I went to the afternoon Sunday session again today.  Two long poses in two different rooms.  Today I didn't move but did a portrait and then a torso of the same pose and model.  Both a bit wonky!

Facial Expressions

In portrait class this week we worked on facial expressions with a model who is particularly good at showing different moods.  We didn't have a lot of time for each of the mood sketches but this is what I came up with.

Shock

Disgust



Fear

Sadness

Happiness



Anger



More Portraits

I missed a portrait class while I was away but I've had a couple more since.  And today I went to open drawing - the afternoon session with one long pose.  I did a portrait of each of the two models.  Those portraits are at the bottom.