A Portrait Sketch in Charcoal

12" x 9" Charcoal Pencil on Paper

I went with the dramatic lighting in this charcoal sketch, which was done at the weekly drawing session two Thursdays ago. There's more that could be done to refine the drawing, but I'll leave it as it was at the end of the session. Sometimes I'll work more on a sketch after getting back from a drawing session but more often I'll leave it be. There's a lot to learn from looking at a sketch later and seeing what I did while the model was still in front of me.

There's no drawing class this Thursday (August 29th) because some of us will be at the plein air painting competition in Spring City instead. Sessions will resume the following Thursday (Sept. 5).

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

African Woman

12" x 9" Pastel on Colorfix Paper

Here is an older portrait from the weekly drawing sessions. The drawing sessions sometimes have an international flavor, and on that particular day our model was a graceful, dignified, and colorful woman from Africa. It's been a while but some dusty corner of my memory seems to think she was from the Congo. Charcoal pencils are probably what I use most at the drawing sessions, but this was one of those times I was glad I brought along the pastels!

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

Alpine Paintings

12" x 16" Oil on Canvas Panel

What can you do when summertime temps get into the 100°F+? You could sweat it out like I did in the last post - or - if you live near the Rocky Mountains you might just head up to where the air is cooler. The first Tuesday in July I went up high into the Wasatch Mountains to paint. When the paved road ran out I parked the car and walked about another mile to the scene shown in the painting above. Down in the valley things are getting dried out, brittle and more flammable. Up at this altitude though, things are still green, alpine flowers are blooming, and there are still small patches of snow tucked into sheltered spots. I enjoyed painting to the sounds of different bird songs, and got to see some other wildlife (deer, squirrel, rabbit and marmot) while hiking to and from the painting spot.

11" x 14" Oil on Canvas Panel

About a month earlier, I painted in the same general area, when there were larger snow patches and the alpine flowers had not yet fully come out. That day's painting is the second one shown in this post. The patterns of snow and rock in the second painting were what attracted my attention to the scene. With days like these and places like this, why would anyone want to work indoors?

103 Degrees

6" x 8" Oil on Panel.

A week and a half ago the weather was fairly hot - 103°F in fact. And my car was in need of repairs. The day, however, had skies generally free of clouds or smoke so in spite of the challenges I went painting. The car was being disagreeable, but I also have a bicycle, and there's a lot to paint within a short distance of home. With a 6" x 8" pochade box, and other painting gear in a couple leather bags, a small tripod, and a day pack with extra water and some "Clif" bars (apricot and carrot cake - yum) I biked out west of town. There I found a shady spot along a bike path that follows the river and made the painting shown above. Here's a photo of my setup that day:

The car's been fixed since then but that day, hot and car-less, I still had a good day!

Vietnam "Flashback"

12" x 9" Charcoal Pencil on Paper

Actually, I'm too young to have served in Vietnam, but I remember seeing images of that conflict in the newspapers, magazines, and on the nightly news. There are a few 'Nam vets who come to the weekly drawing sessions, and one or two of them served in the marine corps there. One of the marine vets has collected some military gear of the same kind he was issued back then. Last week his grandson modeled for the class. He seems the same age as those who served during that war back then, so he wore his grandfather's Vietnam-era USMC outfit, complete with authentic helmet, flack jacket, and harness for pack and canteen. Some wanted to draw him sans helmet, but when I saw him in that helmet, flack jacket, and the rest of the gear and clothing it took me back to those media images I remember seeing as a child. He looked like those images and that's how I wanted to draw him, so I convinced everyone to let the helmet stay.

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

Timp from the Bench

12" x 16" Oil on Panel

Here's another of the paintings I did back in May before trees had fully leafed out. Mount Timpanogos is THE landmark towering over both Utah Valley and Heber Valley. This limestone and dolomite mountain rises dramatically from the 4500 ft (MSL) floor of Utah Valley to 11,752 feet above sea level. The view in the painting is looking north along a section of the bench trail that stretches from Slate Canyon to Slide Canyon. My painting gear and lightweight easel have been carried with me on a number of painting trips along this trail. You can read more about the trail here.

Last Week's Drawing Session

14" x 11" Charcoal on Paper

At the weekly drawing sessions I usually set up for three-quarter angles and sometimes profiles. Last Thursday was a rare opportunity for a straight-on portrait. This kind of portrait requires attention to how the face is balanced yet asymmetrical. The picture above was drawn with charcoal and "white charcoal" pencils on tan-colored sketchbook paper.

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