Paper and Threads

We had a new, lovely, elegant, balletic model at Battery Park City on Wednesday.  She wore a simple dress and had bare shoulders, and legs which made it easier to see her body positions.  The following 5 minute sketches were sketched with a soluble graphite pencil, and then clear water was used to spread the graphite to add some color/shading.

I used the same "Sketch and Wash" pencil for these 15 minute poses, but sketched the model on pre-painted watercolor paper.  It is fun to see the random places where the drawing overlaps the paint - as an unplanned exercise.

Posted by Shirley at 7:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I love the free adult art program sponsored by the Battery Park City Conservancy from May through October.  On Wednesday mornings I stop briefly in Wagner Park to draw individual flowers in bloom.  Maybe someday I will grow to like painting landscapes.

Wagner Park iris variant:

Multiple Flowers in Bloom this week:   

In the afternoon I go to Figure Drawing sessions which are held in South Cove, also in Battery Park City.

Short Poses (5-10 minutes):

Longer Poses (10-20 minutes): 

On the hottest days in NYC, there is always shade and a lovely breeze in the afternoon.   

Posted by Shirley at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is good to be back at the weekly Figure Drawing in South Cove.  These are 5 two minute poses of Gloria, one of my favorite models.

And these are two 10 minute poses:

Gloria 2 

Posted by Shirley at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We had a live model in costume and his 8 year old pug this week in my FIT Watercolor Comps class.  The dog shifted positions lots, but was otherwise a perfect model.  The model was short and round, dressed in a wizard costume - and during breaks he gave his dog plenty of loving!

When I finished the first painting, I practiced "being looser" and just painted the model's head.

We will next begin work on our final project - working each week to a finished illustration of a subject of our choice.  This was a very enjoyable class and I only hope that FIT offers more classes from the Illustration department in their Senior Program. 

Posted by Shirley at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday was the last day of our winter figure drawing sessions in Battery Park City, and my last post of figure drawings until their sessions begin again in May.  Yesterday Claudia was our model and she was fun to draw in her tank top and leggings.  Here are 2 ten minute poses and one twenty minute pose.

I sketched the figures in soluble graphite pencils and then added water, and watercolor. 

TEN MINUTE 

TEN MINUTE

TWENTY MINUTE

Posted by Shirley at 6:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)