Headed out to Garfield Park to meet up with a dozen artists from the Urban Sketchers Chicago crowd. Brought along a cluster of colored Pitt Pens but mostly went with the b/w monochrome. You’ll see evidence of fountain pen there as well (Visconti Rembrandt w/ Platinum Carbon ink).
Portraiture is tuff enuff and admittedly, I struggle with catching a likeness of the subject at hand. Even when I pose someone, who can hold still, and I have loads of time, I just as often run right into the ditch. I find it amusing that given an unaware subject (save the nudes scattered throughout) who may fidget, and leave at any moment, I have just as much a chance of capturing something essential about that person as I might were I to set up ideal conditions for portraying that sitter  as others might recognize them. So here is a wall of attempts to see what’s recognizable from rear and oblique views, when the person gives me little to work with. Clothing and posture may at times hinder or help convey the personality of the subject.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These sketches, done in public, often in transit, where drawn on a variety of papers – Utrecht and Cachet toned papers, Clairefontaine, and a preponderance of various ledger books. Michael Kalman has turned me onto the new series of sketchbooks by Stillman & Birn.  Drawn with a variety of inks from several fountain pen inks – Iroshizuku, Platinum Carbon, Noodler’s, Diamine,  Calli, to ballpoint (especially the Bic Bold 1.6mm, also like the Pilot Ageless), gel (Uniball Impact RT)  and rollerball pens. I make heavy use of  Pitt Artist Pens. The fountain pens I enjoy working with are – Pelikan 115, Pelikano Junior, Pelikan M205 Duo, Namiki Vanishing Point, Lamy Studio, Lamy Safari, Graf vov Faber Guilloche, Graf von Faber Classic, Faber-Castell Coconut Ambition. Occasionally I like using a bristle brush pen such as the Pentel and a couple made by Kuretake and Kaimei. Not to be forgotten is my darling little Ugly Duckling, the grease pencil.
Trying to stay in the fray. Out drawing a lot in cafes and at life drawing sessions. Felt a need to bring back a little color after working with predominately blue and black. Maybe that sparked me a bit as and I responded last night with some of my more relaxed nude sketches. Earlier work this month is in black and blue. Did take color pencils out with me but have too much fun with fountain pen and Pitt Pens.
 
 
  
 
 
 
OK, so not every drawing comes off so well even on a “good” day, even when you may have a good start. In the drawing above of the seated nude female, I was excited about a really fun pose with good props, I had 25 minutes and I decided not to play it too prescious. It doesn’t really destroy me if I don’t catch an accurate likeness as long as the features are structurally sound and/or the drawing has appeal be it vigor, compelling line work, something to hang your hat on, right. Well, this draw comes apart for me a number of ways but none more irritating than her right arm. Especially from the elbow to the knuckles, it feels wooden. Forearm is too short and there’s no suppleness. And it’s right smack dab in the middle. A couple days later, I got the color drawings at the top which I was much more encouraged by. I love the craft and fully appreciate the slippery nature of the command of it.
 
Woke early, made it downtown and into The Palette & Chisel by 7:30 AM, where I drew till 7 PM that night. Knocked out some sketching on the train to and fro as well. Opening drawing is DeLawn, hadn’t drawn him in many months. Brought a ton of stuff to draw with but wound up only using the black and grey Pitt Pens and a couple fountain pens gassed up with Platinum Carbon in my current ledger book. My figure drawing has been quite uneven as this post will bear witness to. Sorry if the images are not sharp enough. I’ve been photoraphing them with ahi-pod rather than scanning them on the hp because the ledger book is too large to fit on the scanner. Â 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Still fighting with artificial intelligence. Going in to the Apple Store where I hope two things happen. First, that they help upgrade my understanding and skills with this damn thing. And second, I refrain from insulting their company programmers who have added steps and inelegance to the method of editing a website. Super clumsy. I’ll accept that till further evidence that the bug brain in the works is me. I’m the dummy. Trying to get recent nude sketches and transit drawings on here but as I’ve complained for the last 3 post, it’s been frustrating. I did get advice from someone to just post to Tumblr, but I’m looking to make sales from this site one day, so I must adapt to or solve the system.
Love the paper in the ledger book I’m currently drawing in, tho the scale has pluses and minuses. Playing around with the usual suspects regarding pens and ink but something doesn’t seem tone clicking. Can’t tell if the drawings are any good. May need to throw a monkey wrench into the works and bulk up or change entirely the tools I’m using. Been attending sessions at the Palette and Chisel in anticipation of the New Year’s Day 12 hour life drawing marathon.
 
 