Art Books

New Books have arrived! Ready to copy Bargue Drawings and get some gesture and hand drawing exercise in with Bridgeman. Obsessed with some of these classics already.

Alla Prima

Just got my copy today of Richard Schmid's "Alla Prima 2, Everything I know about painting - and more"! A little pricey, but if Rembrandt or Sargeant were to write a book who wouldn't want a copy? Schmid is one of today's masters, and this book is jam packed with his thought process. I'm pleased with what I've read so far, and I'm only on page 19.

Bargue Drawing

Not sure if anyone is reading this, but figured I'd post what I'm working on anyways for those that might be. Working on a bargue drawing, trying to put myself through the paces of a classical style training. Copy bargue drawings, then casts, then cast painting, then color. I'll also post a pic of the finished drawing I was working on at Hobby Lobby.

Updates on WIP

Here is an update on my WIPs this week. I was inspired in this painting by my recent workshop with Thomas Nash, and here in a short time it seems like its all coming together in the intial lay-in. He recommended I strenghten my drawing skills. And after seeing Johanna Spinks' drawing challenge on her blog (http://portraitpaintingbyjohannaspinks.blogspot.com/), I realized all the wasted time over the last 9 months that I COULD have been practicing my drawing skills to improve my portraits. I knew if she could draw every day for A YEAR!!, I could put in a LOT more practice regarding my drawings/portraits than I have this last year. Where could I be now had I taken the time to do a similar challenge?

I am having my own art revival right now and it feels great because I can see the progress from where I was a couple years ago. The last 6 months of 09' and the first few of '10 were a waste as I did practically nothing. I'm determined not to let that happen again.

I keep this sketch right next to my easel to remind myself where I was when I started diving back into art in 08', a first since high school. For comparison here is my first 'portrait' attempt at my daughter with a towel on her head, the same one in the above drawing in progress. More drawing/painting updates next week.

Alla Prima Portrait

Today Josette came back over, and instead of working on the drawing we had started, I went straight to painting. The drawing was a great exercise to work out placement of features and getting to know the model's face. But the drawing will take considerable time to build up all of the values, so I'd rather paint from life, it will go quicker for me and I will get more out of it.

I did snap a few photos to work on modeling some of the features. There is so much pressure for time when you have someone sitting - got to draw, mix colors, model features, etc. So I will work on it some this week and hopefully be ready to finish it next week with another sitting.

This is just a rough basic block in and making a few color notes, looks nothing like her yet!

Learn from the Old Masters

Copying Old Master drawings and paintings is a great way to improve your skills, or so I've heard. Just started this study Sunday of William Bougureau's painting of the virgin and child.

Jeremy Draws Josette from life Part I