Tuesday, April 24, 2012

3D

When the Monday night life drawing group started up four years ago, I was doing what I referred to as Boudoir Haiku, very simple drawings with watercolour washes.  Then I discovered white paint and big brushes and am discovering form using large strokes of gouache. I am now thinking that I would love to start modeling in clay again to really explore the third dimension. Here are four sketches from last night's class.



Friday, April 20, 2012

Circling

Friends surprised me this morning at ten to find me in bed. Very embarrassing as I had turned down their dinner invitation because I have an end of April deadline to finish a book.

I explained that I need to faff around  most of the day before the panic builds up and I am able to overcome the negative magnetic field repulsing any approach towards my drawing table.  I don't know why this happens. Once I actually start working I really enjoy it, but this happens day after day, and then I work until three or four in the morning.  One of my friends compared it with a bitch needing to circle and circle relentlessly before giving birth to a litter of puppies.  OK, I can relate to that.

This is an illustration for the book, Ready and Waiting, for Eerdman's. I haven't quite worked out how to resolve the faces and wish I could leave them blank, but the editors will have none of it.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Piazzolla and pizza

Fabulous drawing evening last night. We had the lovely Marie-Camille down from Paris posing for us. She came in a silky short black chiffon dress, her long legs in black stockings, and set it all off with a large flower pinned in her hair which was always the first thing I drew. She slowly danced, occasionally freezing in a position, to Piazzolla, Tiersen, and Laya Chithra while we all sketched frantically.

At our break Daniel, our mayor, disappeared and returned five minutes later with two hot pizzas for us to munch on with our wine. The Rignac Café is serving pizza every Monday night.

Olé!