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

Drawing Demo

Today, I met up with my drawing instructor whom I took a course with at Hobby Lobby about a year ago and we did some demo drawing. Basically, just drawing for passerbys who might be interested in a portrait, or in taking her drawing class. I brought an old sketch I did before taking the class, and started a new one for comparison. We were there for 3 hours, but it felt like 1. I enjoyed drawing in public, I hope to do more as I improve.

Tom Nash Workshop Demo 2007

I attended Tom Nash's Color workshop last week, and am taking his portrait painting workshop again this year. It started with a classroom lecture, some painting, then ended the first day with an evening demo at his studio.

I apologize for the poor camera phone pics, they don't do they painting justice, but it was all I had on me. Tom achieved a striking likeness in a short amount of time.

I am learning a LOT....

Drawing Practice

I realize only one thing stands between me and greatness....hours and hours of practice.

Just some doodling here, warming up some pencils.

Attending the same portrait workshop I did last year (close to when I posted last!) next week. Should be great, going to push through to some new levels.