broken camera scans

I have 2 large canvases underway, but the real reason it's been so long since my last post is that my camera has been in for repair. In the meantime I was able to use the scanner to grab these two.

figure sketch from EAC class

colored pencils on Strathmore tan paper

copy of Madame François Buloz (1879) by Sargent

oil on Arches oil paper

plein-air tree studies in marker

black and red markers in sketchbook

Plein Air oil paintings

oil on board

These are my first 3 plein air oil painting attempts. I have recently had the opportunity (while the kids are in school) to run up to Skokie Lagoons on a weekday morning. These were all painted there, with the most recent at the top.

Male Seated Figure study from EAC

oil on 8" x 10" canvas board

This painting started badly. I had a large panel ready to go at home for this day and forgot to bring it to class. (My instructor has been urging me to paint larger.) I plowed on anyway and would up being fairly pleased with the result. I left his hand until the very end and ran out of time - he had it in a somewhat strange splayed position.

I did think it odd that he was posed with a shirt on, but no pants. I think Eleanor Spiess-Ferris liked the pattern on his shirt (which I didn't get around to painting).

still lIfe with apples, knife, and shallot

I worked on this still life in Ken Minami's class at Evanston Art Center.

After some procrastinating and tweaking at home, I am at long last calling it done.

oil on canvas

Plant Study

Plant study done at Skokie Lagoons the other day

pencil in Strathmore Toned Tan sketchbook

Giraffe, the Third

watercolor and colored pencil with touches of gouache in Holbein sketchbook

I finally finished the third giraffe in my series.

I got a lot of great photos last February when we visited Brookfield Zoo. They were indoors and very close to us.

This was a great experience in developing technique for rendering animals. I like the process of watercolor underlying colored pencil work.

Here's all 3 as they appear on one sheet: