May's Second Charcoal

Charcoal on Paper

This is the second charcoal I'm posting this month.
I think there is something (hopefully at least one thing) in each drawing that I fall in love with, in this drawing it's the fabric wrapped around her hips - I love the folds in the fabric and the way the light captures the folds.

At tea time someone said, about my drawing; "She looks cross."
The model, overhearing the comment, looked at my drawing and said; "No I don't, I look pretty!"
Gog bless her.

May's Charcoal

May's Charcoal
Seated Nude - Charcoal on Paper
(SOLD)

I have a massive feeling of accomplishment with this drawing.
Why? Because the model loved it to the point of wanting to buy it!

And I love the light on the hair falling down in front of her face.

May's Paintng

Small Seated Nude
Oil on Canvas Board

I tried to do this painting with the same feeling that I gave the Pink Bikini, but I ended up becoming too 'precious' about the damn thing.
I had to stop myself from carrying on, another 15 minutes of painting would have ruined it.

What do you think - Just right? Or do I need to do more work on it?

(My camera is on the blink, so this photo was taken on my Black Berry and will need to be updated when I have a working camera again.)

April's First Charcoal

March was not an inspiring month for me; I finished no paintings and my drawings turned on me.

When I tell people that I draw and paint the response is often, "Oh nice, that must be so relaxing."
To which I grimace and think to myself "bloody idiot!"

There is nothing relaxing about drawing or painting at the level that I attempt to, and there is no pleasure in it either, but there is enormous pleasure in having finished a piece, especially when it works.



April's started off much better than March - it felt good to have finished this drawing.

February's Charcoal

February's Nude
Charcoal

I'm really starting to love charcoal as a medium, but they're starting to stack up. I'm wondering if I should start selling them. Or maybe I should just give a few away...

Seated Nude - November 2010 - Charchoal on Paper

Seated Nude - November 2010 - Charcoal on Paper

It's been a while since I've posted a painting, recently it's been a lot of charcoal drawings and I am really enjoying it.


This photo was taken midway through the session (during a break). The finished drawing is still in the studio and I forgot to take a photo of it, but I like what it looks like halfway through, I'm almost sorry I spent more time on it.

Seated Nude - Charcoal on Paper

Seated Nude - Charcoal on Paper

We've had nowhere to draw for the last four weeks and last night we got together at one of the artist's house. Her upstairs area has not been used for a while so we moved in there with our lights easels and a model.

It took ages to set set up, but in the end it was a very successful evening.

Stephen Scott - Seated Nude - Charcoal on paper

Seated Nude
Charcoal on Paper

Our model was a beautiful blond girl. This was the first time she sat for any group and she sat fantastically. It was a absolute pleasure to work with her.

Stephen Scott - Seated Nude - Charcoal on paper

Seated Nude
Charcoal on paper

About a year ago I hated charcoal; it was an annoying medium - the charcoal refused to do anything I wanted it to... now I'm starting to understand.

The model was from Zimbabwe, but she's spent the majority of her life here in South Africa.

Seated nude for May 2010

Seated nude, May 2010
Painting in progress

A couple of week ago this young model posed for us for a once-off sitting - I did this charcoal sketch of her

We've asked her to com back for the last four weeks of the time we have in our current studio. I took the opportunity to start an oil painting - this is the result of the first session.

I took the whole session to draw and correct the drawing, my goal for the session was to have a drawing that is as accurate as I can make it. I am very happy with the result of this session.