House Garage Art

Colored Pencil Portrait Drawing

2012-01-22T21:57:00.001-06:00

Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencil 8 X 10 inches

January 22, 2012

Classic beauty never goes out of style and its a real joy to go back in history pluck out great pictures. This is taken from the much more famous version by Alberto Vargas. It's wonderful to be able to offer up my own rendition.

Now it's back to the pin-up project. Just six more drawings left until it's all over. Stay tuned.

Sketchbook Drawings - January

2012-01-21T20:21:00.001-06:00

January 21, 2012 - Here are some drawings from my sketchbook. I'm not editing the drawings here, just posting whatever's in the book, for amusement, enjoyment or perhaps both. I try to draw and paint as often as I can because it's the only way to get better. There is really no magic formula or shortcut to being a better artist. It takes relentless practice.

For me that means drawing and painting whenever I have any spare time. Life in 21st century America is complicated, busy and distracting. I work full-time, go to school at night and spend the rest of my time being married and raising a family. When the demands of life begin to overwhelm me, I remember that I'm not alone and that many, many people have to deal with much more adversity than I do. I am thankful for the blessings I've been given and I try never to forget that. That's why I try to draw and paint when I can.

It's a blessing to be able to create art, no matter how much or how little value others give your work. I was taught by my mother to use my talents, whatever they may be, to create and to try everyday to get better at whatever it is I do.

Pin-Up Girl No.14

2012-01-15T23:18:00.000-06:00

January 15, 2012

Pin-up no.14 is now complete. She's got a giant hat and an eye toward springtime, well maybe summer. I created a short video of this drawing. Check it out for some fun fast motion drawing action.

Sunny Lake Beneath Trees - Oil Painting

2012-01-13T18:32:00.000-06:00

January 13, 2012 - Today I worked on this painting for a couple of hours, adding some detail to the tree and water. I think it's just about done. I was thinking that this would be a nice painting to work on when it's 12 degrees outside and on a Friday the thirteenth. Maybe I'll try some drawing later, then it's back to work.

Birch Trees In Winter - SOLD

2012-01-10T20:34:00.003-06:00

This is an oil painting I completed in 2005. I tried to capture the wintery feel in the scene which I was observing. Snow clung to the trees like frosting on a cake while large flakes fell gently from the sky.

The painting recently sold and afterward I felt a little sad to see it go. Although the painting is very simple in many ways, it still represents many hours of study and work. My mind was clearer then because I didn't think so hard about this technique or that. In some ways I was more free.

In the end I was happy it went to a good home and hope it has interest for others.

This original oil painting is now in the collection of
Reverand Jonathan & Mrs. Anne Zielski.

Pin Up Project Video - Nov 2011 to Jan 2012

2012-01-07T22:10:00.001-06:00

Lucky No. 13 - Pin-Up Girl

2012-01-07T18:34:00.000-06:00

Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencil on 8 X 10 in.

January 7, 2012

Pin-up Girl No. 13 doing some yard work. The weather here in Minnesota is unseasonably warm which has people thinking about spring. Of course those of us who've lived here long enough know this warm weather won't last, not in January, not in Minnesota.

At any rate here is today's Pin-up in all her yard raking glory. I used Faber-Castell polychromos pencils to render this drawing. I really like the green, reminds me of the 1940's era. This drawing took about an hour to complete. Just seven more pin-up's left in the project.

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Pin Up Girl #12 - Pin Up Girl Video

2012-01-03T20:37:00.000-06:00

January 3, 2012

First entry of a brand new year. This is Pin Up Girl #12 and the accompanying video. For this drawing I used Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils. This drawing is after the more famous version done by George Petty.

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencil on 11 X 17 inch Bristol

Petty was a prolific and talented artist who created pin up's for Esquire magazine during it's heyday in the 1940's and 50's. This drawing was from one of his many calendars during that era. Known as the, "Petty Girls" his centerfolds were extremely popular during the period and it many of his pin-up girls ended up as nose art on WWII bombers.

Eventually replaced by Alberto Vargas as Esquire's featured pin-up artist, Petty moved to commercial illustration for companies like Rigid Tools and magazine work for True.

Petty went on to do commercial pieces and pin-ups for many, many years.

Sailor Drawing - Copic Markers

2011-12-31T22:45:00.000-06:00

Graphite & Copic Marker 5 X 7 inches

December 31, 2011

More work with the Copic markers. Copic's are coded for blending and matching. These markers are very easy to use and have great color. They also happen to be refillable so that reduces the cost of ownership.

I enjoy trying out new types of pens, markers, pencils and paints. I almost always learn something new by using them. The principles used with watercolors, oils, markers and even graphite are very similar, but what they yield can be very different.

Pin Up #11 - The Runner

2011-12-31T22:27:00.001-06:00

Runner - graphite & copic markers 5 X 7 inches

December 31, 2011

Trying out some new equipment in the form of copic markers. This is pin up girl #11 in the pin up project.

Lloyd and Dode Circa 1950

2011-12-29T19:38:00.001-06:00

Lloyd and Dote in graphite - 8 1/2 X 11 inches

December 29, 2011

Lloyd and Dode circa 1950's. I borrowed a wonderful old photograph from my 94 year old neighbor Lloyd of him and his wife.I tried my best to recreate their likeness. I had fun drawing this, not just for it's detail, but because of what Lloyd means to me.

Hard to describe in words, but Lloyd is a great person and someone with character. I know, "character" isn't always appreciated in this era but I have a feeling if more people knew Lloyd it would make a comeback.

This drawing was done with a graphite pencil and took about two hours to complete, over the course of several months. The picture on the lower left is the same drawing in a frame.

This original drawing is now in the collection of
Mr. Lloyd Alm.

Study - Shoes

2011-12-29T19:32:00.001-06:00

Pair of shoes - Study in Conte 5 X 7 inches

December 29, 2011

A fast sketch of some old shoes. Just practicing mark making and adding volume to objects.

Lady looking down - study

2011-12-28T23:37:00.000-06:00

December 28, 2011

Lady looking down. Drawn with sanguine Derwent pencil and charcoal. This sketch took about 20 minutes to complete.

Lady Walkers

2011-12-28T23:28:00.002-06:00

Sanguine Pencil - 5 X 7 inches

December 27, 2011

A quick sketch of some 19th century ladies out for a stroll.

From The Sketchbook - Dec 2012

2011-12-24T22:20:00.001-06:00

Portrait Study - Graphite Pencil - 8.5 X 11 inches

December 24, 2012

It's Christmas Eve and I thought I'd throw up a few recent sketches. The vase is my nemesis. I've been sketching this vase, poorly, for years now. The objective is to create a freehand sketch that bares a likeness to the real object. As anyone can plainly see the results have not been spectacular. But there's the thing about drawing, you can't give up. It's hours a day, over and over, until you get it right.

No matter how your drawings turn out, you have to push on. If you ever want to get better, it takes practice...lots of practice. Learning the fundamentals is also helpful and so are various techniques, but nothing replaces practice.

Merry Christmas.

Lucy On The Sofa - Graphite Pencil - 8.5 X 11

Stil Life with Apples - Graphite Wash - 8.5 X 11

Objects in Snow

2011-12-11T20:12:00.001-06:00

Watercolor on 100% Italian Cotton Paper 7 X 11 inches

December 11, 2011

Watercolor painting of some objects in the snow. In this work, I was just experimenting with some masking fluid and working with different colors. It's easy to assume that snow is white, but it rarely is in reality. I like working with this particular paper which is made by Cartiera Magnani, Acrilico. It holds the paint very nicely.

This painting is now in the collection of Alexandra and Henry Kitsu.

Train Stopped - Watercolor

2011-12-11T20:09:00.001-06:00

Watercolor on 100% Italian Cotton Paper 7 X 11 inches

December 2011

Watercolor of an older train. Nothing special here, just practicing composition and experimenting with watercolors.

Duluth Grain Ship

2011-12-11T20:06:00.001-06:00

Watercolor on 100% Italian Cotton Paper 7 X 10 inches.

December 2011

A small watercolor of the Duluth harbor, the lift bridge is visible in the far background.

Debbie's Watercolor

2011-12-11T19:57:00.001-06:00

Watercolor by Debbie Johnson

December 11, 2011

This is a watercolor painting I received from my friend Debbie Johnson, an artist I went to school with. The minute I saw this painting on Debbie's Facebook page I was fascinated by it.

The really amazing story behind this painting was that it was done entirely without a brush. Debbie's outstanding composition and color in this painting leads the viewer right in. I really like all the detail in the pedals of the sunflowers and how it shifts from cool (in the upper right corner) to warm tones.

I asked Debbie if I could buy this painting from her and instead we ended up exchanging art. I gave her and a drawing and in exchange she gave me this wonderful painting. I definitely got the better end of the deal. I like the idea of exchanging art with friends and fellow artists. This is one of my favorite paintings in my collection and I just love it.

Small Watercolor Paintings

2011-11-27T23:18:00.001-06:00

November 27, 2011

I used some of the Strathmore Bristol paper (2.5" X 3.5") 100lb trading cards to do these little watercolor paintings. I decided it would be fun just to do some experimentation on these little cards. It's somewhat challenging to paint on such a small area, but it's also really fun.

Watercolor - High Bridge in St. Paul, Minn

For these paintings I used a combination of Faber-Castell watercolor pencils and Holbien watercolor paints. The perspectives aren't perfect as these were all done freehand (no rulers) in about 10 minutes.

Watercolor - Building at night

Fast Watercolor Sketches

2011-11-26T14:57:00.001-06:00

Faber-Castell Water Color Pencil on 60 lb Sketchbook Paper

November 26, 2011

Here are a couple of watercolor sketches I did yesterday as I take a short break from the pin-up project. Both of these are very quick sketches of street scenes that took about 15 - 20 minutes each.

I used Faber-Castell and Derwent watercolor pencils for these. I like both kinds of pencils for different reasons. The Dewrent pencils are very smooth and have a buttery feel to them as they lay down on the paper. The Faber-Castell pencils are slightly harder, but have deeper color to my eye and may have better lightfastness if you're concerned about longevity.

For my purposes I like the idea of knocking out quick sketches. Working fast forces you to make decisions about composition, lighting and shadow that your might otherwise agonize over. Using watercolor or water-soluable pencils really opens up interesting possibilities for the artist. For instance you can block in your composition and colors, paint and then add in detail.

I'll admit that I was never a big fan of working in watercolor, mostly because it seemed so uncontrollable to me. The water seemed to go everywhere and colors just ran into eachother. No matter how precise I tried to be, the watercolor and paper would mix in strange or unfamiliar ways. I was definitely uneasy with this medium. By using watercolor pencils, and the control they offer, I've overcome that uneasiness.

Derwent Watercolor

Art is filled with mystery and by that I don't mean the mystery of the art itself, but the mystery and secrets surrounding the techniques. I suppose to some people that's a good thing, but to me it's always been a source of frustration. Unlocking the techniques to draw or paint better is something you have to work quite hard at. For instance if you want to know how to change the alternator in a 91' Toyota Camry there is a You Tube for that. If you want to know how to capture a reflection on a street using watercolor, good luck.

Guessing at why such knowledge is not widely shared is pure speculation on my part, so please take the following as such. I know that the art world can be extremely competitive and I'm not naive enough to think that some secrets aren't well guarded, but in my view that is unfortunate. I don't think sharing what you know lessens the value of your work.

And even though I may have little to offer the wider art world, just for fun I'm thinking of putting together a series of short videos that demonstrate some of the techniques I've learned over time. Stay tuned.

My First Art Show

2011-11-25T22:22:00.003-06:00

Mrs. Owings and I at the Heights Center For Hope Art Opening

Larry takes a pause with some of my paintings in the background

November 20, 2011

It took 47 years, but I finally had my first art show. To put it more directly, after some encouragement by friends and family, I finally got up the nerve to put some of my stuff on display in public. To tell the truth, it was less stressful and much more enjoyable than I imagined it would be. My friend Joe Stadola was the person who connected me to the show and promoted my work to the coordinators and I am grateful for his efforts and his kindness.

The show was held at the Heights Center For Hope which is a part of Hope Lutheran Church in East Saint Paul. The show is described as follows, "Be Still. The show will be an exploration in movement, or non-movement as the case may be. The framing question is this: "What happens in the stillness of our lives?" Just as there would be no light without darkness, there would be no movement without stillness". So I chose a few of my paintings that reflected stillness or the nature of being still.

The highlight of the show for me was meeting so many friendly people and just being able to discuss art and the process of creating art. I shared the stage with two other Artists, John Acosta and photographer Robert Nelson. Both produce very interesting and unique work. John Acosta is an accomplished painter and also had one of his tile pieces on display, which got lots of well deserved attention. It can be seen in the photograph below.

Guests taking a look at some of my paintings

The Artist John Acosta, as a guest views some of his work in the background

Robert Nelson displayed a very interesting and unique group of photographs. His photo's have the quality of drawings and paintings and he definitely has an eye for composition.

The show will be open until January 9th. I want to thank several of my friends who made the journey out on a cold and snowy night to help support my work. It was great to see them and spend some time together. My wife and I had a great time.

Pin-up #10 - Melrose

2011-11-09T22:46:00.004-06:00

Colored Pencil on 100% Acid Free Cotton Paper

November 9, 2011

Pin-up girl #10 took about 2 hours to complete. Half way home in the pin-up project, just 10 more to go. All these pin-ups are for sale on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/owings64

Pin-up Girl #9 - Gun Slinger

2011-11-06T23:12:00.002-06:00

Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencil on 100% cotton 185lb paper

November 6, 2011

Almost half way home in the pin-up project, eleven more to go. The buttery smooth Polychromos pencils I'm using are really outstanding. Having the right tools is helpful and I noticed a significant difference between these pencils and lesser brands.

The paper I'm using for the project isn't bad either, it's 185lb hot pressed Italian cotton,. It holds color well and make drawing seem almost effortless.

This pistol packin Betty took me about 1.5 hours to draw and harkens back to the height of the western in the 50's.

Here is a short video clip I made while drawing this picture.

Fog - P.C.H. - By Olivia Wilder

2011-11-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

Oil on Board - Olivia Wilder

November 5, 2011

I don't often purchase artwork, not because I don't think supporting the arts is important, but because I am very particular and I want to pay the artist their asking price, which can sometime be a bit high for a guy with a family to aupport. I like a certain type of art and as the old saying goes, "I know it when I see it". And when I saw this painting I had to have it.

This painting was done by the artist Olivia Wilder. Ms. Wilder lives in Arizona where she also hosts a popular online radio show called, "Olivia Wilder Times". Among her many talents is painting.

Colors on the truck

Distant objects and mood are captured

This painting is so expressive and reflects a rare talent for capturing the mood. The fine shadow work and the light suggestive touch denote an artist who is truly skillful. After many years of practicing painting I have a deep appreciation for those artists who've mastered or more accurately those artists who've been able to take what the paint will give them.

Ms. Wilder pulls off a perfect blend of composition, mood and color. Her masterful work with distant objects and the delicate use of color illustrates a skilled hand and eye. The dark foreground contrasts seamlessly with the lighter distant landscape.

This painting is not overworked and as you can see int he close up of the telephone pole, the brush strokes are suggestive and don't try to dominate. They lead you in without pushing your sensibilities. The right use of yellows, greens, reds and grays help to lead the eye of the viewer to a believable scene.

This painting could easily be hanging in a fine art gallery, but it's now in my living room...awaiting the perfect frame. I like collecting the art of real, working artists, especially those that I know personally.

Next time you're thinking about hanging something on your wall I hope you'll consider supporting a working artist. It looks good, feels good and it helps perpetuate human expression.

Pin-up #8 Phone Caller

2011-11-05T15:07:00.003-05:00

Polychromos Pencil on 100% Cotton Magnani 7 X 10 185 lb paper

This drawing took about one hour to complete. This is after an Alberto Vargas drawing. For those of you who came of age in the late 70's and early 80's, Vargas did the cover of the Cars Candy-O album. Long before the Cars cover Alberto Vargas was creating fantastic pin-ups for Esquire Magazine and later Playboy.

Vargas is probably the most prolific of the Pin-up artists from his era and had a great talent for capturing the female form. I like Vargas' work very much because it doesn't try to be more than it is. Vargas was interested in clean lines, perfect color and composition.

At any rate, this is my tribute to Vargas. In some ways visual artists are like musical artists. We hone our craft by practicing and, "covering" other great artists. Much as a guitarist might try cover a Dylan tune, I try to cover/copy other artists. I'm not an art snob who thinks I have to be original in everything I do. Look, it's hard to be original and anyone who says it's easy is either a genius or they're lying.

In the end, my work won't be an exact copy of Vargas but in drawing from his work I can learn and perhaps understand his techniques. Just like any artist, I am practicing.

This original drawing is now in the collection of Ms. Maureen Matos.

Pin-up Girl #7 The Smoker

2011-10-31T23:07:00.003-05:00

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils on 100 lb Bristol paper

October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween. Black and orange, why not. Here is a blonde bombshell smoking a heater circa 1948. I completed this drawing in about 1.5 hours using colored pencils and blenders.

This original drawing is available for sale on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/owings64

Pin up Girl #6 - Sails Away - SOLD

2011-10-30T01:52:00.002-05:00

Farber-Castell Polychromos Pencil on 100 lb Bristol Paper

October 29, 2011

Pin-up No 6. A classy brunette in first class no doubt.

This original drawing is now in the collection of Mr. Charles McCann.

Pin-up Girl #5 The Talker

2011-10-28T21:44:00.000-05:00

Faber-Castell colored pencil on Bristol 100 lb paper

October 28, 2011

The Pin-up project has been slow lately. I'm getting over a cold and haven't had much time to draw or paint these days. I did find some time tonight to knock out this beauty though.

This one is from the original by George Petty. Petty was a prolific pin-up artist from about 1933 to 1956 and created art for magazines, calendars, posters, billboards and just about any advertising medium there was.

His pin-up's were highly stylized and used the angular lines of his figures to strike a unique composition. Petty had a wonderful and long career spanning about six decades and worked up until his death in 1975.

Here's a bit more on Petty and some of his illustrations.
http://www.americanartarchives.com/petty,g.htm

This original drawing is available for sale on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/owings64

Pin-up Girl #4 - Poolside

2011-10-22T23:23:00.000-05:00

Faber-Castell Polychromos on Bristol 100lb paper

This original drawing is available for sale on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/owings64

Pin-up Girl #3 - Dancer

2011-10-22T19:22:00.001-05:00

Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencil on 100 lb Bristol Paper

Saturday October 22, 2011

This is the third drawing in my pin up girl project. My goal is to complete twenty drawings. I've always liked the art of 1930's, 40's and 50's. Many of the pin up artists from this period got their start in commercial illustration.

Artists like Gil Elvgren, Art Frahm, Pearl Frush, Earl Moran and many others created pin-up girls for advertising pieces, calendars and postcards. They worked in places like Chicago, New York and even in good old Saint Paul for companies like Brown and Bigelow. The work ranged from wholesome to provocative, but very few then or now would argue the quality of the work.

If you Google pin-up art you're very likely to see some fantastic work. You'll probably see some of Gil Elvgren's work, considered by many to the best of the Pin-up artists from the era. His work is very detailed but has a particular softness. His subjects are expressive and if I had to describe and compare him to another artist from his era I'd say he's a bit like the Norman Rockwell of pin-up's. There are many books about Elvgren and his contemporaries, Taschen puts out some of the best.

This particular drawing took me about two and a half hours. The Polychromos pencils I'm using are very good. They have a nice buttery consistency but they're hard enough to get a fine point when needed. Faber-Castell Polychromos cost a bit more, but they are well worth the extra money in my opinion.

This original drawing is now in the collection of Ms. Maureen Matos.

Pin Up Girl #2 - Red

2011-10-16T20:51:00.000-05:00

Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencil on 9" X 12"

This drawing was completed in about 2 hours. It is the second in a series of pin up girl drawings I've been promising to do for a few years.

This original drawing is available for sale on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/owings64

Pin Up Girl 1

2011-10-16T13:33:00.000-05:00

Colored Pencil on 9" X 12" Strathmore 70lb paper

First in a series of pin up girl drawings and paintings.

Action Girl - Graphite Pencil

2011-10-16T13:25:00.001-05:00

Action drawing - Graphite Pencil on 9" X 12" 70lb paper

Just back from the local Fallcon (comic book convention). Yes, I'm comfortable admitting I'm a nerdy geek. I've been out of the closet since I was 12 years old, the year I admitted to my Mother that I was a Star Trek fan. At an early age I developed an obsession with comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, nerdy computer stuff and just about anything that falls into the category of geeky.

I read the Hobbit when I was a kid and was immediately hooked on fantasy books, reading anything I could get my hands on. Oh sure, I had normal childhood obsessions like baseball cards and GI Joes, but most of my time was spent reading comics and watching TV programs like Star Trek, Lost in Space and the Twilight Zone. In the context of the time, these were like supplemental lessons on morality, equality, humanity and humility.

Finding myself firmly placed in midlife has done little to diminish my love for geeky endeavors. So I still attend comic book conventions, look forward to Apples newest high tech device and refuse to change the channel if Lord of the Rings is on TV.

Naturally I felt right at home with these people at Fallcon yesterday.

The line to get into Fallcon

A group of costumed hero's

Iowa Hawkeye fans who wandered into the convention.

Some cool Roller Girls

Yeah, she's got a ray gun.

Legendary Comic Artist Keith Pollard

The Amazing Spiderman

Colored Pencil Drawing

2011-10-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

Blue 24 in Colored Pencil

94 Drawings and Paintings

2011-09-07T20:00:00.000-05:00

Practicing Art and the Fair

2011-09-05T00:12:00.000-05:00

City Landscape Study - Oil on Clayboard

Old House - Oil on Board

Male Figure Study - Colored Pencil on Canson Cream Paper

I always look forward to the Minnesota State Fair. It's great for all the obvious reasons like the food, people watching, exhibits and of course the smell of the livestock, but one of the very best parts of the Fair is visiting the Arts Building to see all of the fantastic work being done by Minnesota Artists. It is both enlightening and humbling. So many great works of art are created each year at the Fair and you really can get a feeling for the sort of talent and trends in local art.

Every year I say to myself, "Next year I'm going to submit a painting or drawing". And every year I find another excuse not to. Every year as the Fair comes and goes I wonder if next year will finally be the year. The honest truth is, I'm not too comfortable with rejection. Of course it ain't life and death, but when you practice art it's important. Maybe next year.

Here are a few paintings and a drawing that I've been working on lately. I'm trying to practice some different techniques with both oil and pencil. In these paintings I'm practicing some "rubbing out" of the oil paint before it completely dries. In both the cityscape and the house painting you can see where the paint has been rubbed out or removed. The house painting is not complete yet.

Framing Paintings

2011-09-03T10:20:00.001-05:00

Oregon Coast - Oil on Board

Landscape study - Oil on Canvas Board

I'd say about half of the stuff I paint or draw ends up in or is destined for the fire pit. It's often really bad or worse it's really, really mediocre. Although I believe I'm my own worst critic, I don't want any of this stuff falling into the wrong hands when I pass into the great beyond. Besides, when you're dead you don't even get the chance to agree with them, to say, "I know it's crap, how the hell did it get in front of you I meant to burn that years ago?"

All that said, there are those rare times when either I or someone I know happens to actually like a piece of my art. On those exceptional occasions I find myself in the dilemma of having to framing it. Choosing a frame for a piece of art can be a difficult and time consuming task. Luckily for me I don't have to worry about this very often. When I do need to frame something though, I tend to like the seemingly contradictory. For instance I like unique frames, but also traditional. I like found items and old thrift store frames. In a certain way my choice of frames is instinctual rather than practical. However, as the old saying goes, "I know what I like when I see it".

Some detail added.

Not surprising then, I selected the frame above for the Oregon Coast painting. It's unique, but in some ways traditional. It is very heavy, almost industrial and yet it has a natural quality. It has non-glare museum glass that stands about a half inch above the painting surface thanks to the unique standoff border in place of the more traditional matte. I think it turned out well and the framer did a good job of sealing everything up.

While most of my work will never see the light of day, let alone a fancy-schmancy frame, I recognize that after 40 years of drawing and painting, some of it is good enough to put in a frame, even if it is just for my amusement. And if I had any advice for my fellow amateur artists it would be to go ahead and frame your art once in a while and ignore your own worst critic. And what the heck, even if the critics think your art is crap someone out there among the 6 billion people on the planet will think it is brilliant... I like those odds.

Sketchbook Drawings - August 24, 2011

2011-08-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

Victorian Woman - Colored Pencil

Male Figure Study - Colored Pencil

Some oil paintings in progress

2011-08-22T22:17:00.001-05:00

Old Bridge - Oil on Board

A few oil paintings I've been working on during a break from studies and work. Nothing special here, just some practicing. I've been trying out some different oil paints and brushes.

I bought some oil paint from Holland called Cobra (which stands for the home cities of the founders of the paint company, Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam). In any case, it's nice paint and the texture is buttery. The pigments are strong and even though my work generally muted, it adds a depth to what I am painting. And best of all if you like the idea of easy clean up and no toxicity, this is a water based oil paint. I'd say it's on par or slightly lower than Holbein's Aqua Duo line of water based oils.

None of the paints required mediums but I use a linseed oil and turpentine. I use the linseed oil to stretch the paint and add some glazing effects. I use the turpentine to speed drying time, especially when dong plein air painting.

First Bank - Oil on Canvas Board

Whatever paint you use, it's really about technique. I haven't mastered any of them yet so I'm not giving any advice here, just sharing my experiences. For instance, I sometimes paint wet on wet, especially when doing plein air (outside) paintings. I've learned that contrast is important, but only in so far as it's believable. I try to do under-paintings so that I can "sketch" with paint and add some of the color beneath what will become a component of the painting.

It's all about shadow and light, regardless of the subject matter. If you paint in one light it looks flat, that's why lot's of plein air painters go out in the morning or early evening when shadows are cast and there's more contrast.

Sm Town Corner - Oil on Linen Board

Sketchbook Drawings - August 14, 2011

2011-08-14T22:50:00.002-05:00

Moss on the backyard tree - Colored Pencil

It's been a wet summer here in Minnesota and that means moss on the trees. Hard to get it just right, but this was my effort for what it's worth. And it's my sister Mandy's birthday, not just another birthday but a milestone birthday. It reminded me as we get older, we gain character. Like the moss on the tree, sometimes cloudy and rainy patches in our lives bring some unexpected wonders.

Happy Birthday MJ.

Old log in woods - Graphite Pencil

Sketch - Graphite Pencil

St.Paul Building Near Mears Park

2011-08-08T22:04:00.000-05:00

Oil on Canvas Board

This is an old railroad office building near Mears Park in downtown Saint Paul. I like the very large arched windows. Now apartments and retail space I can imagine this corner office was strictly VIP back in the day.

The light was hitting the building just right from the setting sun and as time ran out I had to paint faster and faster.

Drawing from the Sketchbook

2011-08-01T21:13:00.001-05:00

Graphite pencil on Bristol cotton paper

City Sketches

2011-07-23T22:01:00.002-05:00

Lakeview - Faber-Castell Colored Pencils

Some sketches from the sketchbook. These are sketches of paintings by Karen Jurick, one of my very favorite artists. These are small drawings done in a 5" X 8" sketchbook. I like working small as it has its own unique characteristics.

Back to bigger format drawings and paintings soon, but first I want to fill the remaining pages of this summer sketch book.

You can find Karen Jurick's at http://karinjurick.blogspot.com/

Cityscape - Prismacolor Premier Pencils

Graphite Pencil Sketch

2011-07-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

Boiler Room - Graphite Pencil

Still Life - Colored Pencil - Faber-Castell Polychromos

Some Buildings - Sketches

2011-07-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

A Small Modern House - Colored Pencil

House on a hill - Graphite Pencil

Small drawings from the sketchbook.

From the Sketchbook - Late June 2011

2011-07-01T23:26:00.000-05:00

A Potential Felon - In Pencil

A Potential Waterski Queen - In Pencil

Sketchbook Drawings - Landscapes

2011-06-07T22:37:00.000-05:00

Graphite - Shadows

Some simple landscape sketches.

Graphite - Park Path

Sketchbook Drawings - Landscapes II

2011-06-07T22:12:00.000-05:00

Graphite - Trees

A couple more sketches, one is a soft-graphite of some puffy trees and the other is an Italian landscape taken from an old painting.

Derwent Chocolate Pencil - A Walk

Sketchbook Drawings - Red Barn

2011-06-05T20:48:00.000-05:00

Graphite and Colored Pencil - Red Barn

After finishing this picture it felt like something was missing, so I painted the barn red.

Sketchbook Drawings - Migrant Worker

2011-06-05T20:47:00.000-05:00

Graphite Pencil - Migrant Field Worker

Picking vegetables in the fields. A migrant worker spends much of his or her day bent over, picking up the crops.

Sketchbook Drawings - Park

2011-06-05T20:44:00.000-05:00

Park Scene - Colored Pencil

Scene in the local park. Beyond the bushes is a lake. Sometime I'll change perspective and get the lake in a sketch.

Old Barn in Pastel

2011-05-30T22:42:00.001-05:00

Old Barn - Pastel

This is an old barn done in pastel, however it was more of a tree practice for me. I am really trying to work on various ways to add trees and other foliage to my work.

There are lot's of tricks to drawing and painting trees, but I'll admit that I don't really like any of those I've tried so far. It seems to be either too much or too little detail.

This drawing took about 5 hours and that is about 4 hours past what it looks like in my opinion. Maybe I'm being overly critical or just realistic about it.

Female Nude in Colored Pencil

2011-05-30T22:34:00.000-05:00

Female Nude - Colored Pencil

This is a small 5 X 8 colored pencil drawing. I enjoy drawing the human body and the detail it offers. Every body is unique and every body has interesting features.

I like the way the drawing came out and was satisfied with the final result in general. There is always opportunity to improve, but sometimes you have to just accept it when things you do satisfy you.

Trees - Colored Pencil Sketch

2011-05-30T22:26:00.000-05:00

Trees in Colored Pencil

This is another small sketch (5 X 8) I did the other day.

I am fascinated by trees. They have such great detail, much of it difficult to capture. This was just a practice drawing I did to try out some shading. It didn't work out nearly as well as I'd hoped it would. If you look at the edges of the trees you can tell where it obviously went wrong.

Not to be deterred by utter failure, I press on knowing that one day I'll get it right, if I keep trying. Yes, I do sign my bad drawings. It's a reminder to me that even practice has value.

Saint Paul - Colored Pencil

2011-05-30T22:18:00.001-05:00

Downtown Saint Paul - Colored Pencil

A colored pencil drawing of old Saint Paul. I sat along the Mississippi river walk and did some freehand sketching. What emerged was this glimpse of the Saint Paul skyline.

I was nearly done with this drawing when it began to rain hard and I had to duck under a building overhang. The rain was cold and the dampness seeped into my bones so I fled into the car, turned on the heater and decided it was better to finish this at home.

Male Figure Study

2011-05-27T22:47:00.001-05:00

Pencil and Oil Pastel on Acid Free Paper

A sketch of the male figure done with pencil and oil pastel. The basic sketch was completed with a Derwent Chocolate pencil, then I went over the highlights with a Sennelier white oil pastel. To finish the drawing I used a Sennelier transparent oil pastel.

Sometimes it's interesting to try mixing various media.

Sketch of a House at Night

2011-05-27T22:36:00.000-05:00

House At Night - Sketch

Detail

Sketchbook Drawings

2011-05-27T22:30:00.000-05:00

Small Nude Sketch 2011

Figure Study - 2011

From The Sketchbook

2011-05-22T22:45:00.001-05:00

Graphite Pencil on 11" X 14" Strathmore Paper

Took a break from painting to do some sketching in the sketchbook. Simple graphite pencil on heavy, acid free, cotton paper.

City Walk - Just started

2011-05-22T22:38:00.000-05:00

Preliminary sketch for painting

Just started this painting. Rough sketch and underpainting.

Under painting

Park Path - Redux

2011-05-22T22:34:00.001-05:00

Oil on Board

This is an oil painting that I renovated. There wasn't much that I liked in the old painting except for the tree. Consequently, I kept the tree but got rid of everything else. Before repainting, I used odorless mineral spirits to remove most of the old paint. I also scraped any remaining paint off with a palette knife, but left the tree in place.

Below is the original painting. This one is a slight improvement that could be much better in my opinion.

Landscape study - Pencil to watercolor

2011-05-15T01:06:00.001-05:00

The Pencil version of a farm scene

The watercolor version of the farm scene

This landscape began as a pencil drawing. I used Derwent Inktense colored pencils to do the initial drawing, then I painted over the drawing. This requires dipping the brush in water and painting.

The result is a darker picture that ends up a lot like a watercolor painting. It's fun to try new techniques.

Landscape study

2011-05-15T00:54:00.000-05:00

Landscape Study - Colored Pencil & Watercolor

Derwent Inktense pencils, plus various washes. Basically a water soluble pencil. Then I use brushes to paint.

Beach Sketch - Colored Pencil

2011-05-08T21:24:00.000-05:00

Colored Pencil Sketch 11 X 14

Simple colored pencil sketch of a man lounging on the beach. I used Derwent Inktense colored pencil's for this sketch. Spring has has recently sprung here in the frozen tundra of Minnesota and I look forward to the two or so weeks of summer (just kidding it's about three weeks).

It will be nice to take the kids to the beach and let them just run into the water and have some fun.

Coney Island Cafe - Oil on Board

2011-05-08T21:19:00.000-05:00

Finally got around to framing this painting. I used a back mat and a found frame (thrift store). I repaired and cleaned up the frame, which took almost as long to do as the painting.

The painting looks good in the frame I think. The light in the cafe seems to jump out and the glass in the frame adds just the right dimension.

Coney Island Cafe - Oil on Board - Framed

Leron - quick sketch

2011-05-08T21:13:00.000-05:00

Pastel Pencil - 11 X 14

Just a quick sketch in pastel pencil.

Driftwood in Oregon

2011-05-01T18:42:00.001-05:00

Oil on Canvas Board 6 X 10

Some driftwood on the shores of the Oregon coast. When the sunlight hit the wood it brought out some color and added some interesting shadows.

Boat on the Beach

2011-05-01T18:37:00.000-05:00

An oil study of a boat on a beach.

Some Recent Oil Studies

2011-04-24T22:35:00.001-05:00

Lloyds Backyard - Oil on board 8 X 10

Some recent oil studies of familiar subjects. The first is my neighbor Lloyd's backyard. It is overgrown since Lloyd is in his 90's and understandably does not like to do much lawn work anymore. He likes that it has basically gone back to its natural state. I like it to, because I have a little forest right next door.

The second subject is a lake scene featuring some boats. I liked the color in the water and the boats lined up near the building. I used a subject first painted by the English artist David Curtis.

The third study is of some local telephone poles. The light was hitting them just right and so I gave it a quick try.

Three Boats - Oil On Board 8 X 10

Telephone Poles 6 X 8 Oil on Board

Stream study

2011-04-21T19:26:00.000-05:00

Sketch Studies

2011-04-17T21:25:00.000-05:00

A pair of nude studies.

Minnesota State Capitol sketch study

2011-04-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

Derwent Pencil on Canson 14 X 17 Classic Cream 90lb Acid Free

Quick sketch of the Capitol building in Saint Paul. This sketch took about 20 minutes to complete.

Curt's House

2011-04-17T16:07:00.000-05:00

Oil on Canvas Board 8 X 10

Simple oil study.

Sketches

2011-04-17T16:06:00.000-05:00

Derwent Pencil on Canson Classic Cream 14 X 17 90lb Acid Free Paper.

Derwent Colored Pencil on Strathmore Bristol 100% Cotton

Saint Paul Sketch

2011-04-11T20:23:00.000-05:00

Sketch of Saint Paul on Yupo Polypropylene Translucent Paper. For this sketch I used various Derwent pencils including a Dark Wash 8B. Then I went over it with a brush, using a bit of water.

Female Nude in Oil

2011-04-09T19:06:00.000-05:00

From the sketch I did last week, this is a version of that in oil. It took my about 2 hours to complete this painting.

Holbein Oil Paint on 5 X 5 Wood Panel.

Bridge at sunset.

2011-04-09T18:49:00.000-05:00

Sun hitting a bridge, late evening. I was just practicing on some canvas board I picked up on sale.

Oil on board 8 X 10.

Female Nude Study

2011-04-08T21:44:00.001-05:00

Derwent Colored Pencil on Canson Classic Cream 90lb Acid Free Paper.

Female nude study sketch. Took me about 20 minutes to complete this drawing. This and the five drawings below represent some practice on sketching the human figure.

Sketch of a Boy

2011-04-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

Graphite pencil on Canson Classic Cream 90lb Acid Free Paper 11 X 14.

This is a simple graphite sketch. Took me about 30 minutes to complete this drawing.

Sketch - Child

2011-04-08T21:35:00.000-05:00

Graphite pencil on Canson Classic Cream 90lb Acid Free paper. A simple sketch for practice.

Female Nude Study

2011-04-08T21:32:00.000-05:00

Colored Pencil on Canson Classic Cream 90lb Acid Free Paper. This is a simple sketch, just practicing.

Older Man - Nude Study

2011-04-08T21:28:00.000-05:00

Pencil on Canson Classic Cream 90 lb 11 X 14 acid free paper. In this drawing I was practicing the sketching of the male figure with some shadow. I also tried some oil bar to add highlights. I don't know if people use oil bar on paper, but I thought I'd give it a try.

The Art of Jayne Hackl Seiler - Plank

2011-01-14T20:32:00.004-06:00

This is just some of my friend Jayne's watercolor work. For more of her art and her Art-A-Day project please visit:

http://jaynesartgallery.blogspot.com/

Leave her a comment and follow her blog if you like great art.

Bridge Study

2010-12-30T22:45:00.001-06:00

Blue Pastel Pencil on 8.5 X 11 Acid Free Paper

Study of a bridge done in blue pastel pencil. Not much to say on this one, just practicing the light and shadow work. This sketch took about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Drawings - December 28, 2010

2010-12-28T23:43:00.000-06:00

Derwent Colored Pencil & Oil Stick 8.5 X 11

Derwent Colored Pencil and Oil Stick - 8.5 X 11

A pair of nature drawings today. These are basic landscape drawings, but I wanted to experiment with some shadow elements as well as the oil pastel. In combination, I like the effects of the colored pencil and oil pastel. The pastel helps to mute the stronger tones in the color and is especially good for distant objects.

I really find trees fascinating. They have so much detail and character and there are no two exactly alike. I suppose in that way trees are like people. I bought another Derwent chocolate colored pencil because I'm almost done with the first one I bought. My son got me a gift certificate for a local art store. It was a really thoughtful Christmas gift.

In the solo tree below I wanted to work on texture and light. I wanted the tree to look full and vibrant. Again, I used the oil pastel to mute and highlight.

21 Days Of Art Video

2010-12-24T21:27:00.000-06:00

Day 21 - St.Paul Looking West

2010-12-24T19:45:00.000-06:00

Day 21

This is the final piece of art in the "A Drawing/Painting A Day Until Christmas" project. This is a drawing I did today using a Faber-Castel Oil pencil, Sennelier Iridescent Silver Oil Pastel stick and a Conte Crayon pencil.

First thing I did was layout the buildings using the Faber pencil. Then I applied the Oil stick in a semi-thick coat. Then I went over the layout using the Conte pencil. The camera bends the lines a bit, but overall they are fairly straight and I like the way the Conte and the Oil stick work together.

This drawing represents the final entry in my little project. I want to say thank you for all the people who visited my blog during the project, especially Jayne who supported the project every day. Thank you Jayne. Also a big thank you to Mark from Alabama who purchased one of the pieces already from my Etsy site.

Also a great big thank you to my wife and kids who put up with my art mess every day for the past 21 days and for their encouragement as well.

I'll be posting a video very soon which is a compilation of all the drawings in the project.

Day 20 - Old 3M Factory

2010-12-23T19:07:00.001-06:00

Old 3M Factory - Oil on Canvas Board

Day 20

All painting is practice and so is this. I was mostly satisfied with the subject matter, perspective and mood of this painting but not the contrast, balance or the detail.

Sometimes that's the way it is with oil paintings. I try hard to get things right, but inevitably fall short of my own expectations. It is frustrating.

One good thing about oil is that you can rework it. And sometimes the best thing to do is to just walk away from a painting for a while and come back to it later.

The subject for day 20 of the project is the old 3M factory on East 7th street in Saint Paul. A relic from the fast fading American industrial era, this place provided great jobs for a couple of generations and anchored a community. Now, like the era it is from, its days have come to a close. There is a big ugly green FOR SALE sign on it now and if you drive by it at night there are just a few lights on inside as only workers left are security guards who wander its empty halls and floors.

Day 19 - Parked Cars

2010-12-22T22:17:00.002-06:00

Parked Cars - Graphite Pencil on Canson paper (11 x 14)

Day 19

A pair of parked cars from another era. This is a straightforward graphite drawing done from a photo. Todays entry took about an hour. Not too much time to spend drawing today as I was out to do some last minute holiday shopping.

Yes, the Malls are packed and the people can be hurried and rude, but I still like mingling with my fellow citizens during the season. As a student of human nature, I find it fascinating to watch people interact. For instance there was a couple in their mid-fifties arguing about shopping and the women, who was clearly frustrated, turned to the man and said, "I just hate shopping with you," to which he immediately replied, "Then why did you drag me out here?".

I predict that man will spend some time in marital purgatory for his offensive query. First rule of shopping, never go as a couple if you can help it. Second rule of shopping, if you go as a couple, avoid each other at all costs. My wife and I have an unwritten agreement which almost always takes us our separate ways in a store. In the event we meet up accidentally, I try very hard not to ask her any questions which might even remotely provoke a conversation aka argument about what to buy.

For many men shopping is a task which should be planned, executed and concluded quickly. Unless there are big screen televisions involved, men rarely like to linger in a store. This invariably conflicts with the female of our species who view shopping as yet another in a series of important life experiences. Men who've managed to overcome their instincts to flee the housewares section at Target are lying to themselves.

Any man in a relationship long enough will inevitably have to face the day when he's confronted with a shopping trip with his significant other. If he's lucky she'll ask him to help her buy a car or pick out a computer. If he's unlucky he'll be asked to pick out paint colors or sheets. For any man who reads this, you cannot win and this is a trap. The best you can hope for is a tie.

In order to live through this inevitably frightening experience you need to prepare yourself by practicing your, "agreement lines". Say things like, "I agree with you, that looks great" or "Yes, perfect". But your best bet is to avoid the situation altogether by hiding in another part of the store.

This isn't a talent men are born with. It has to be taught to them either by some generous female or through hard won experience. For some men it takes longer and costs several relationships. It is however a proven method. One more thing though, it is almost certain that sooner or later she'll figure out what you're up to and confront you with a question like, "Why do you always disappear when we go shopping together?", to which your immediate reply should be, "You know I really love shopping with you because we're able to give each other our space."

Day 18 - The Old Maple in Winter - SOLD

2010-12-21T17:01:00.002-06:00

Day 18

In front of my house sits an enormous old maple tree. It is the grandfather of maple trees on a street filled with them. It keeps a silent vigil in the winter, patiently waiting for the spring to arrive. It is home to a good many squirrels and even more birds. In the summer, this tree with it's tall canopy, provides enough shade to keep the grass cool and green, but not so much that it hides the sun.

I love our old maple tree.

Today as painted it, I couldn't help hope it would be around enough winters to see my children and their children grow old. I don't know how long maples live, I suppose I could find out, but I don't really want to know. I just want to go on hoping it lives hundreds of more years. It deserves it's own portrait and so today I painted it.

This painting is done in oil on canvas board. The board is birch with a pine frame which I gessoed, then sanded. This painting was done wet on wet so I did not do an underpainting. I began with a basic sketch using a basic graphite pencil. Then I painted the background trees and the old Maple. Then I painted the snow, using lots of complimentary colors such as yellow and brown. I added a tiny bit of blue here and there to the snow because that's the way it looked today. Then I added the snow to the bark of the trees and finally I painted the background.

I used Holbein Aqua Duo oil paints and odorless mineral spirits.

This painting is now in the collection of Mr. Mark Stefanchuk.

Day 17 - The Motorcyclist

2010-12-20T20:46:00.000-06:00

The Motorcyclist - Derwent Colored Pencil on 14 x 17 Canson

Day 17

Just a few days left in the project. I am really enjoying the Derwent Chocolate pencil I bought last week. Just having fun today with this drawing. Meet the Motorcyclist.

Sometimes I go to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch the statues. I love the shadows on the marble and the way the sculptors worked the stone to give them life. Most of the statuary is Roman in origin and because the workmanship is so excellent, they've stood the test of time.

I can't really explain why, but sometimes when I'm at the museum I can't help wondering what the statues would like with various hats, helmets or wigs on them. For instance what if I stuck an Apollo era space helmet on David? I think it's okay to add some humor and spontaneity to your art sometimes.

With just four days left I realized today that I had done two paintings in the project so far. It isn't that I don't want to paint, I just have to have the right subject matter and mood to do it. Picking up a pencil is so much easier for me, but that's part of the challenge isn't it?
Tomorrow I will endeavor to paint something. No telling what I'll come up with, but I'll give it go. I don't have a quota for paintings or drawings, just to complete one each day for the duration. When I've had time, I've been able to do more than one drawing a day and I'll be adding those on the final day of the project as well.

Day 16 - Mans Face

2010-12-19T17:59:00.002-06:00

Derwent Chocolate Pencil on 8.5 X 11 Strathmore

Day 16

This is a quick sketch of a mans face. I wanted to draw this for two reasons. Firstly, this is an interesting face with lots of contrasting features and secondly I wanted to try out a new pencil. The pencil is a Derwent brand colored pencil made in England. It is a chocolate colored pencil #6600.

The pencil has a larger diameter than a standard pencil and a thicker lead which lends itself to a very nice feel. It has a smooth line and a nice buttery feel. One drawback though, if you notice the very tip of the nose you'll note some pink where I tried to add an erasure highlight. The erasure I used just seemed to smear and not really erase much.

At any rate I also completed another drawing today called "A Grandmother". I am including it here, just as reference not necessarily as part of the project. At the end of the project I'll include all of the drawings I did that didn't make the cut. At any rate I'm adding it because I had fun drawing it and I tried to use a variety of colors in the face.

A Grandmother - Pencil & Pastel on Canson

This pastel drawing took me about 2 hours to complete and involved a base sketch. Then I added some layers of pastel from light to dark. The light and shading needs more work, but it's a start and I think it captures the basic mood.

I think it's just fun to try different subject matter, people, angles, lighting. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life and so it is with drawing. The best part about drawing and painting is that it is almost always very, very fun. It is also something that can evolve with you. As your ideas or tastes change, so can your style or the subjects you enjoy.

One of the things I've learned as I've gotten older is that my art does not have to be perfect it just has to be. This works out well since I'll never be perfect at art or anything else for that matter. It's all a learning experience filled with wondrous adventures, big and small.

Day 15 - Barn In Winter

2010-12-18T18:21:00.001-06:00

Barn In Winter - Pastel on Canson Mix Media 14 X 17

Day 15

This is simple pastel drawing of a barn in wintertime. Someone who paints in oil once told me to avoid the "blue" sky whenever possible. When I asked him why, he said not only was it cliche, but it's often unrealistic.

If you look at the sky or just about anything in the world there are many more colors involved than you might at first perceive. One of the first lessons I learned with any art is to look closely at your subject, not just for detail, but for color, light and points of contrast. I'm very certain that lesson helped me become a better artist. In this pastel drawing I am just trying to capture the mood.

Tools of the Trade

2010-12-18T16:23:00.002-06:00

Various drawing supplies.

Any artist whose had enough practice will usually agree that the materials they use do make a difference. Balancing quality and cost can be tricky though.

Whenever I shop for my own supplies, I try to weigh the quality of the materials against the expense as well as my own limitations. For instance, I might like to use a very expensive Sennelier pastel, but the $5 a stick price tag often makes me re-think the purchase. Yes, it's true that the Sennelier pastel is probably the best, but I also have to consider my own artistic limitations and whether I want to spend that much while I'm still learning to use the media.

When I consider the proposition of purchasing any art supplies I always ask myself three basic questions:

1. Is this the best quality I can afford?

2. Does it make sense given my own artistic limitations? If it's not helping me be more expressive or producing better work is it worth it?

3. Will I use it?

I have seen artists create brilliant works of art with nothing more than a #2 pencil and others fall short using the best money can buy. However, if the materials are an extension of your abilities and you can afford them, buy the best you can because cheap is rarely quality and quality is rarely cheap. That said, here is my one exception to the rules above; I occasionally buy something different or more expensive if it's on sale because I want to try them out. Essentially I know that I might not use a box of iridescent pastels right away, but someday I'll want to give it a try.

Pastel pencils

General makes an inexpensive Conte like compressed pastel that I like to use for sketching. It's much less than the actual Conte brand and in my experience just slightly lower in quality. Also in this category is Prismacolor Nupastels.

I tend to spend much more on good quality pencils since I draw more with them than I do with pastels. After years and years of experimenting with different kinds of pencils for different kinds of applications here the ones I can recommend with absolute confidence:

Various pencils

Type: Graphite Drawing - Derwent Graphic (England), Caran d'Ache Grafwood (Swiss).

Type: Charcoal - Derwent Charcoal (England)

Type: Special - Conte (France) and Cretacolor (Austria)

Each of these serves a different purpose, but they are all very solid pencils and worth every penny in my experience. I also use the higher quality Faber-Castel PITT pencils which are also quite excellent.

Faber Castel PITT Pastel pencils

Since I mentioned Faber-Castel I should say that they probably make the very best pastel pencil I've ever used. The ones to buy are PITT PASTEL, which are also made in an oil pencil. Both are outstanding.

The PITT Pastel by Faber are smooth and not too chalky. The pigments are strong and that translates into vibrant colors. My experiences have been mostly limited to portraiture so I'm not sure about their landscape or other colors, but would expect them to be good as well.

I also have a number of pastel pencils that you can also use wet. You can add water to get various effects. The Nupastels by Prismacolor work wet as do the Derwent colorsoft pencils. I haven't tried the Stablio Carbothello's but I understand they may also work wet.

Erasers and other tools

Believe it or not the best erasers I use are the Paper Mate Pink Pearl eraser. They work great for most of the work I do and they're inexpensive. I also use gum erasers, kneadable erasers (very handy for charcoal) and the blue and white eraser which helps me with sharper edges.

I also use paper stumps and shapers for pastels. For larger charcoal drawings I use vine charcoal for the outlines than chunky charcoal for the rest. I also use drafters tape to tape off some of my drawings which gives them a nice clean border after the tape is removed.

I also use a variety of colored pencils. For years I used only Prismacolor pencils, but either their quality fell or other pencils just got better so that now I find more often than not I am using Caran D'Ache or even standard Blick colored pencils. They all work well. Also, get yourself a good blender as they can really make the difference on a colored pencil drawing.

Pastels and Colored Pencils

Paper

When it comes to drawing it's all about the paper. If you want your drawings to look good and last long then investing in good paper is a wise idea. I've spent as much as $30 on single piece of 20"x30" Italian Magnani, 100% rag, 140 lb paper. It was expensive, but well worth it. For my less ambitious projects I turn to sketch pads, both large and small.

I use the Canson Mix Media paper for pastel, pencil, charcoal and ink especially. It holds up well and accepts the media with ease. For purely pastel drawings I like to use the Strathmore Grayscale paper.

I also use a more expensive Bristol paper which accepts just about anything and is very nice paper. It has a nice tooth and comes in a variety of great colors. Which brings me to my next point. Don't be afraid to use colored paper because it's fun to see what it can do for a drawing...escape the white.

Paper

No matter what you decide for paper make sure it's ACID FREE. If it's not acid free you might as well toss it away when you're done because it won't last. If you're like me and you tend to save everything, there's nothing more disappointing than looking at a drawing you did five years ago and the paper has turned an ugly yellow.

If you like to sketch it's a good idea to get yourself some decent 8.5 x 11 paper. I use all kinds, as long as it's acid free, but Canson is my favorite these days and it won't cost you a fortune.

Finally, I know people who swear by a good drawing table and I have no doubt it works for them, but I don't own one. I use my kitchen table, a large drawing board or just the pad itself. I'm not too picky about the surface I use under the pad because I can find myself outside and again I just rely on the pad.

Since I also oil paint there are good reasons for me to use better materials in my drawings. If my drawings come out better it usually translates into better paintings. If I can match the colors in a study sketch it really helps when it comes to finally painting a subject.

Good luck with your art and please leave a comment if you have any suggestions or questions.

Day 15 - Ethan

2010-12-17T20:32:00.000-06:00

Ethan - Pastel pencil on 8.5 x 11 Canson

Day 15

This is my youngest son Ethan. He's five years old. He has an infectious smile and even though he never sits still, if I can get a quick photo it works out.

This is a straight forward portrait sketch, not too complicated. He said it was good so I suppose that means it passed the, "Ethan" test.

Day 14 - Rapid Robert aka Bob Feller

2010-12-16T21:52:00.005-06:00

Bob Feller - Graphite on Canson 8.5 X 11

Day 14

Bob Feller was a Major League baseball pitcher. He spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He was born in the small town of Van Meter, Iowa and was said to be able to pitch a ball more than 100 mph when he broke into the big leagues in 1936, he was just 17 years old.

Joe DiMaggio said of Feller, "I don’t think anyone is ever going to throw a ball faster than he does". Feller stayed with the the Indian's, despite opportunities to earn more in larger markets and with better teams. He won more than 20 games in six different years and amassed 266 wins in his 18 year career finishing with a lifetime ERA of just 3.25.

Feller said that even after playing for 18 years and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the thing he was most proud of was his 3 years of service during WWII. Mr. Feller passed away yesterday at age 92.

I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Feller when I worked for the Saint Paul Saints in the early 90's and he was kind enough to sign a baseball for me, which I will always cherish. He was a modest man who wanted to speak more about others than he did himself.

Today I wanted to sketch him. To remember him in the fulness of his youth. This is a simple graphite sketch on Canson paper. Rest in peace Rapid Robert.

Day 13 - Nude Studies

2010-12-15T21:02:00.004-06:00

Eve - Oil Pencil on Canson 90 lb 11 x 14

Day 13

A pair of nude studies for today's entry in the Drawing/Painting A Day Till Christmas Project. Not much to say about these. They are quick sketches done with a Cretacolor Sepia Dark oil pencil. They each took about 30 minutes.

Yeah, the male looks like he has a broken leg...weird. I didn't intend that and I am going to fix the drawing. I'll leave this version up and post the corrected one.

Adam - Oil Pencil on Canson 90 lb 11 x 17

Leg Repair

Day 12 - MJ

2010-12-14T19:49:00.002-06:00

MJ - Pastel and Conte on 90 lb Classic Cream 11 x 14

Day 12

This is my beautiful sister Mandy. She is one of my five wonderful sisters who make the world a better place. When you stop to think about how much you have in common with your siblings it's amazing. We have shared experiences that connect us forever in the most deep and meaningful ways.

Mandy is an amazingly special person whose managed to overcome many obstacles in her life and to create her own fantastic journey. She and I have seen things that would make social workers re-write the books on parenting :-). And yet through it all, over the many growing pains, hardships and trials that make up our youthful together lives, and later separate lives, we're still friends. These are things I sometimes don't express, but that I never forget.

On August 14, 1971 I was blessed to have her join me on the wonderful journey that has been our lives and I am thankful for her every single day. I love you MJ.

Now, about the drawing. I used a pastel pencil made by Stablio called Carb Othello for the base drawing. Then I used a Conte, which is like a compressed Pastel chalk but has a sort of crayon feel to it. The Conte is easy to work with and I enjoy its flexibility. I used Canson Classic Cream 90 lb paper which has a nice texture and grabs the pastels without spreading them too much. This drawing took me several hours to complete, but I loved the process and the subject matter :-)

Here is the base sketch:

Base drawing of MJ

Day 11 - Lonely Walk

2010-12-13T16:44:00.002-06:00

Lonely Walk - 8.5 X 11 Charcoal on Sketch Paper

Day 11

This is a charcoal sketch I did today which depicts 7th street in downtown Saint Paul during the snow storm we just experienced. The streets were impassable to anything but four-wheel drive trucks and suv's, but this brave soul decided to take on the blizzard by foot.

The city was just about deserted by late afternoon. In the midst of the most intense storm in decades, most people wisely stayed in their homes riding out the storm in safety. I wanted to capture it in photography so I went out in spite of the warnings from authorities. Fortunately I have a very good running Toyota 4-Runner, one of the most dependable vehicles ever built. I was able to go where others couldn't and take some interesting pictures. Here are 72 of them on my Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=102944&id=1245953354&fbid=1774367279403

I enjoy architecture and Saint Paul has many classic American examples of late 19th and early 20th century buildings. It was interesting to see the old buildings in the midst of the storm. I think this drawing sums up my mood today.