Local Color!

As you know my primary focus is drawing but i do sometimes paint. I pulled this from an old file folder - two examples of my early ventures into observational painting, a series depicting some of the old homes in our area.  It's funny,  when I think of my work in general, I usually think of a light touch, subtle color, fine gradations, etc, much like  the one below. But when I pulled this red brick from a dusty portfolio, it's strength surprised me! All that color and action - repeated rectangles and writhing branches!

This piece below, much more the kind of stuff I would usually have claimed as mine, was my first successful attempt in that painting series. It hangs fairly quietly framed on my bedroom wall.

If you are familiar with my work, I'm sure you can see why I chose these subjects in the first place. Yes, I like old architecture (our own home was built circa 1840) and I particularly enjoy drawing gnarly old trees so the combination was just my cup of tea! I suppose, with all the emphasis on the tree, I could have treated the tree alone but I do love the interaction between nature's work and man's - look at the wonderful contrast between tree and house in color, shape, texture. Then, with the addition of those subtle repetitions of branch shapes as shadows on the facade! Who could ask for more?

"Bloom where you are planted."   Latin Proverb

"Those who will not start, will never finish."   Jack Adams

"Painting is easy,  getting it right is the hard bit."   Danny Byrne

Modeling Again

In my previous post I introduced a new model, a young lady who'd never modeled for an artist before. Now I want to talk about more experienced ladies, those who have been working for a number of years. Women who for one reason or another find themselves on the modeling stand a few years beyond the time you'd expect. I have seen many models who continue working beyond the prime years of early twenties who because of talent and experience bring more than a fresh body to the artists attention. They know the poses the artist wants, have trained themselves and their muscles to hold long poses, - they have what it takes!  

But I'm not talking about those! This group represents the other end of the spectrum. Each of the ladies pictured here were well over seventy when they "took the stand" for us. The first above, drawn with ballpoint pen, was a tall and truly elegant woman who I'm sure had been a fashion model.  She moved as if in heels and a long gown.  I didn't ask but I'll bet she had an interesting story.

The second, done with ordinary pencil, was a nice woman, very competent, - did a great job.  She obviously had modeled somewhere before. I don't know much more about her,  just the fact of her age .

The last, the one below drawn with Prismacolor pencil, was an "accidental" model. We'd had a regular model scheduled for the group and she was late. In fact, she never showed up that evening. We started to do what we usually do in that circumstance, taking turns doing short poses for each other (clothed!) when this "young lady" put down her drawing materials and volunteered to model for the evening. She'd modeled nude when younger she said and was sure she could still do the job. He husband was there, part of the class and he backed her up, saying she had modeled for him and would be fine. Here she is, well past the usual age for female models, doing her bit for art!

"There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle."  Proverb

"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter."  Jack Benny

"The secret of staying young, is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age."  Lucille Ball