The Substitute Model

12" x 9" Charcoal on Paper

Sitting still might have been a little challenging for the dancer who modeled for us at the drawing session yesterday evening, but she did a great job and was fun to draw. She filled in for the scheduled model who was unable to make it. When the scheduled model realized she couldn't be there, she was thoughtful enough to find a substitute model for us. The picture above shows my drawing of her.

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

Plein Air Spring City 2014, Part Two.

8" x 10" Oil on Panel

This is part two of my post about this year's 2014 Spring City plein air event. You can read about part one here. 

After painting Wednesday and Thursday, I didn't manage to paint Friday. Instead, I entered the paintings I'd already done, then scouted around for other good painting locations. That evening was the artist's reception and awards presentation, where I found out both of my paintings had won merit awards. Saturday's "quick paint" event was a little challenging for me. First, I slept in a little late and had to drive as quickly as I could over wash boarded roads from my camp in the mountains to register for the event. Second, I still wasn't sure where I was going to paint. Third, the sky had a flat bright overcast - my least favorite light to paint in.

One solution I've recently discovered to the problem of painting on rainy or overcast days is to paint with a view through trees. After driving around a few blocks I came to the scene shown in the painting pictured above. Already having lost time because of sleeping in late and not knowing before hand where to paint, I set up and got to work. When time for the "quick paint" event was almost up, I framed the painting, threw everything into the car without cleaning up, and got the painting back to the show.

The paintings in the"quick paint" show were auctioned off around noon. I sat in the back with other painters to watch the show. It was interesting to see the auctioneer work the crowd, and watch the bidding for my painting.

The painting I made on Wednesday for the main show also sold. 

Plein Air Spring City 2014

11" x 14" Oil on Panel

Here's a quick post about this year's Spring City plein air event, which is now in full swing. Painting for the competition began Wednesday. The painting I did on that rainy day is shown above. Below is a photo of the painting I made yesterday. It's the first time I've painted that large for a plein air event. We'll see how that goes!

18" x 24" Oil on Canvas Panel

I may have time to do one more painting today. Paintings for the main competition have to be turned in early this evening. Tomorrow is the main show and "quick paint." These paintings look far better in person, so come see the show! For more information about Spring City's art events visit their website. 

A Dark Haired Model

12" x 9" Charcoal on Paper

Here is my latest drawing from this month's drawing sessions. It's another charcoal drawing on paper toned by lightly rubbing charcoal onto the paper. Lately I've been setting up so as to draw the model in direct light, rather than the side light or back light I had been doing so much of. Every change of angle or lighting teaches you something new about drawing from a live model.

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

A View Through the Trees

9" x 12" Oil on Panel

This is a painting made at another of my favorite places for taking a walk. It's a view looking south east from a trail near the lake. I made a similar painting last year, but in 5" x 7" size - the very first painting from a new pochade box I made for that size. This time I brought my 9" x 12" pochade box. The weather on this day was sunny as opposed to the rainy weather I painted in for last year's little version. This spot will likely become one of those places I return to again and again for paintings. The different seasons and weather offer a variety of images and moods that will likely attract my attention for a long time to come.

Charcoal Portrait on Charcoal Toned Paper

12" x 9" Charcoal on Paper

The subject shown above is the daughter of one of the women who attends the drawing sessions. She has modeled for us number of times. A budding artist in her own right, she was willing to sit for our most recent session when the regularly scheduled model canceled, and I was able to make this drawing of her. The drawing is charcoal on white paper. The paper was first toned with charcoal. A charcoal pencil was then used to sketch in the subject and draw the darks. A kneaded eraser was used to lift out the lights, and "charcoal white" was used to strengthen the highlights.

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

A Day Up On The Bench

18" x 24" Oil on Canvas Panel

This is one of my favorite places to go for a walk. It's a section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail near the base of the Wasatch Mountains. No matter how many times I come around this bend in the trail I think, "I've got to paint this!" - even though I've painted it several times before. I've done versions of this scene in nearly every size from 5" x 7" to 12" x 16" and in nearly every season. On this hot day in July I brought along the portable easel and my biggest painting panel size - 18" x 24" - and painted 'till the sun went down.