Buttnekkiddoodles

 
Dropped down to the main gallery at the Palette & Chisel after a morning life drawing session, to catch my friend Larry Paulsen give a demo on how he approaches portraiture with watercolors. An excellent draughtsman with a career of doing storyboards for film behind him, Larry now teaches at Chicago’s Palette & Chisel Academy. His classes are packed. Colorful as well as assured in his line work and  minimal layout, students are treated to clear and in depth description of process and the reasons for his approach. They’re also treated to a fare share of wisecracks and engaging stories about artists and their idiosyncratic methods.

the following sketches were from my morning studies that day.

 
I had the absolute delight to watch Lenin Delsol give a presentation of how he approaches portraiture with pastels. Lenin is a first rate draughtsman with an exemplary work ethic who has a long career as an illustrator and teaches at the Palette & Chisel Academy in Chicago.
Both knowledgeable and accessible he has a smooth and jocular personality that is perfectly suited to the P&C where his students may range from the advanced and professionals brushing up on their technique, to beginners with whom he is especially good at giving them the nuts and bolts of foundational skills and encouraging them that challenging techniques are within their reach. Especially appealing to me is how he deflates the nerve racking apprehension of learning a demanding craft with self effacing humor that stuffs the notion of genetic gifts of genius and pompous celebration of technical bravura. His relaxed manner assures all his students that one and all are humbled by the challenges of the craft and that joy, thorough investigation and perseverance are more dependable paths to creative and personal success.
Some of his fine work, as well as that of the other instructors at the Palette & Chisel are currently on display in the galleries on the main floor.

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Keep getting the message that this is a craft that requires constant, regular attention. Minus the daily commitment, the rust sets in.

      I don care how long I’ve been at this,   may have s baseline of ability, but it’s sub peak performance if my time commitment slides below 4-5 hours a day with daily activity.  
  This last page of two reclining figures is an example of how my anatomy is not sharp. the eyes on the yop, light skinned woman were too high up on her face and attempts to lower their appearance just thickened them but still dew her face out too long. Also her neck claviclar area was rich with structural information but I came up dhort there as well. 

The bottom figure is a rubbery mess.

 
A week of roaming and doodling. Great performances by the Civic Orchestra of Chicago with Eighth Blackbird ensemble.

 

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Head studies from cafes and public transit this past week.














Been running about, trips to my doctor who still see something in my tests he’s not comfortable with. Potassium numbers are up the down, same with PSA numbers. In guard about my kidneys. Anyway, mostly time to just grab brief sketches here and there.
Recent development that I’m excited about- joined with a new gallery. And that means I hope get back to working on a body of new paintings and drawings. Perhaps a lot less of the random sketching. More on that as it develops.