pencil studies of Cleopatra from VMFA
03 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Art, Cleopatra, Drawing, free art lessons, human anatomy, VMFA Tags: Cleopatra, figure drawing, free art lessons, pencil drawing, roughs, studies, VMFA
about 4 hours in this study
This is conte pencil. I was still making corrections from the 1st drawing. I have a few ideas for finished pictures with this drawing. I’ll have to do some studies for the background to decide. It always takes me some time to make a picture because I have to go through these steps.
Child Picking a Fruit by Mary Cassatt
28 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Art, Impressionism, Richmond VA., VMFA, Women Tags: art, Child Picking a Fruit, Impressionism, Mary Cassatt, masterpiece, mother and child, nature, oil paint, VMFA, woman
Let me tell you why I love this picture.
This photo doesn’t show the colors as they look in person, but I hope you can see it’s a masterpiece. The painterly quality is sophisticated. You can see the brushstrokes on the skin, but they don’t make the baby’s skin look rough. She used greenish grey in the shadows on the skin. But the color mixing is so good that you don’t see green. You see woman and child as part of nature. You see her beautiful dress. The woman’s face is partly hidden, because the baby is the star here. It has a quality I call sublime because it has a spiritual feeling. When I leave the picture, I’m thinking about it later. Does the baby reach for an apple because of the symbolism of the apple in art representing knowledge ? Does it show the ideal ( lost in our age ), of mother and child as a special bond with nature ? Do you see anything this good being painted these days ?
The Heron Rookery / detail
24 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Drawing, free art lessons, Pastel, plein air, Richmond VA., the James River, wildlife, winged Tags: detail of a larger picture, free art lessons, Great Blue Herons, pastel, Richmond VA. Plein air, The James River
heron drawn at 1.25 inch
In nature you have to look to find the herons. You might not see them because of their grey color. so they are not the main focal point of the picture. I sent the image to my web master, so the finished drawing will show up on my web site soon. Tips for drawing at the pipeline trail , for safety’s sake :Either go on the weekend when a lot of people are there, or go early in the morning.
I’m trying to avoid the homeless, and many perverts that go there. They’re not as active early in the morning. But the birds are very active early in the day. Also watch out for ticks and poison ivy. Ticks will be bad this year, and the poison ivy is every where. I love the river, but a lady artist working in plein air has to be aware of those things , and take a friend along if possible. One great thing about Richmond is that it is a little wild right through the heart of the city.
For every thing there is a season…
20 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Art, art community, Education, history, human anatomy, humanity, Illustration, is it art?, life, modern art, muse, PA., sadness, York Academy of Arts Tags: art, education, pennsylvania, ted fitkee, york, york academy of arts
I am a graduate of the York Academy of Arts, York Pennsylvania.
Although not a large school, it was rich with the devotion and determination artists bring to their work. We were fortunate enough to be taught by “working artists” who shared their passion with us and encouraged us to find our own way.
It is with great sadness that I learned today of the death of Ted Fitzkee.
Mr. Fitzkee was an extraordinary painter, artist, and educator. With humour he guided us through our drawing and painting courses. He brought the best out of each of us. He encouraged us to be true to what drove us to become artists. He stressed the importance of treating Art as a business, one that could feed our bodies and souls.
I will always remember him walking into our Studio at the Academy with a ladder and saying: “Hi. My name’s Mike. I hear you have a ceiling that needs to be painted.”
Thanks, Mr. Fitzkee…for sharing your warmth, humour, passion for the arts, and for helping to make me the artist, both visual and performing, I am today.
Egyptian winged goddess on Mummy Mask @ VMFA
18 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Egyptian, mummy, VMFA, winged Tags: Egtptian, mummy, mummy mask, VMFA, winged goddess
I'm sending her to Shelby.
It’s painted gesso on top of wood. I think this is Isis.Feel better soon, Shelby, and come back to the ninnernet. 
The Headman by Paul Di Pasquale
16 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Art, Richmond VA., sculpture, the James River Tags: art, Browns Island, James River, Paul Di Pasquale, Richmond VA., sculpture, The Headman
This is a monument to the African Americans who built VA. through their hard work. Paul Di Pasquale is my favorite artist in VA. His figures are always strong, interesting, and in motion. You can find this sculpture on Browns Island in Richmond.
art that makes you say “what the ?”
13 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Art, art community, art critics, is it art?, modern art Tags: art, fakes, fraud, modern art
Glad I’m not the only one questioning stuff like this. Please, people , speak up if it doesn’t make sense, because it could be a massive fraud on the world. And the guys in charge are afraid of looking uncool. Here’s the link.
http://www.cracked.com/article_16107_6-best-shenanigans-passed
