What do you draw

What Do You Draw?

What subject matter inspires one to draw? I gave my drawing class a sketchbook assignment to draw any 5 things outside their house. One of the students got confused and thought she was to draw 25 things. She emailed me saying there aren’t that many things to draw! I replied saying that there are at least 125 things close by her house to draw but that she only had to do 5. She said, well, yes, but I don’t really want to draw any of them. With that in mind, I went outside to see what I would draw. The first thing I came across was the ditch where my brother-in-law had repaired a leaky pipe in our sprinkler system. Was I inspired? No, but as I drew I found the maze of pipes and valves and the sides of the ditch interesting and challenging to draw. It’s a quick sketch but I hope it demonstrates that if you just start drawing, you can find interest.

Line vs Tone…or…Line + Tone

The advanced drawing students I've been working with have been taught the value of tone and have learned the lesson well. I am now trying to encourage them to explore line more fully. A common misconception is that tone is the only way to create volume and mass. Tone certainly helps but the line drawing itself, when understood and used well can do much of the work. To illustrate, I did this demo for my class.

This final version shows the integration of line and tone that I tend to like in a drawing. Here is a wonderful example of what I'm talking about, a drawing by Jerome Witkin.

Ramses

Last year I worked on a few pieces for my illustration portfolio.This was the most successful. I went back to an old style I used to work with - pastel over gouache.

I did some other preliminary sketches, this being one that I would like to pursue sometime.

From a Balcony

Rooftops on a cold late afternoon in Downtown Mesa. 6" x 8"

Head Study

Just a partially done painting of Danielle, a family friend with a great face to paint.

The Muse comes at the last minute…

This is a painting from a few years ago. My gallery owner suggested I do a painting of the Sugar Bowl, an old landmark restaurant in Scottsdale. I set up my easel and started painting but the muse seemed to ignore me. I had a rather sub-par painting about done when I realized some shadows started making some interesting shapes on the facade which got my juices flowing. I made a few quick strokes and took a photo before the light slipped away. I finished it in my studio and this was the result. It was purchased by the wife of the owner of the Sugar Bowl and I’m told it is hanging in the restaurant.

Granaries in Mesa

No story or explanation, just a plein aire painting of railroad stuff and a granarie. I like the composition.