Profile on Tan Paper

14" x 11" Charcoal and White Pencil on Tan Paper.

People who run drawing sessions like the one I go to every week often get their relatives to model for the class. Yesterday it was the 19 year old grandson of the person who runs the drawing session. I've never had to stay stock-still for twenty minutes at a time several times in a session, but I'm impressed when the person modeling does, like yesterday's subject did. Maybe he's a still-hunter.

The new drawing pad I've been trying out is by Strathmore, and is called "Toned Tan." I also have it in gray. Toned paper provides sort of a middle tone, allowing you to work up the darks and punch in the highlights more expeditiously. I wish the paper was a little less grainy, and I ought to find a pencil that has a warmer tone for highlights, more in line with the tan paper. But I think these drawing pads are going to find a lot of use for me in drawing sessions and field sketches.

The drawing sessions I attend are held in the north end of the Springville Recreation Facilities Building, 443 S. 200 E. in Springville, Utah. It's directly east of, and across the street from the Springville Museum's parking lot. The sessions are every Thursday evening from 5:30 to 8:30, and cost $8 a session. Yesterday's subject wore street clothes, but the models often come from all over the world, all decked out in colorful ethnic outfits. Either way, it's a great opportunity to sharpen your drawing or painting skills. Anyone looking for a place to practice their art is welcome to come and work in whatever style and medium you prefer. We sometimes even have sculptors working in clay!

For more about drawing sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "sketching" or "drawing."

(Edited to clarify second sentence in first paragraph.)