Once in a while

Once in a while, (for some unknown reasons, could be the alignment of the stars, or the breakfast you had 5 weeks ago),  you do a piece of work so strong to your eyes, that they become instant icons, or I should say a cornerstone of your journey. It's embedding all the qualities I've always wanted to put in a painting. It's the type of artwork that makes me jealous of other artists. I would have seen it a gallery show, and I would've said... "oh I wish I could do something as powerfully as that!" Well today, I take a rest and content myself with this piece. It's a proof of progress in this journey, and there is nothing sweeter as a feeling. Acquiring skills, this is what it is all about. Now... have to improve from this cornerstone!

 

Time Lapse Life Drawing

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.

Xu Hui

@ Home with Xu Hui #3

@ Home with Xu Hui #2

A private session, an average of 1hour per pose. My favorite palette, Phtalo Blue, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium red & Schminck English Venetian Red.

@ Home with Xu Hui

Me and Jin had Xu Hui for ourselves for a 3hours session. We did 3 poses of 1 hour each(more or less). It was very fun, and we'll surely reproduce the experience. I painted on 140lbs, 31x41cm with my new palette made of English Red, Raw Sienna, Phtalo Blue, with dash of Cadmium Red and Ultramarine Blue.

Again, Xu Hui

I've talked about her many times before. The way I feel used after a session with her. During break, she'll walk up to my easel, nod, sometime smile and simply walk away. She speak moslty mandarin, and I'm not really able to converse with her. So I don't really know what's on her mind when she see render of her thru my eyes. She might actually learn more about me than herself. I'm the one being really naked there. My sight stop at her skin, she must see far beyond mine. For this session I used Red Cadmium &  Phtalo Blue. I really like this combination and the range of grey in-between.

Loosing Mojo

I don't know what to think of my latest attempts. Even Xu Hui couldn't wake my senses. I'm loosing a freshness i had some time ago. At that  particular time, I didn't thought of having any freshness at all. Today looking back at my earlier work, is like a kick in the teeth. It's truly hurt to see stuff that you did but cannot do anymore. I expected a progression. Where am I going with all this. Maybe I should recenter on why I started it all in the beginning. The will to do a Graphic Novel, is the root of my affliction. I will be a restless soul until I fulfill my obsession. End of 2006... this is when it began. I still haven't done that graphic novel. 3 years, in the process of  learning, experimenting with watercolors. I think it's time to do it before I get disgusted. I'm getting super skilled at finding excuses to not start it; Not tonight, too tired, got this new video game, wanna watch a movie and so on and so on... the list is long you wouldn't believe it. But in the end I'm only cheating myself...

Xu Hui, Again.

The Muse

Xu Hui came back yesterday. All I wanted to do during this session, was to capture her elegance and grace. It wasn't so much in the watercolors, but more on the underlying drawing, i tried to exagerrate some shape to enhance that aspect of her body. I felt the necessity of adding outlines later when everything was dry. I really like the effect of the flowing curves around her silhouette. To my art, she is the perfect muse.

Double Trouble!

Not having enough of Xu Hui, we ask her to come with a friend, Zhao Li. To discover new ways of making mistakes. And it worked. Being not accurate when you’re drawing a single figure is forgiving. These inaccuracy haunt you as soon as you try to put down the 2^nd figure on the paper. Whatever you do, it doesn’t work. It took me some time to actually realize that the problem Was not the new figure, but the first one, to which the 2^nd relate to. It was a great session, as Xu Hui and Zhao Li know what we need, and delivered raw inspiration thru their natural beauty.

I've been used... again!

Xu Hui came back to our life drawing session. She worked her magic, and again we all started drawing better, how is she doing this? I have no idea, but this is no coincidence. We're not using her as a model, she is using us, playing with us and constantly challenging our skills by twisting her curves. That bring what's best in us out. For me, I think I've simply done the best drawing in my life. I barely never talk about my work in that sense, but this particular one, is simple, elegant and striking :). She helped me doing this, and I truly thank her. I used Holbein Ivory Black, and Payne's Grey watercolors, with my trusty Leonard #1 brush, synthetic fiber, for a great bouce, fixed with quills.

Xu Hui

Something strange happened today. While I was drawing and painting, I was like in a constant emergency mode, no time to think, no time to evaluate, just putting down the facts in front of me. The model, Xu Hui, has been very dynamic. Was I using her as a model, or was she using me as her painter? Did I saw what I wanted or did she show me the way. However, I have no doubt this was one of my best session ever, most of the painting were done in 5 minutes, the last one is a 15 minutes. I use Cobalt Blue, Raw Sienna, Cadmium Red light and Burnt Sienna.

Spattering

At first I didnt like this one, mainly because of the spatter at the bottom... it gives the impression of... something happening down there. :) Still I like it.

1st Singapore Life Drawing

It's been long, but we finally found a place, and some models where I could continue my watercolors and anatomy study. I will later explain the details, but for now, here are some result of 3 hours in my first Life drawing in Singapore.