A work in progress...

The drawing I am currently working on is in pieces and parts all over the studio: once all of the separate elements are finished, it will all be attached (by various adhesives and thread) onto a larger piece of paper. The overall dimensions will be about 60 inches high and 44 inches wide. I do not have a title yet - I just refer to it as The Dryad. Below are photographs of The Dryad in progress (click the images to enlarge) - here is the tree:

The center of the composition is rendered in gouache and it will be embellished with tiny colored glass beads:

A detail of the gouache painting:

The apples (a branch on the tree):

Background landscape:

I am still working on a couple of other drawings that will make up the rest of the imagery.  I suspect that the entire work will take another 4 to 6 weeks to complete, if not more (the beading takes a while). The challenge with this drawing is trying to visualize and resolve the separate parts so the piece works as a whole once it is put together (I like this challenge: one of the aspects of drawing that I truly enjoy is the problem solving).

My main studio distraction over the past few days has been with framing a drawing that will be in an exhibit of works on paper - more details about that show coming up in a couple of weeks.

Share Your Thoughts...Take 2

I really thought I was done with this drawing. After having this piece professionally photographed, I had the opportunity to look at it on a smaller scale; of course I had taken pictures of the drawing while it was in progress, but only with my point-and-shoot and not with a polarized filter and correct lighting. The accurate smaller-scale photographs revealed there were value and spatial relationships that were not working as I had intended.

After a couple of weeks of denial and hiding the piece (from myself) in my studio, I had to spend a few hours pushing and pulling values to get this to where I wanted it to be…and I think I can now say that I am done.

And so here she is, reworked and once again photographed:

(Detail photos of the drawing are on my flickr page).

I am currently working on a new drawing - this one will be layered and sewn together with beading and perhaps a little something more; I am still considering some new ideas to finish the piece.  What I like about working in pieces and then tying it all together is that it gives me some spontaneity with how the artwork is finished. Here is a detail:

More in-progress photographs to come soon!

Share Your Thoughts...

Several of my new drawings are now properly photographed: Share Your Thoughts (The Sibyl of Online Commentary)

Graphite and 12K white gold leaf on Arches hot press watercolor paper, 64 x 42 inches:

This is a sibyl for the comment sections of online news sites and blogs: the places where many people share their opinions, but few listen.

 

This is a large drawing – the figure is slightly smaller than life size – so here are detail photos - click the thumbnail for a larger view:

 

Next up:

Selfie (We Create Our Own Mythologies)

Graphite, acrylic, color pencil, and 22K gold leaf on Arches hot press watercolor paper, 30 x 22 inches

A detail photo - click the thumbnail for a larger view:

And, a drawing that I posted a few months ago is now properly photographed:

I’ll Be Your Mirror

Graphite on Arches hot press watercolor paper, 31 x 27 inches

This drawing is an allegory on art making.

 

A new drawing/painting/beaded piece is well underway in the studio, and I will post some in-progress images in a few weeks.

The opening reception for my exhibit at The McGraw Gallery at Newark Academy is on Thursday, September 12, 2013 from 6 – 7:30 PM.  A collection of my traditional graphite drawings as well as gold leafed pieces are on display, so please feel free to drop by and see the drawings in person!

Lead and Leaf

The end of summer is approaching - so time for a quick studio update!

I will be exhibiting work at the McGraw Gallery at Newark Academy during the month of September:

The reception is Thursday, September 12 from 6 - 7:30 PM

More details are on the Newark Academy website.

I have been busy in the studio this summer and a trip to the art photographer is scheduled for next week, so new work will be posted soon! A quick detail view of one of the pieces that I will have photographed next week:

"Selfie (We Create Our Own Mythologies)"

My snapshots of the two most recently completed works are a bit lousy - thanks to the highly reflective gold leaf on both drawings - so I will wait to post the finished pieces until I have nice photos available.

For now, here are a couple of new Strange Tales ...

Strange Tale #40: Dancing With The Ever-Elusive Muse

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto Arches hot press, 10 x 10 inches (a much better flickr view is here)

Strange Tale #41: The Snake Charmer Realized That She Had Met Her Match

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto Arches hot press, 10 x 8 inches (a much better flickr view is here)

Strange Tales #37, #38, and #39

The South Orange Maplewood Artists Studio Tour is a little over a week away and I am just starting to organize and prepare some of the pieces that I will have on display. In addition to drawings completed over the past year, I will also have current works in progress, giclée prints of many of my drawings, and an assortment of my sketchbook drawings.  Here are a few of my recently completed Strange Tales sketchbook drawings:

Strange Tale #37: Theodora kept her wicked words precariously balanced at the tip of her tongue

Pencil on Moleskine sketch paper, 5.25 x 3 inches (For the flickr view click here.)

Strange Tale #38: She Could Think of Ten Reasons to Celebrate

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto  Arches hot press paper, 8.75 x 8.75 inches. (For the flickr view click here.)

This drawing will be part of TEN: The Soul of SOMA, a group installation piece by artists who have participated in the South Orange & Maplewood studio tour. This will be on display at the Pierro Gallery in South Orange as part of SOMA: Engaging Art, which runs from May 23 – June 22.  The gallery opening for this event is this evening, Thursday, May 23, from 7 - 9 PM.

And...

Strange Tale #39: The Death of an Artist (for A.)

Pencil and glass beads on Moleskine sketchbook paper, stitched onto Arches hot press, 14 x 12 inches. (For the flickr view click here.)

The 10^th Annual South Orange Maplewood Artists Studio Tour is Sunday, June 2^nd, from 11 AM – 5 PM. This self-guided tour is free and open to the public. A map, as well as more information about the event is available at the Studio Tour website. If you are in the area, drop by and say hello!