Meet Geoffrey

A very nice session today. I'm quite pleased with the output. But the real surprise was after the session, when models usually run away. Geoffrey sat outside with us, and dived into the pleasures of alcohol & tobacco. Drinks in hands, we talked about a myriad of things. His traveling adventures, my blog, the inability of frenchmen to fluenty speak a foreign language. Later on, a thought rose in my mind. Our next session has already started, my next drawings of him are already in progress. But from the inside out this time. Quite a character he is, poised gentleman, polyglot, ex royal navy, master diver, cigar afficionados... He could have said 007 I would have believed it, but he prefered to qualify himself as... Kong Long.

A tough but rewarding session.

So, as you may know, I've opened up my private session to friends and other artists seeking the thrill of life drawing. Yesterday, a bunch of frriends came along, with Xu Hui. I've setted up the lighting and all. Unfortunely my currents skills doenst allow me to portay the dramatic effect we had. Another attempt, not shown here for ego reasons, blatantly failed when I tried to use strong colors. I got myself a bunch of watersoluble oil tube. It's supposed to handle exactly like oil, without the hassle of oil, no smell, easy cleaning with water and soap. I'll give it a try stay tuned.

Night Ambiance

French Ultramarine Blue, Phtalo Blue, Phtalo Green, Hooker Green & Burnt Sienna

Colored Lighting #1

Dark Complexion for Frazetta

I got this idea recently to make a tribute to Frazetta, my idea is to paint a Zulu Warrior (inspired by a TV show I was watching when I was kid... long long time ago). For me this hommage need to be grande, so It has to be the biggest canvas I've ever painted. Putting into it, almost, everything I've learned about the craft of picture making. I did studies, dust off my Bridgman collection, made capture of the TV Show, download hundred of pictures of the work of Frazetta. Eventually I started drawing. Then only I started panicking. I never painted a black person, succesfully. The skin seems dark, but in fact highly reflective, sligthly mosturized, it will make the darkest Senegalese bright and blue like the sky. I couldn't wrap my head around this complex problem. I looked at few frazetta for an answers, but in most case he relied on 1 or 2 colors with strong emphasis on value and reflection. But I dont want to go the monochrome way. On my desk I have a figurine of a Masai girl, and I started doing some test with her. I end up using alizarin, brunt umber, cobalt and ultramarine blue.

The figurine is done by Spencer Davis, look at his website.

Here is the Zulu himself, heavy and thick a la Frazetta. The paper is a full sheet of Arches Watercolors Paper. His right hand (too small at the moment will hold a spear). I will post my progress from time to time.

Life Drawing Session

Oye Oye!

Starting next week, I will transform my living room, into an art studio. I will conduct life drawing in the evenings,

and week end for the next 4 weeks. This will be open to the public at a rate of 25$ for 3 hours. This is not a  class, bring your own material(except oil and acrylics).

Different types of session are going to be available.

- Nude Long poses (3 poses of 1 hour each)

- Nude Various poses (1min, 5min, 10min, 20min.)

- Portrait (Dramatic Lighting)

Stay tuned, I will give details soon.

Xu Hui