Pearl E. Gates





Our model this week was the lovely Pearl E. Gates, burlesque artiste, sparkling in crystals and lace. With her radiant smile and cascade of golden hair it was a joy to draw her!



Seated gesture

Reclining gesture

Joyful dance pose

 



Magnoliah Black

Our model this week was the lovely Magnoliah Black, star of Rubenesque Burlesque, decked out in her cutest Christmas finery.  It was a treat to draw her!



Argyle socks

Detail

 

Seated pose

Detail

Gold bow

Gesture

Umbrella pose

Wrapped in ribbon

Detail

Sarah Christine

Here's model Sarah Christine wearing a feather headdress and fringe.  Sketched recently at our Brentwood figure group.





Sarah Christine, kneeling pose

Sarah Christine, heroic pose

Sarah Christine, gesture one

Sarah Christine, gesture two



Sarah Christine, seated pose

Dutch Crunch

Meet Dutch Crunch of the Undead Betty's Roller Derby!  Sketched at the Brentwood figure group this week.  It was such a treat to draw this beautiful athlete, AKA Haley Barton.

 

 

Sketching Souzille

This was model Souzille von Schtupp (yes, it's a stage name) dressed as little red riding hood with a retro checked sun dress and a little white apron.  Sketched recently at the Brentwood figure group.


Pensive



Standing

Detail



Stepping up

Seated gesture

Seated gesture

More sketches of Aja

Looking like she just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel, Aja DeCoudreaux wore this elegant period gown to our Brentwood figure group one recent evening. 

 

White gloves

Pensive

Reading





Oktoberfest Figure Sketches

It was Oktoberfest night at our Brentwood figure group and fabulous models Aja DeCoudreaux and Susan Monson were dressed to polka!  Susan's character was "Greta on the Rhine" with a sultry, cabaret look.  So fun to draw both of them!

Susan Monson as Greta on the Rhine

Greta surveys the scene

Aja and Susan ham it up

Two frauleins

Greta puckers up






The Brushoffs Drawing Class

The Brushoffs are a group of artists who meet on Fridays at the Summerset Clubhouse in Brentwood, California.  They usually work on watercolor paintings with artist/instructor extraordinaire Sue Clanton, but this month I'm subbing for Sue with a focus on drawing. 

Today our topic was light and shadow -- how to see it, understand it and render it on a two-dimensional surface.  I started by demonstrating with a lamp to illustrate the different zones of light, shade and shadow an artist can usually expect to see.  Then we jazzed things up with some colored light bulbs and saw how the color and temperature of light can produce surprising, richly colored shadows and bounce-light.

Our first drawing project was a simple cube and sphere study with basic light and shadow effects using charcoal and white pastel on brown paper.  The artists then arranged some blocks and balls under strong lamplight and drew their set-up, considering the cast-shadow shapes an important part of the composition and carefully observing and rendering the subtle effects of light and shadow.  The results were really impressive!  Great composition, dramatic lighting and beautifully-rendered three-dimensional form.  Way to go, you guys!

Virginia

Zoe

Lilly and Linda

Pat and Sharon

J.J.

J.J.

Virginia

Zoe

Lilly

Linda and Lilly

Sharon

Pat's drawing





Virginia

Lilly

Linda

Zoe



 

The group's work

Linda's drawing



Virginia's study

Lilly's drawing

Virginia's drawing

Zoe's drawing, "A Square Peg in a Round Hole"

J.J.s drawing

Sharon's drawing