Time for some update...

Finally got some time to update. Starting with some gestures. Been working a lot with ink for the last little while. Something about the immediacy and having to commit really gives ink drawing the sense of confidence.(or into the fire place it goes...) The nude were about 1~2 minutes each, clothed about 5 minutes.

Faster, faster!

Been working on accuracy of the drawing for quite a while now. Of course, when one works on one thing, it often means something else is being neglected.(hence the grass seems greener on the other side) Time to speed things up and try to get as much done as possible.(while trying to keep my finger nails intact that is.) Both were done with charcoal on 18x24 paper. 20 minutes pose.

Downtown Vancouver

Finally got a chance to get out and walk around downtown before Anomaly 2010. Spent part of my time just walking around, looking and taking pictures. Fortunately, I was able to find a spot with a nice view and roof over my head in case it start to rain.(which did not happen until much later)

 A coffee shop with really cool antique interior. After staring into the window for couple of minute a funny lady inside start to talk to me by holding her note book with writings. (Since I am a vampire, there is no reflection of me in the window.)

An old looking book store. Could also be selling some magical item by the look of it.

Such a pretty building... can't resist...

Took around an hour, with watercolor and toned paper sketchbook.

Digital study

A quick study after Cornwell in Photoshop. Boy, I could use more practice with digital tools...

Back to the basics

Been away on a trip and not attend life drawing session for a month. Very rusty indeed. Time to go back to the fundamentals and get my act together again. Roughly 1.5~2 hour working time with charcoal. The lighting, to my horror was back to the good old 15 light setting, with all spotlights pointing towards the model. Maybe I should wear my sun glasses for the next session...

Some new stuff from the photodepartment

Another attempt in b/w

Another day of "not so colorful" life. Still haven't got used to the slight violet tint on this particular brand of acrylic.(it is local brand Kroma Acrylic, which felt kind like buying local food.) I end up spending lots of time adjusting the "bush", aka the head, so that it implies the head within its mass. Maybe it would be a good exercise to paint the Muppets before attempting to approach the head from this angle...

The surface is a bit rougher in texture, but otherwise all the same material as before.

Where are the colors?

Well, they didn't want to go out and decided to surf the web while I go paint with b/w. Colors are very emotional you know... *smile*

I love a lot of old illustration. Many of them were done in black, white, and one other color. It has to due with the limited printing technology and also the cost of the printing as well.(colors are expensive, especially when print in large quantity) The result is often great control of value with strong design.(when they work, of course)

Just though I should give it a go, since I often use charcoal for value studies instead. The pieces was acrylic on Gessoed fire wood.

Recent stuff

Time does fly since the last update. Monthly update seems to be working so far. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with this rate. Below are some of the recent studies and experiments.

Start to paint on fire wood. A pack of 8 pre-cut pieces like this only cost about $5 at local hardware store.(5 1/2 x16 inches, 1 1/2 inch thick) Definitely a price tag for any starving artists out there. Just got to take a look and make sure there is no big crack down the middle before buying it.

Acrylic, about 2.5 hours with breaks.

Acrylic on 9x12 Masonite, about 2.5 hours with breaks.

Another fire wood piece. Gotto finish the pack.

Acrylic, about 2.5 hours with breaks.

For those of you who knows me well, when things start to seem repetitive something strange tends to find its way into my work. In this case, She-Hulk have made her appearance... *smile*

Acrylic, about 2.5 hours with breaks.

Switching gear and picked up watercolor for a quick head study. About 40 minutes. I gotto do more of it...

Another one of my "bare minimal" practice. Just trying to see how far I can go without using a palette to mix color. Two brushes, two jar of Latex house paint(white and brown), and a water jar for washing the brush. Took about 30 minute on construction paper of some random dude in my head...(No, not all random dude up there look like this. *smile*)

Recent studies

Not sure what it is, but somethings changed since my trip during the break. Probably got something to do with what I ate... *smile*

Stay pretty muted in terms of color. Perhaps has to do with the color in the original picture I painted over.

Time to do another Mr. Blue.

Ran out of time when I got to the hands. Maybe I should do the hands first in the future?

Change of pace

Something went wrong in my brain and I end up painting in the drawing workshop tonight. Kind of make me wonder how much time I have been wasting when painting in my usual small size studies.

18x25 inch, Acrylic on cardboard. 20 minutes each

Long be hold... here comes skeleton

We had a no show for the weekly painting workshop. Our resident model, who had been waiting in the corner forever, finally made it big time. Other than being a bit on the skinny side, she is actually a pretty good model and very easy to work with.

Acylic on board, 12x16 inch

Gesture drawings with pen and ink

It has been a while since I posted any pen drawings, thought it might be a good time to do so. Never been confident drawing with pen and ink for some reason, not the same feeling as charcoal on paper anyway. Maybe it is practice, or simply a personal thing. I guess I have to practice some more to find out which one it is though.(not much of a choice it is? *smile*)

These are 1 minute gestures done with Lamy fountain pen.

Location studies

Yep, it is that time again. The thought of updating the blog actually made it into my task list.(it was a tough fight) Couple of quick studies on scrap wood. Been working on improving my DIY paint box as well.

Quick sketch around the dock. 5.5x2 inch Acrylic, about 20 minutes

Twilight study of the office buildings near home. 7x2.5 inch Acrylic, about 20 minutes.