Woman Reading

Drawn this morning, from life.

Watercolor on watercolor paper, about 8"x12".

This sketch is an experiment with Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks.

I ordered three (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre and burnt sienna) to try and they arrived yesterday.

I haven't used these enough to judge them, but my first impression is that, combined with water and brush, they are fun to draw with and act like watercolor.  When used without the water, the effect is more like bad crayon.  Here's a link to a review of the sticks by Robert Sloan, an oil pastel artist.

Seated Figure In Violet

Drawn yesterday morning, from life.

Pastel and charcoal on approximately 9"x12" pastel card.

Woman In Blue; Woman In Stripes; Reclining Woman

 Drawn this morning, from life.

Woman In Blue is Tombow maker, ink and pastel on approximately 18" square Rives paper.

Woman In Stripes and Reclining Woman are pastel and charcoal on 12"x16" pastel paper.

Standing Figure In Yellow; Standing Figures

Drawn this morning, from life.

The standing gesture poses are pastel on 12"x16" pastel paper.

I was using some very old, very soft pastels that had apparently been through too many extreme temperature changes: They crumpled to nothing but powder as I tried to use them. It was frustrating.

Sad Woman With Red Hair; Woman With Red Hair, Reading

 Drawn this morning, from life.

Pastel and charcoal on 12"x16" pastel paper.

It's very cold today; in the 20s (F).  So cold that the model wore clothes and a coat to pose (normally, she'd be naked)--and the few artists who showed up wore coats to draw.