Gone Figure Drawing, 18" x 24"

Well, I 've made a real effort in the past two weeks to "get out there" and do something different, I have signed up for some local figure drawing sessions here in Atlanta, and have had some pretty good results. The Cobb Museum of Art in Marietta on the square and The Bohemian Circus at The Apache Cafe on 3rd Street. Drawing from nature is always good practice , keeps your fundamental skills sharp by keeping you grounded academically. What I mean is this; as artist's, we learn by habit, and you can get stuck by drawing in your comfort zone too often. Things can get stale and rehearsed, so drawing from nature, be it landscape or figure, forces you to test yourself and follow a new map. You can't argue with anatomy and proportion, it's good for you too. Drawing from life(nature) means everything you see in front of you is accurate, the light and shadows and proportion, not like a photograph, there is 3 dimensional depth to account for. Anyway, it was refreshing and kind of like going back to school without trying to explain why and I intend to make drawing and painting from life more of a ritual practice to keep the skills in tune. Of course I am still going to draw from memory because that's where the artist's personal music is playing.

I definitely recommend checking out either of the venues listed above.

The Big Snow in Atlanta

Hey, I thought I would post these shots I took the night the snow came a few weeks ago. I stayed late working on the computer at the coffee shop (you know, free wifi) and I came outside around 10:30 and shushed up to the studio and grabbed the camera, the streets were empty and all was quiet. I love the light of the streetlamps in the haze of the falling snow.

Angel Blue Sky, 16" x 20", oil on canvas

"Mr. Bird Said", 20" x20" Oil on canvas

I guess this one is reminiscent of when I was illustrating Children's books and literature...similar to some of my book illustrations, seen here- very narrative...make up your own story, I can't tell you what it's about. Although, I would say it's about being lost and asking for directions, because you have a passenger in distress, and it's getting dark and cold and you're looking for some shelter- at least until it get's light. OK, maybe I can tell you what this picture is about after all. That's the wonderful fulfillment one get's from painting & drawing and creating from your imagination..there is a lot of pretending and playacting that goes into it because you have to visualize it with your mind's eye just like when you were a child playing in the yard. You have to feel it as if you were there and then build it using perspective and form and expression, and create a sense of space and place. It's never quite right, but fun trying to create that imaginary place that you see in the recesses of your memory, it's a little fuzzy and out of focus, but we try to nail it down. I think that all artist's can relate to that struggle...chasing that illusive vision.