Drawing in November

More charcoal drawing from the Saturday morning drawing group. Done on newsprint or charcoal paper. Loved every moment of it.

Charcoal portraits, end of October

These two portraits were done with charcoal pencils. Having drawn with vine charcoal during my art school life drawing class, these charcoal pencils are a little different. Still, they are easy to use and not messy. Once after class in art school, the instructor asked one of the students "How are things in the coal mine?" --- that's how messy vine charcoal can be.

Charcoal portraits -- October

Back at it with the Saturday morning drawing group of the Skokie Art Guild. I'm using charcoal pencils and also the charcoal sticks (hard -- Winson Newton) that I used 45 years ago when I was in art school. These were all done either 15 or 25 minutes.

Wabash Avenue Bridge

Painting with the Plein Air Painters Chicago on a Saturday morning about 3 weeks ago, I did this painting along the Chicago River at the Wabash Avenue Bridge. It is about 7" x 9" and I took my time and painted it in two hours.

End of season for the drawing group

Three charcoal drawings on charcoal paper all done in about 25 minutes. This was the last class until September so the kiddies can have the room during summer camp. So I will be out painting during this time most Saturdays during the summer, although I must admit I don't like hot weather and standing in the sun if shade isn't available is really unpleasant. I keep telling myself to get out and paint, but I am either lazy or I find Chicago very uninspiring. Also, I have been working on my yard every day.

Charcoal drawing, 5 minutes to 25 minutes

My Saturday drawing group is nearing the summer break. These were done on either newsprint or on charcoal paper. I've been using charcoal pencils unlike my days at the American Academy when I used vine charcoal.

Watercolor portraits and a drawing

This week there was a new model at the drawing group, always interesting to have someone new. I did these two portraits in watercolor in 25 minutes. I begin with washes of color, never drawing them in. The charcoal was done on Strathmore paper. The charcoal was done in 15 minutes.