There is something about Tokyo

In a recent trip to Tokyo, I went to one of my favorite spot in Shibuya, to make some quickies. It`s the starbuck in the Tsutaya Building, on the 2nd floor facing crossroad. This is quite a view. The masses of people crossing the street, feels like fluids running one into another. Armed with a dip pen, some india ink, a sable brush and a small Pad, 5x7, New Soho 301 by Maruman. The challenge was there, people walking by, waiting for their light to turn green, sending SMS, or smoking. Often I had to finish the wash from memory remains, or using another model in the scene. I deeply love Tokyo, the culture, the food, the peoples. I cant nail it to word. There is just something about Tokyo... I feel refueled and full of inspiration everytime I drop by.

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.

Arrived in Singapore

We've freshly arrived in Singapore. Trying to find a place to rent. At the same time installing our new office. The last few months have been very difficult, but the hardest part is behind, and our new life is shaping up. Now I need to find a place to do some Life Drawings, I'm sure there are no Dr.Sketchy here. But is Singapore ready for such decadents activities :P. Only futur will tell.

Johanna Session #2

Magalie Session#2

Natasha

Following last week experiement with the fountain pen, I decided to crank up the difficulty level, and add some colors this week. I went there with a limited palette. I mainly used Venetian Red and Ultra marine blue with very light touch of Yellow Chrome and even lighter touches of Ivory black. The last week exercice, working with india ink only, helped me seeing value instead of local colors. Charles Reid is right, tonal value is more important to understand a shape than actual hue. Therefore you can make abstraction of colors hue and work only the value. I've read this a thousand time... but if you dont experiement it... you're doomed to fail.

Back in Asia

So everything is cleared, I will be moving back to Asia end of June. I will leave the pretty mountains of the french alps, for the sunshine and lush sceneries of Singapore. I've been very fortunate with my job and my family, to be able to travel around the globe. Following the advice of John Singer Sargent, "Above all things, get abroad, see the sunlight, and everything that is to be seen...". I'm very excited about it, painting outdoor can be done all year. Plus it's a very nice city, a lot of subject. Annecy is very nice too, but unfortunetly to many tourist during the summer make it quite difficult to find a quiet place to paint alone. I hate having someone over my shoulder talking about his nephew studying fine art in Paris. There are times I'm glad to carry an ipod. Anyway... end of June, Back in Asia, and very positive about it.