Buttnekkiddoodles

 
Two and a half hours of a gorgeous day spent drawing a rocky bridge with pedestrian passage in Lincoln Park. Other than the bugs and rapidly changing light, it was quite pleasant.

Drawn with a fountain pen, DeAtramentis Document Brown ink and Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Dual Markers on a Boorham & Pease Columnar Book.

got in about an hour and a half down at the Green City Farmers Market. Second time I’ve done a green only light study there. The day’s light provided dramatic light/shade contrast.
Made in the shade as they say.
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens on a ruled columnar book.

Orvieto. Did the layout and developed the buildings on site. Got to Milano and finally decided to switch from Fountain pen and Pitt Pen Markers to watercolor and lay in the landscape and clouds. Quite the clutz and a bit tight with that medium but this is the year I make a game effort to get comfortable with a medium I am really moved by and in the hands of so many artists I admire can have real zest.

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   It was extraordinarily enjoyable to return to Orvieto after 46 years since I first saw it. The majesty of the cathedral, Maitani’s facade, a the great, great frescoes by Luca Signorelli were as astonishing as when I first stood before them.

 
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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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.