Green Gaze

Drawn from life, November 3.

Pastel over Tombow marker, brush and water, on 9" x 12" watercolor paper.

Cold Blue

Drawn from life, November 19.

Pastel over Tombow marker, water and brush on approximately 9" x 10" watercolor paper.

Seven Mattresses

Drawn from life, yesterday.

Pastel over Tombow marker, on 9" x 12" watercolor paper.

Black/Gold

Drawn this month, from life.

Pastel over Tombow Marker, on 12" x 9" watercolor paper.

Grey/Black

Drawn Thursday afternoon, from life.

Pastel over Tombow marker, on 9" x 12" watercolor paper.

Green/Gold

Drawn from life, this morning.

Pastel over Tombow marker, on watercolor paper, approximately 9" x 10".

Mirror Image One 2012

Drawn from mirror and imagination, today.  This is not a "portrait"--more like an impression/instantiation of feelings.

One great thing about self-portraits is that there is no worry about flattery.  Indeed, my self-portraits usually veer in the opposite direction.  This one could be called " Picture of Dorian Gray meets fun-house mirror."

Tombow marker and pan pastel on watercolor paper, 8" x 8".

Seated Brown; Reclining Grey

Seated Brown is pastel over Tombow marker on 8" x 8" watercolor paper.

Reclining Grey is pastel over Tombow marker on sanded paper, about 9" x 12".

Drawn from life, Tuesday morning.

Red Tendrils

Drawn this morning, from life.

The tendrils have their genesis in a faded blue tattoo the model had on her upper arm and under her left breast.  I think the swirls may have been intended to represent octopus arms.

I have considerably enlarged the swirls, colored them red and made them envelop her form.

Pastel and Tombow marker on sanded paper, about 9" x 12".

Grey Abandon; Red Abandon

Drawn from life, Wednesday morning.

Grey Abandon is Tombow marker on 8" x 8" watercolor paper.

Red Abandon is Tombow marker and pan pastel on watercolor paper, 9" x12".

NATURE WATCH:

First fawn of the season--almost captured in a photo. ( It's there, just blurry.)

Champion

Champion is Tombow marker and pan pastel on sanded paper, about 9"x12".

Drawn May 30, from life.

The model, Jean-Pierre, is also an artist.  One of his striking paintings (simplified here) forms the backdrop for Champion.

 

NATURE WATCH:

A doe alone.

Seated Figure in Red 1; Gestures in Gold and Purple

Seated Figure in Red 1 is pan pastels, ink and Tombow marker on approximately 8" x 8" sanded paper.

Drawn from life, Tuesday morning.

Gestures in Gold and Purple is pan pastel over ink and Tombow marker with brush and water on 9" x 12" watercolor paper.

Three-minute poses.   Drawn from life, Tuesday morning.





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NATURE WATCH:

A doe full of promise.

Purple/Red; The Lichtenstein Retrospective

Purple/Red:  

Drawn from life, two weeks ago, in Chicago.

Tombow marker and pastel on watercolor paper, 8"x8".

The Lichtenstein Retrospective:

While I was in Chicago, I attended the members preview of the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective at the Art Institute.

I was familiar, of course, with his pop art cartoon images painted large.  Like Andy Warhol's soup cans, Marilyns and Maos, these are works that have enlarged the vocabularies of fine art and commercial art and are part of popular culture.

Like Warhol, Lichtenstein had fine art training.  Over his long career, he painted and sculpted in many different styles and was able to return to certain themes repeatedly, each time with greater maturity and skill.

This is a fascinating exhibit.  I recommend you visit it, if you get the chance.
For Lichtenstein bio, see wikipedia.

For fun, click on some samples of Lichtenstein's unique takes on famous artworks,   here and here and here  and here

Nature watch:  Check out the photos at my other blog.

Pink/Blue

Drawn from life, this morning.

Pastel over Tombow marker on watercolor paper, about 3"x5".

 I just got a few new Diane Townsend pastels, three of which I used here..

This drawing has a watery, swimming feel, which has made me think of going back to painting swimmers in water.  I don't think I'll be suiting up, though, like the painters here.