(fore)Short(ened) and Sweet

This was the first time I really enjoyed getting "stuck" with a difficult pose. Like a lot of artists, foreshortening has always filled me with dread, probably because I'm convinced I will fail - so I often do. This time, although I still see problems with my drawing, I was able to relax, let go and feel a little more successful. The foreshortened pose certainly has a lot more drama and vitality. I guess I've let the mathematical precision of linear perspective intimidate me. I realize it comes down to one simple rule: The eye must be the sole judge. Things closer to your eye look bigger than the things farther away.

Dec. 2nd - Sarah

Dec. 9th - K.C.

Dec. 16th - Janet

Susan Ishii

Matt Austin

Anita Holle

Ed King

Ed King

Bruce Day

Matt Austin 

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Susan Ohle

Susan Ohle

Good Energy

Monday's session was fun, fun, fun, largely due to the unsung hero of the night - our model, Janet. She's been modeling for us since I started the Life Drawing Session, 3 and a half years ago and we've all developed a special relationship with her which, I think, contributes a great deal to the success of our work.  I once hired a model who was so obviously uncomfortable posing nude that everyone in the room seemed uncomfortable - good or bad energy is infectious and my drawings that night certainly suffered. The relationship between artist and model should be a collaboration. A model's energy can make the difference between a good drawing and a great drawing. Thanks to Janet!

K.C. will be posing on Monday, Nov 25th.

Anita Holle

Anita Holle

Bruce Day

Ed King 

Matt Austin

Ria Firth

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Susan Ishii

Taking a Lesson from Freud - Lucien, that is

As much as I enjoy organizing life drawing, it isn't always without some frustration. The one that vexes me the most has to be the artist who only wants to draw [their idea of] the perfect body. I have to admit that I have a hard time understanding that. I guess it's because I don't expect to come away with a great work of art, or, more to the point, that I'll create a more perfect drawing with a more perfect model. I just want an improvement over the last drawing or to push myself. I'll take an interesting model over "perfect" any day, if "perfect" indeed even exists. Lucien Freud, whose models were many times less than ideal characters, were almost all chosen to paint to tell a story about himself and his values.

The drawings posted were from the Nov 11th session. It was a big group and my thanks to Sarah for staying calm through it all. Janet is feeling better and will be posing for us on the 18th.

Matt Austin

Anita Holle

Ed King 

Katya Kirsten

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Susan Ishii

Where to Begin

We had a large group (for downsizing) with artists circling the room and several on the floor. As the model got ready to remove her robe she said, more to herself than anyone, "taking the robe off  is the hardest part - the rest is easy".

I respect just how hard that first moment can be, everyone's nightmare is suddenly being naked in a room full of people. That moment can even be a little uncomfortable for the artist as well - the moment from when the model removes their robe to when he or she fall into the first pose is the moment where the person becomes the pose or more literally "the work of art" and everything else falls away. Giacometti said it best, "At first one sees the person who is modeling; but little by little, all of the possible sculptures that could be made come between artist and model."

The drawings posted are from the November 4th session. Many thanks to Emily for her wonderful poses.

Bruce Day

Ed King

Ria Firth

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Sally Rhone-Kubarek

Tyler

Susan Ishii

November

Our models for the month of November (so far):

 Emily on Monday, Nov. 4th

Sarah on Monday, Nov.11th

K.C. on Monday, Nov. 25th

Let me know who'll be here.