Charcoal drawing this Fall

Mimi is the leader of our drawing group. The finished sketch is Mimi and the unfinished sketch --- could be her as well, not sure. Anyway they were both done in charcoal on charcoal paper.

Finally....success

Several times I have tried to capture Helen in a drawing. She is one of the people that I have a drawing class with. Despite those other times I was not happy with the result. This time I captured her and even got her approval. The other two drawings are Elizabeth, also in the drawing group and Elizabeth's shoe. After drawing everyone it can get a little tiresome, so now we are branching out into doing a shoe. All done with a charcoal pencil on charcoal paper.

Back with the drawing group

Since our group is still not allowed into the building we have been meeting outside in the larger park area under the gazebo. I have two portraits done over the last two weeks of guys who are just sitting drawing. These were done on small sheets of 140 pound watercolor paper.

Drawings done before the virus interrupted everyone

So, just before the interruption in everyone's life I was doing some of my best work ever in the life drawing class. These were all done with charcoal on charcoal paper. I have taken to mounting some of these for display later in the class I am supposed to teach coming in September --- hopefully it takes place and the virus is gone.

Recent watercolor portraits

While the virus thing is going around, I have taken to doing some copies of Rembrandt and Sargent. However the other W/C was done over a ZOOM meeting with a live model. About 50 other people were painting this model. I thought it wa sone of my best, considering I practiced first on Rembrandt and John Singer Sargent. They were all done on Arches cold press paper.

Sept. 14

This week again I was using hot press watercolor paper. Not my favorite, but giving it a good shot. The figure and color portrait were both watercolor, the other two were charcoal pencil on newsprint. If they turn out this well, I should be using charcoal paper.

Back at the drawing class

It's Fall again and the Summer Camp for kids is over at the Skokie Devonshire Center and that means our drawing group meets again. The model is Ken and I used my usual charcoal pencils on newsprint. This time I wanted to experiment with hot press paper doing my watercolors. I bought Hahnemuhl paper this time. The smooth surface wants to let the watercolor pool and run which I don't like in the upright position, so I had to hand hold the paper at a lower angle. The surface is less absorbent and thus the pooling. Anyway, I worked around it. If ever there was anything I was meant to do, it's painting or drawing portraits....so, very happpy to be back at it.