Sketch Ideas For A New Painting

This is actually a commission, but I am being given pretty much free rein over how to create it (a real luxury). I am asking for feedback in the subject matter dept because i want the people that are getting the picture to be happy with it. I am pretty sure we are going with the bird idea. I want to make more of the bird sketches and explore some other ideas here as well.

Teal Street Sketch Group 9/24/09

I was real busy this weekend and the first of this week as well, so here belatedly are some sketches from last week Thursday at the Teal Street sketch group. A beautiful model was there as you can see.

Kline Academy 09/22/09

Drawings of the lovely Marissa . She posed as a Racer. Very inspiring poses, lots of fun!

Winward Ave @ Venice Beach

A little sketch in oil done on the spot.

Sketch group at Kline Academy 09/15/09

Adrienne was the model . She is also one of the Gallery Girls.

Corner Of Riviera & Winward Ave

A quick little study I did today in Gouache on Illustration board on the spot in an hour or so at the corner of Riviera and Winward avenues at Venice Beach.

I did one other but I don't think its good enough to post.

I am now using my new Open M Pochade Box.

It is really awesome. I'm gonna get it ready to use oils with it tomorrow. The company that makes em is so backed up with orders that the outer box is not ready yet but I hope to get it in a few weeks.

The part I have right now is the box that attaches to a photo tripod. Its so light and compact. I love it.

Minotaur Finished

This isn't my favorite painting. But I did learn a lot doing it. A bit murky in color.. anyway.

I hope to get out and do some painting directly from life the next few days. Nothing like direct observation to strengthen the skills and I really need it right now.

I also have a commission to start on and I'm excited to get going on that.

More soon. ( Not that anybody out there is really tuning in here! )

Kline Academy 9/01 & 9/08

Burlesque 09/08/2009

Model - Jennifer Fabos Patton of The Gallery Girls

Rocker Pirate 09/01/2009

Updates

updates

Mike Mitchell

I am sorry that Mike Mitchell passed away yesterday , Sunday September 6. It is a great loss that he is no longer with us. Though he wasn't officially my teacher I learned a great deal from this gentle man. He helped me with the presentation and design of my portfolio, gave me great advice about jobs and was just a generally fantastic person to be around. When I began teaching at Cal Arts as a tech guy, I was lucky enough to be able to share my lunch hour with Mike and Corny Cole. It was amazing the amount of students that would throng to share our table as well. Mike was so popular.

When my father passed away in 2006 Michael called me long distance to give me his condolence. I'll never forget that.

I sat in on his drawing classes intermittently and always got a lot of encouragement and sage advice about my drawings. Michael will be missed greatly by me and everyone else he touched. Please go to the links below for other remembrances of Mike

http://munchanka.blogspot.com/2009/09/mike-mitchell-1920-2009-mike-mitchell.html

http://spencerockwell.blogspot.com/2009/09/to-greatest-mentor-i-will-ever-know_06.html

Painting progress

A quick update. I'm painting on this today .. did some work yesterday as well.

Painting start

I came up with the idea to change the lower right figures to Satyrs at the last minute.

I laid this painting in today in a thin wash, kinda like J. Gurney suggests to begin an imaginative scene. Looking forward to continuing tomorrow. Life Drawing tonight!