I’ve been teaching an expressive portraits class on Friday nights. In the first few classes we talked about common pitfalls including the blueberry pancake effect of features floating in the middle of a round face shape. We practiced how to measure proportions quickly, how to see the three dimensional aspects of a face, what makes a good reference photograph (or real life pose), and how to navigate your way through a difficult angle, such as the person looking up. After all that, I figured it was time to let loose a little. I had everyone grab some wet media and something to scribble with. I didn’t have any ink, so I made some with coffee and a bit of leftover clothing dye. My drawing tools for the evening were a chopstick and a paper towel. Other students used household tools like a mascara brush, garden sticks, and bamboo skewers. Hooray for adaptability! We all made a pile of portraits, and enjoyed a very fun evening while our portraits just got better and better.
For the expressive portion of our Expressive Portraits class, we drew some funny and seriously moody old fogies, including Marlon Brando and my puppy – the funniest character challenge of them all, and a playful way to end an evening.
Artworks by Mimi Torchia Boothby, Shima Bhamra, Sophie Frieda, Liz Hejlsberg, Katie Jo Keppinger, Kim Jackson, and Anne Walker.
We’ve opened this class up to newcomers! If you have some experience drawing, you are welcome to jump in for a 2 or 4 week slice of this ongoing portraits session. It will be great to see you!
I went to Smith & Vallee Gallery to pick up what was left of my show after sales. It was a rewardingly small collection, just a few pieces left. There is one painting that I can’t believe is still here – one of my personal favorites. It received compliments from the gallery owner, and was …
[image_with_animation image_url=”7812″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Fleur Cowles In dreams, what is supposed to be big is small, and what is supposed to be small is big. Forms shift and change, colors float. There may be symbols, narratives, things that don’t make sense. Or maybe everything makes perfect sense. You’re the one who knows. …
[image_with_animation image_url=”10288″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] We’ve made it to the end of our 30 Day Creative Challenge! There have been a lot of inspiring artworks posted on Facebook and Instagram. I’ve enjoyed making these, and seeing what is posted. For our last project, choose a SAL Challenge post someone else made, and make an …
[image_with_animation image_url=”9075″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Hiroshige lived from 1797 – 1858 in Edo (now Tokyo), Japan. He was a Japanese woodblock artist, one of the last great masters of the woodblock print. His brilliant landscape compositions found their way to the West (Japoniseme), influencing Impressionists and Post-Impressionists such as Degas, Manet, and Monet. …
Marlon Brando, some grumpy old fogies, and my puppy
I’ve been teaching an expressive portraits class on Friday nights. In the first few classes we talked about common pitfalls including the blueberry pancake effect of features floating in the middle of a round face shape. We practiced how to measure proportions quickly, how to see the three dimensional aspects of a face, what makes a good reference photograph (or real life pose), and how to navigate your way through a difficult angle, such as the person looking up. After all that, I figured it was time to let loose a little. I had everyone grab some wet media and something to scribble with. I didn’t have any ink, so I made some with coffee and a bit of leftover clothing dye. My drawing tools for the evening were a chopstick and a paper towel. Other students used household tools like a mascara brush, garden sticks, and bamboo skewers. Hooray for adaptability! We all made a pile of portraits, and enjoyed a very fun evening while our portraits just got better and better.
For the expressive portion of our Expressive Portraits class, we drew some funny and seriously moody old fogies, including Marlon Brando and my puppy – the funniest character challenge of them all, and a playful way to end an evening.
Artworks by Mimi Torchia Boothby, Shima Bhamra, Sophie Frieda, Liz Hejlsberg, Katie Jo Keppinger, Kim Jackson, and Anne Walker.
We’ve opened this class up to newcomers! If you have some experience drawing, you are welcome to jump in for a 2 or 4 week slice of this ongoing portraits session. It will be great to see you!
Expressive Portraits
Fridays 6:00-10:00pm PST
Join us!
There’s also a digital portraits class starting on Saturday mornings. Check it out!
Portrait Painting with Procreate
4 Saturdays 10:00-1:00pm PST
Starts this Saturday!
And now… puppies!
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I went to Smith & Vallee Gallery to pick up what was left of my show after sales. It was a rewardingly small collection, just a few pieces left. There is one painting that I can’t believe is still here – one of my personal favorites. It received compliments from the gallery owner, and was …
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[image_with_animation image_url=”9075″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Hiroshige lived from 1797 – 1858 in Edo (now Tokyo), Japan. He was a Japanese woodblock artist, one of the last great masters of the woodblock print. His brilliant landscape compositions found their way to the West (Japoniseme), influencing Impressionists and Post-Impressionists such as Degas, Manet, and Monet. …