Life drawing class

Life drawing class

Life drawing sketches

I’ve been taking life drawing classes for a few weeks now, and I’m finding it fun but also quite labor intensive. From the moment the model sets the timer, I feel like I’m in a mad rush to render what I see before the time is up. We start with one minute poses to loosen up then on to five minutes, ten minutes and finely a couple twenty minute poses. The class of about twenty artists is professional and surprisingly quiet at times as we are all focused on the task at hand. I’m going to post some of my sketches from the class, not because I think there good but as a means to gauge my progress as I go along. When it comes to art I put the carriage before the horse so to speak by learning how to oil paint before learning how to draw well first. Inadequate drawing will always inhibit the oil painting progress. Taking these classes is my attempt to correct this imbalance as my true passion is to be the best oil painter I can.

Art Models 3: Life Nude Photos for the Visual Arts (Art Models series) [CD-ROM]

Along with signing up for life drawing classes ,I also picked up this CD Art Models 3Life nude Photos for the Visual Arts. Amazon.com gave this CD a 5 star rating so I thought it was worth a shot. I just got it a few days ago and pop it into my DVD player. I did a few sketches off the big screen TV in my livingroom and it was cool. The models are on a round table and there is a picture from every side. The thing I like the most is that the models don’t move. I’m glad I got this CD and I would recommend it as a good practice tool for use in between life drawing classes.

Product Description
While no book can replace a live model, this photographic guide to the human form provides a diverse selection of figures for those who do not have access to live models. Posed in a variety of classical and modern modes, the models are set in a clear, clean environment that is void of distractions and enhances the figure. All of the high-resolution photographs were painstakingly edited and adjusted to yield all the nuances of the figures. The companion disc contains 24 photographs per pose that, in totality, comprises a full 360 degree view. Each angle of every pose can be enlarged, enabling artists to zoom in on specific body parts to discover their intricate detail or project the photos to life-like proportions. The disc also offers the flexibility of numerous viewing options—on a computer screen, printed out, projected for a group, or via a high-definition television when connected through a computer.

Gamblin, Exploring Color Palettes

If you use Gamblin oil paints then your gonna want to check out this link to Exploring Color Palettes. EXAMPLE #1 Basic High Key Palette

With this palette of Gamblin Artists Colors, painters can explore high key situations with bright tints and mixtures. Consider using the Portland Greys to mix tints if you want more natural looking tints using modern colors. The two basic palettes also work very well together so painters can choose one Cadmium Yellow for opacity and one Hansa Yellow for transparency and tinting strength etc.





Hansa Yellow Lt. - cool (toward green) semi-transparent light yellow

Hansa Yellow Med. - warm semi-transparent yellow

Napthol Scarlet - warm (toward orange) semi-transparent Vermillion red

Quinacridone Red - cool (toward blue) transparent red

Phthalo Blue - warm (toward red) transparent blue

Manganese Blue Hue - cool (toward green) transparent blue

Phthalo Emerald - warm (toward yellow) transparent green

Ivory Black - mixing black with moderate tinting strength

Titanium-Zinc White - best general mixing white

Kseniya Simonova's Sand Drawing

Life Drawing Classes In New Jersey

I really love painting but when it comes to drawing it feels like a chore. So I tend to avoid drawing practice and my paintings suffer at times because I struggle with proportions. I really need to brush up on my drawing skills, so I just signed up for some Life Drawing Classes at the Arts Guild of New Jersey.

Apostle images from 4th century found under street in Italy

Upon the discovery of the sarcophagus and its bone fragments dated almost 2000 years old to be that of St. Paul’s mortal remains, the colleagues of the scientists responsible in the archaeological site beneath the main altar of St. Paul Basilica outside the walls has also stumbled upon an image on a different archaeological site, believed to be the earliest and most accurate images of Sts. Peter and Paul, frescoed on the walls of the Catacombs of Saint Tecla. Below are the pictures of the said images which was discovered just recently:

A restorer uses a laser to reveal an image that Vatican archaeologists believe is the oldest one of St Paul the Apostle, dating from the late fourth century, on the walls of a catacomb beneath Rome in this undated photo released June 29, 2009. Experts of the Ponitifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology made the discovery on June 19 in the Catacomb of Santa Tecla in Rome and describe it as the “oldest icon in history dedicated to the cult of the Apostle”, according to the Vatican newspaper. Peter and Paul are revered by Christians as the greatest early missionaries. Converting on the road to Damascus following a blinding vision of Jesus, Paul took the Gospel to pagan Greeks and Romans and met his martyrdom in Rome in about 65 AD.

What sells a painting?

Its about creating a serene moment in which the collector wants to be there.

People love color, they love fun, they love passion. That is what sells, regardless of the medium.

What is it that makes a painting great ?

A great painting has a presence so powerful, that you can't walk away from it.

Art study of random objects found in the class room.

Oil painting study, old tools

What's Hot and Why? Pt. 1 (of 7)

In conjunction with the exhibition, Essex Exposed 6 featured in the Pierro Gallery of South Orange, a panel discussion: What's Hot and Why? was held in the gallery on November 12, 2009. Discussing the trends and motivation in exhibiting, curating and collecting contemporary art were five leading figures in the New Jersey art world today: Moderator: Ben Goldman, Panelists: Patricia A. Bell, collector; Beth Venn, Curator, Newark Museum; Rupert Ravens, dealer; and Tom Nussbaum, exhibiting artist.

Frank Frazetta painting, adding color

Ok, I’m about 6 hours into it now and I think I need a break....Going out mountain biking !!

Frank Frazetta painting in progress

I got up early this morning and decided to work on the Frank Frazetta I started a while ago. I started by wiping off any dust with a damp cotton rag, Then using a mixture of walnut oil, Demar varnish and terpanoid I coated the painting with a thin coat. Then I proceeded putting in the dark’s . I’ll be using Golden’s limited palette for this painting because the more I’ve been using it, the more comfortable I’ve become attainting a pleasing color balance.

Homemade Bookcase

Here are some pictures of my bookcase,at 7'7"h x 5' 7"w........I still have plenty of room for more art books.

Build your own art library

A great way to build up your art library is to go to local book sales. Where else can you get a fifty dollar art book for a buck. Just sigh up with Book Sale Finder and you’ll get e-mail notifications of up coming book sales in your area. I've already gotten so many art books that I had to make a gigantic custom bookcase just to hold them all.

Sistine Chapel virtual tour

Sistine Chapel virtual tour

It’s the closest thing to actually being there. The controls to zoom are on the lower left.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Vermeer !

At essential Vermeer.com
It is extrremely unlikely that Vermeer had on his palette in any given work session all the pigments that were available to him. Painters were known to use specific palettes set out each day according the passage to be painted. The wooden palette to the left represents the seven principle pigments which Vermeer commonly employed; 1. white lead, 2. yellow ochre, 3. vermillion, 4. red madder, 5, green earth, 6. raw umber and 7. ivory balck.

Glazing Video

Wednesday Night Oil Painting Class

Last night was our final class at the Arts Guild of Rahway until the fall.

With no air conditioning it’s probably for the best, although if anyone would like... maybe we can get a kiddy pool, hibachi and some coronas an have a tailgate pleinair painting session in the parking lot this summer ! ( Jersey style Ray! )

Anyway.... I’d like to thank Ray Horner and all my art buddies for there positive uplifting energy and support. I’ve learned so much from everyone.

I wish you great success in all you endeavors this summer and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again in the fall !

Frank Frazetta passed away at 82

It saddens me to say that Frank Frazetta passed away yesterday. When I found out I reflected back to a blog I wrote in September 2009 on Frank's work inspiring my early passion for art.
( I'm gonna have to go back and finish up those two paintings of his I started.)

It's clear that Frank Frazetta’s oil paintings had a profound impact on many people and artists as well.

He painted how he wanted to and didn’t care what other people thought. Perhaps there’s a lesson in that. If you stay true to yourself in your work, other people will make the connection too.

Artists need to be around other artists to grow

A good friend of mine in art class....... “ and a very talented artist I might add ” has decided to paint her passion..........Food !

Why not ..... they say to paint what you know and love... right ?

Tonight she’s painting a bowl of pasta and I have to say it looks good enough to eat. Even after she dropped it down a flight of stairs at the end of class ! Lol !!

I haven’t discovered my passion for a particular subject matter just yet, but she’s got me thinking about it.

And as simple as that may sound...... it’s one of the best things about working with other artists.

People freely sharing there thoughts, knowledge, ideas and maybe even a passion or two. I don’t get that in to many gatherings these days. Most of my friends just want to get drunk and watch football.

Ok ...there’s nothing wrong with that ( I love football) but at the end of the day it’s not going to make me a better artist.

Artists need to be around other artists to grow. The support and encouragement shared between artists is a necessity to endure the pitfalls of self doubt.

Take away this positive influential camaraderie and one can easily become discouraged into isolated artistic stagnation. .....(Haha ....I laughed when I read that back !) ...But its true.

What is Art ?

A scene from the movie Mona Lisa Smile, set in 1954 where Julia Roberts tries to get young art students to look beyond the paint and open there minds to a new idea.

Trying to Make Sense of Modern Art

We had another discussion in art class this week about Modern Art. Who defines it and most of all, why are some absurd works labeled genius by art scholars.

Two works come to mind, the Crucifix in urine and the Virgin Mary painted in feces.

My first thoughts were dear God why? What would possess a person to do something like this ?....I really do want to understand Modern Art, but stuff like this is just confusing and difficult to comprehend.

So I sat down and put some thought into this one, as it would have been narrow minded of me to just rant on about how much I hate them. So without Googling any answers I’ll start with what I said when I first viewed them. “Dear God why! and What would possess a person to do something like this !?”

Well......are they making a mockery of my religion?..are they mad at God...did they loose there faith... are they cursing at God ? What would possess someone to curse God.....Have I ever cursed God for anything ? Let me think about that for a moment. If I did I certainly didn’t mean it.

I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who hit there thumb with a hammer by accident and had some choice words for God. I can’t be the only one. Of course we don’t really mean what we say.......still sometimes the pain pushes those curse words out.

Could that be what’s going on here? An expression of pain? Pain deeper then that smashed thumb, deeper then a broken heart piercing the very soul and shattering all faith. What king of hammer can shatter a persons faith?

You only have to turn on the news for a few moments so see all the suffering in the world. Murder, rape , child molestation, war, cancer, aids...it just doesn’t end. How can God allow all these horrible things to happen, it makes no sense.

So as these horrible cruelties of life unfold unto us all. I have seen that for some people as well as myself, our faith in God deepens. We put our trust into God to help us through our grief and to help us live with the sorrow.

While others are stripped of there faith and as crudely as the words are spoken after the hammer strikes the thumb, they curse God and abandon religion as they feel that they too have been abandoned.

No expensive oil paints on fine linen could support the raw emotion of the loss of a child, parent, sibling or dear friend........ the materials had to be as crude, shocking and repulsively imaginable to put the viewer into that precise moment when the heart is broken and the faith shattered. So in closing I’ll ponder these two quotes by Ellen Key and Louis Kronenberger and continue to try my best to view Modern Art as open mindedly as I can. I may not always like what I see, but I do want to understand and respect the artists intent.

The more horrifying this world becomes, the more art becomes abstract.
Ellen Key

In art there are tears that lie too deep for thought.
Louis Kronenberger