Back to Basics....Life Drawing

Update:
I'm continuing to attend the Friday morning life drawing sessions at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center.  I'm finding that it's great practice, and I've started to concentrate on charcoal for sketching.  It has a lot of similarities to painting.  Meanwhile the sessions help sharpen the eye and built an awareness of proportions. 

2 minute poses- charcoal on newsprint

Charcoal on drawing paper  20 min pose

Life drawing   About 30 minutes

Studio study from photo reference  Charcoal on dwg paper

 Lately I've been feeling uninspired about painting.  It happens to all painters now and then I suppose, but its  an unpleasant feeling.  There's a nagging voice saying, "Get out there and paint!" and a whining voice saying, "I'm tired, and I don't have anything to paint anyway and besides....."  I was feeling just that way yesterday (Friday) as I sipped my morning coffee.  And then it occurred to me that on Fridays, the Sacramento Fine Arts Center (SFAC) has a open studio life drawing session.  I have gone in the past, but Friday's are a part of my work week and it's not always possible.  But I decided to find my drawing materials, get myself moving and get over there.  I'm glad I did.

Oh my, am I rusty.  I felt a lot of nervousness about the whole thing.   And I got there late, so I had the worst possible location in relation to the model.  And then there was setting up and deciding whether to use charcoal or conte or pencil or pastels or.....?   Yes, my "You can't do this! Who are you kidding?" voice was working overtime.  I can always depend on that old  faithful "friend" to show up.  I remember reading once that the louder the inner voice is yelling at you to quit, go home, cease and desist....the more you can be sure you're doing the right thing!

My figure drawing skills need a LOT of improvement, but going down there and drawing was exactly what was needed.  Not only did I spend three hours of much needed drawing practice but I felt so energized when I returned home that I spent another three hours in the studio painting a still life.  It was a good day.  I'll be going back to the SFAC for life drawing whenever I can.

We did a lot of quick sketches followed by some longer poses.  I think these were both 15 minute sketches.  Both are charcoal. 

My Art Site: Bruce Hancock Fine Art

Campaspe - Best in Show!

Well, talk about pleasant surprises!  I checked in with the Sacramento Fine Arts Center to see if my version of John Godward's Campaspe had been accepted into the "In the Style of the Old Masters" show at their gallery....and I found that not only had it been accepted, but it won Best In Show!

I'd love to take full credit, but obviously Mr. Godward created the beautiful "Campaspe" about 100 years or more before I even knew what (or who) a "Campaspe" was.  I thoroughly enjoyed copying  a portion of his incredible work...and maybe modernizing it just slightly, more from a lack of ability to copy his work faithfully than from a plan.  The work of these artists of the "classical" period has been unappreciated for a long time, but the more I learn about and study them, the more I am at a loss to explain why.  John W. Godward created a masterful work in every way.








My Art Site: Bruce Hancock Fine Art

Accepted! SFAC Juried "Celebrating California" Show

I'm pleased to say that my painting, "Final Rest - Noyo Harbor" was accepted in the Sacramento Fine Arts Center juried show, "Celebrating California."  The show is currently on-going at the Art Center.

Final Rest - Noyo Harbor    Plein Air oil on canvas  16 x 20

  The best in show award went to Steve Walters for a striking full sheet watercolor.  Steve captured an amazing sense of light and summertime.  It's more and more obvious to me that in paintings that stand out from the group, the artist has "captured the light."  As I look at my painting above, I see that I didn't do that.  When I started the painting, there was a very strong, clear morning light coming from the left that is missing in my painting.  In trying to think why that is so, I suspect that by the time I was bringing the painting to a close that light had changed to a general midday sun without real distinction.  Even in that case, however, I don't have a strong sense of light in the painting.  Something to think about and learn from.  There's so much to learn!  Wow, painting is such a challenge!

UPDATE: Sacramento Fine Arts Center "Ars Gratia Artis"

 UPDATE: December 2012:  Ars Gratia Artis is over for another year.  By all appearances it was a success.  A room full of excited ticketholders waited for their number to be drawn and a change to get one of the paintings they had put on their list of favorites.  I'm pleased to say that "Point Cabrillo Morning" was the second painting selected in the show.  "On The Edge" was selected a few selections later, but I missed it!  I think I was talking to a friend at the time!  

I selected a beautiful ceramic sculpture done by Diane Mattar.  I've been in several workshops with Diane and it was a thrill to get one of her works.  I'm looking forward to next year and a chance to get another piece of fine art at a catalog print price!  Don't miss out.    

I was pleased to donate two of my paintings for the cause this week!  The Sacramento Fine Arts Center (aka SFAC) will be holding its annual fundraiser entitled  "Ars Gratia Artis”  I have no idea what that means, but I do know it's a heck of an opportunity to get original fine art for a pittance....

It works like this....Members donate artwork to the SFAC, which then sells raffle tickets for $65 dollars each. At a reception on December 2, 2012 at 1-3 pm, tickets will be drawn one by one...and each purchaser will be allowed to choose an original piece of art.  There will be dozens and dozens to choose from.  You can see the artwork on display during gallery hours November 20th to December 2nd.  Don't miss this....!  

You can purchase tickets at SFAC, 5330-B Gibbons Dr., Carmichael, CA 95608.   You can also buy them online with paypal at http://sacfinearts.org/arsgratia.html  Or, if you are local, I have a couple of tickets available.  Email me and I'll get them to you.

Here are my donations....maybe you'd like to have one for $65?  Heck, the frame is work that almost!  Sign up!!

 

"On the Edge"  12"x 16" Oil on canvas Panel with frame

"Pt. Cabrillo Morning" 16" x 20" Plein Air Oil on canvas Panel with Frame