Another Figure Drawing

I found time again to draw last night. Although copied from a book (again), I was happy with the result especially with how I shaded the right knee/leg. I kept in mind the negative shapes and relative positioning I learned from past classes. Studies of anatomy and other drawings helped too. I'm looking forward to more time practicing. I have to work on how I do the shading.

Dinosaur and Human Figure

I was able to find some time to draw the last few days.

I saw this dinosaur sticker in my sons bedroom. The texture and the shadows made it a perfect for drawing practice. I left if unfinished as I wanted to practice more on the human figure.

I am proud of this human figure that I did last night. Even though it's not from life (I just copied it from a book), I was very happy with the result. This is the first time I got a result like this. Studying anatomy really does help.

Trying Portrait

I have watched videos and tutorials on how to draw eyes, notes, lips, etc but I have never really sat down and try to do it. I tried to keep in mind that I am just practicing and not trying to do a complete drawing.

Pencil on newsprint

I'm Back

Wow, it has been a while since I sat down and actually draw. It had been a busy past 2 months.

I didn't attend any art classes the past 2 months but continued reading drawing books. But of course there's no substitute to actually grabbing a pencil and draw. 

I've just heard about a very good artist Robert Liberace. Been inspired by his classical style of painting, drawing and sculpting human figure.

Hoping to draw and post more art works.

One Month Hiatus

It has been a month since I last posted. And this means it has been a month since I last drew or painted. Sad, yes but I had been very busy with other things.

I am ready to enroll in an Oil Painting class but it will not start until late September. In the meantime, got to find time to draw again.

Pencil Portrait

I had to take a break from acrylic painting and drawing still life. I found a magazine and started drawing portrait for a change. I wanted to see how concepts like shadow rendering and negative space applies when drawing portraits. It was a pain to prepare the grid but it was something I had to do.

More adjustments were done as I started adding shadows. I tried to be more careful on adding values but I believe I need lots of practice on simpler subjects. I am satisfied with the result even if it's not yet finished. Again, the objective is not to create a "masterpiece" but more on applying what I've learned and at the same time exploring the possibilities.

This is still a work in progress.

Today is the first day of the plein air session but I wasn't able to go because my son had a doctor's appointment. The session in weekly so I still have a lot of chance to go to even one session. The closer to the office the better since I have an 8am-5pm job.

Acrylic Landscape

I had expected that not everyone will show up in our Acrylic class since it was Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night. But I didn’t expect that only 2 of us will show up (+ the teacher). I wasn’t overjoyed because that meant for time for the teacher to critic my work. Eventually, I was able to look at it as an opportunity to get an almost one-on-one session with a professional artist.

Below, needless to say a work in progress, was my painting for last night. I was happy how the rocks turned out as it at least looks solid .. more work needs to be done of course. I am glad I attended the class since that’s the only time I pick up my acrylics to paint. Whenever I have time, I prefer just to draw since there as much preparation needed compared to painting. Also, with kids running around, it’s always a challenge to keep them away from the paints.

One more session left and I am on my own. Have to set aside some time to do acrylics.

Ginger Drawing

I was very excited when we got back from the grocery store. We bought some fruits and vegetables and this means more subjects for me to draw. The ginger caught my attention because it has lots of textures and that means more details to draw and more shadows.

I tried to remember what I learned from my drawing class instead of the usual "just draw and wing it". I blocked the major shapes and focus on getting an overall image of the ginger instead of working on details right away.

I started with an HB pencil and defined the lights and darks. I have been patient doing this one since I really wanted to apply what I have learned. I used negative spaces to draw the contour of the ginger and from time to time did some measurements. I move on to using 4B and 8B slowly building the shadows.

I probably should have sharpened my pencils to get more defined lines. I'll remember to do that or just have a sandpaper to sharpen my pencils. Anyway, I was happy with the result as well as having time to just sit down, relax and draw.

I wonder what I can draw tomorrow. But I am hoping to work on my acrylic painting. Let's see what happens.

Charcoal Drawings

As expected, I was able to draw yesterday but tried more charcoal this time. Using newsprint paper helps since I’m not pressured to create something good compared to when I’m using a more expensive paper.

I drew the trees upside down as it’s easier to move the charcoal stick downwards. I was feeding my son while drawing the tree keeping in mind not to pickup his food using the hand full of charcoal.

I wanted to do something different so I grabbed my art books and look for something I could copy. Now I know why one needs an easel. Putting your paper, especially a big one, on the table affects how you view the drawing. It may look good while the drawing is laying flat on the table but you’ll see the wrong proportions once you paste the drawing on the wall. But then again, I wasn’t expecting anything spectacular. The important things is that I was able to draw and learned something new.

I had more time so I decided to draw another one. I have a Lee Hammond book, Drawing Realistic Pets, so I just chose a drawing to copy. This is my first time to draw a cat and I found drawing fur challenging. I probably should have done some exercises first on drawing fur first instead of drawing the cat right away. The important thing is that the drawing looks like a cat and I believe that I was able to give it some volume.

I’m looking forward to the Plein Air sessions our art society is having from June to September. Although the sessions are scheduled on mid-day Tuesdays, I was able to have an arrangement at work so I could draw with the group for at least 2 hours each week.

Last Drawing Session

Yesterday was the sixth and last session of the beginner's drawing class I attended. The classes were 1 and a half hour but I leave early due to a schedule conflict with my wife's guitar class. Fortunately, both classes are on the same building.

Anyway, we had a vase, two bokchoy (pechay) and an eggplant. We spent the first few minutes deciding on how to do the arrangement. Of course, each one has his own preference.

I was using a lead pencil but decided to bring out my charcoal pencil to create a background and highlight some shadows.

Hopefully, I will have more time after work to complete this drawing or at least spend some time drawing.

So what's next? There aren't any other drawing class offered as a continuation. Fortunately, the art society where I am a member of is having Plein Air painting every Tuesday (mid-day) starting next week. Since, I have a full-time job, I will have to make special arrangements to make myself available for these sessions.

Charcoal Drawing

I set aside my lead pencils in the meantime and continue playing with my new charcoal. I have both a pencil charcoal and soft charcoal stick. With charcoal, I can create shadows fast but it's a challenge to erase mistakes. Plus I need big paper whenever I use the charcoal sticks.

In the last few days, I have been jumping from one media to another. Charcoal and pastel last weekend, acrylic last Monday (class), pencil today (last session of drawing class). I have yet to use the watercolor I bought and the oil tubes I received from one of the art society members who was kind enough to give away her old oil paints.

Acrylic Paintings

I just had another session of Acrylic class last night. That was the 6^th out of the 8 sessions but only my 4^th since I missed the first one and I didn’t attend one due to a conflict in schedule.

Although very slowly, I notice some improvements in my paintings. I have never used acrylic before so I was really clueless during the first session I attended. I was very conscious not to put a lot of paint in my palette as I don’t want to waste any. Each tube costs around $15.

My first painting was done in an Arches hot press watercolor paper. We were taught how to do a technique called glazing. Basically, laying one color on top of another to create the color effects. I’m happy with the result since I’m not expecting something good. The class is a place where we can experiment and get feedbacks from the teacher.

The second painting is a landscape with a house/barn. From this point on, the paintings are on canvas boards. I didn’t get to finish this one but one of these days I will come back to it and work on it again. The good thing about acrylic is you can paint over the colors (unlike watercolor). I am still waiting for that one good weekend where I don’t have anything else to do but paint. Well, I can try and give up of one of my movie nights/early morning (Friday and Saturday nights) and work on my drawings/paintings instead.

The third painting is a still life painting (flowers). I was able to accomplish more in this painting compared to the first two but I still need to adjust the colors and work on the flower shadows. This one, similar to the previous one is a work in progress.

The last one below is what I’ve done last night. Actually, it was more of a team-work with my teacher as he went around last night having quick one-on-one session with each of the student. From time to time, he grabs the brush from me and show me how to paint. Although I am very satisfied with this one, I have yet to do a similar one on my own.

Two more sessions left and the class will be over. As always, and a no-brainer, it is really the time spent practicing that’s more important. I have 5 spare canvas boards at home so I have no excuse not to practice.

Keep posted!

Pastel Still Life

I had a meeting last Tuesday in downtown Vancouver. It was a chance to stop by a DeSerres art supplies store and buy new stuff for my quest for excellence. I already tried charcoal and I was thinking of trying pastel next time. So I grabbed a 12-pc pastel set but wasn't really able to open and use it until Saturday.

I didn't have time to read through any books or tutorials on pastel but that didn't stop me from experimenting. It is through practice that I would learn anyway. So here are some of the works I've done ... not much but enough for someone who is just starting.

I didn't find any interesting object to draw except for the bananas we just bought. From time to time, my kids will stop by the dining table, where I was doing this piece, and grab a banana. So instead of 6 bananas, I ended up drawing only 3 of them.

I also tried drawing the bananas with other objects. Our homework in my drawing class is to draw proportions, so I need to find more objects to draw. I found a soda plastic and a cup.

I wasn't able to really finish the drawing as I was clueless on what color to use for background and foregound, how to use other colors to create depth and volume. I guess, it's time to hit the books again and go through some tutorials on pastel.

I used cereal boxes for these drawings. I have a bunch of them at home and I found them useful for pastel drawings.

Charcoal Sketches

I have used pencil and pen in my sketches and I wanted to try something else for a change. I browse thru the posts in WetCanvas (www.wetcanvas.com) regularly to see what other drawing enthusiasts like me have been doing. Some, after having used pencil for a while, try other media like graphite, charcoal and pastel for drawing. I felt that it may be time for me to take the next level and see what I else I can do.

Our drawing homework (see pic above) is to draw basic shapes (sphere, cones, cylinder) and render shadows to show the volume of the object. It takes a while to do these exercises using pencil. I tried using the charcoal pencil I just bought ... and broke the tip (about 1/2 inch long after the first drawing above). I didn't have a sharpener with me so I ended up using the 1/2 inch charcoal that broke off from the pencil. But this time I used its side to draw.

Wow, I was able to draw warm-up sketches in less time compared to using pencil (tip). I'll probably buy a charcoal bar next time.

Below is another study of the basic shapes and shadows.

It was fun drawing with charcoal for the first time. I was able to accomplish more in less time (which is all I have considering I have a full-time job and two young kids at home).
Stay tune for more charcoal drawings.

Landscape Sketches

Some more sketches. This time trees and landscape. I drew the tree outside our house. While the other one was from my imagination. Sketches are more relaxing since the objective is not to create a 'masterpiece'.

Sketches give more room for experimentation. I used a black ballpoint ink pen instead of the usual pencil so no room for erasures. Anything goes.

I had some difficulty adding leaves to the tree ... I wasn't sure if making the background dark will do the trick ... anyway ... time to find some resources on drawing trees.

I initially thought that using pen will be harder since I'll be committed to every stroke I make. I had fun and I was satisfied with the result. More pen sketches to come.

More Watercolor

Found 2 more watercolor works done more than 10 years ago. I just bought some watercolor paints, brushes and papers. Let's see if things improved after more than a decade.

Still Life

Watercolor Landscapes

Here are some more watercolor works I did more than 10 years ago. I was having a hard time painting trees and leaves. I did my best. I learned from some classes that you can't paint trees and leaves by just using greens. Again, something I need to practice. This was my first time to use Arches watercolor paper. I remember I was using Prang watercolor.

Beach ...

Life Drawing - (Old) Ayala Museum Garden

From a Postcard

(for some reason I can't rotate the picture)

DC Super Heroes

I found some more of my drawings/watercolor works from 12 years ago. These drawings were copied from my 'Superman - Peace on Earth' book or from my other comics (can't remember). As always, you improve your skills by actually drawing. I've spent more than enough time reading books and forums. It's about time to make more of these art works. Now ... where did I place my watercolor?




Marvel Super Heroes

These artworks were done more than 10 years ago. I was experimenting with watercolor that time. I like to draw comics superheroes so I thought of drawing and coloring at the same time.

I'll probably try and draw/color Iron Man, Captain America and Thor since they have been and will be out in theaters soon.

The Incredible Hulk

Xmen's Rogue

Library Sketches

I had about an hour to spare yesterday so I decide to stop by the library. I had my sketch book with me so I ended up doing 4 mini-sketches.

Quick sketches, in a way, are liberating as you are not forced to come up with a masterpiece. I was able to incorporate some topics I learned about perspective. I should do this more often.



Sketches with Ink Pen

Last Wednesdays lesson was about negative spaces. I was glad that I had time to sketch almost everyday last week. I tried an ink pen this time using cross-hatching for my shadows.

Study on Negative Space and sketches on volumes and shadows

More negative spaces. Kids' drinking bottles.

Our dining table and chairs using negative space.

Drawing trees for a change. Starting landscape ...

Some more drawings on volumes, shadows, perspective. Started with landscape thumbnails.

Landscape thumbnails some with studies on perspective.

More Portrait Drawings

I found more of the drawings I did 2 years ago. I probably need to try graphite and charcoal to see what I can do with them.

Sara Tancredi

Michael Scofield

Drawing Upside Down

During the 2nd session of my drawing class, we were asked to draw a picture upside down. The objactive is to draw the object as we see it and not what we think we see. There is a similar exercise in Betty Edward's Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book. I was surprised by the accuracy of the drawing I made.

Original Drawing

Copy - Drawn Upside Down