Sketches on the tube and train in February III

Got on the transport again on Saturday. So, more people!




This guy above on the left was talking throughout the journey, I tried in vain to get his talking mouth.

EMOTIONS VII, 8" x 10", Sanguine dust/pencil on Museum Mount Cardboard, 2009

This is number 7 in my current Emotions series.






I recently sketched this guy in one of my previous posts.



These are some of the procedures I take when doing these drawings:

Here I have used the sanguine dust with a ghosting technique applied to the board with tissue paper and carefully I have used a an eraser to take out highlights as if I was painting with white.





Here I start to add detail with the Sanguine Oil base pencil, I like it because it doesn't get dusty and messy as the oil free version.

Joshua's First Hair Cut, 12" x 20", Mixed Media on Panel, 2009

Some events in life are common but worth remembering. One of them happens to be the first time I cut Josh's hair. He was a bit bewildered and didn't have a clue what was going on. The job had to be done and I can't say I gave him a good hair cut but that was the first time and it is worth remembering. I have improved on my barbing skills since then.




On this piece I have used mainly thin Acrylic washes, Biro and coloured pencil to temper some areas. I have also given it a kind of contemporary feel with a lot positive and negative spaces to enhance the composition and main figures.

Notable Links about my work

ROBOT NINE

Has commented on my other blog and he has chosen some of the transformations that have taken place there.




NU KYNK
Inspiring fashionistas to embrace the kynk

Has commented on my Afro Series.

Sketches of Students working on their final year exam II

This is the second part for yesterdays post. This group worked on the title "FREEDOM".
Ramie





Why are you working on this?
I chose to use the heart as a symbol and wrap ropes around it. (She was actually drawing from a rope placed in front of her to give reality to her piece.)

What do you like about Art?
It is an opportunity to express myself. It makes me relax and take my emotions out in whatever I do.

What do you like about your Art Teacher?
He is in touch with us, he can act like one of us.

Mohit






Why are you working on this?
I chose to work on a still life(a small object placed in the middle of two imposing bigger objects)- Then I abstracted it through many stages before I got to my final piece.

What do you like about Art?
Very expressive, there is always a meaning behind art, a meaning behind the painting.

What do you like about your Art Teacher?
They are both really good, they give us ideas. Very helpful. They don't patronise-do this...do that...They help when we need help or leave you if you are comfortable to work without help.


Clara





Why are you working on this?
She chose horses as she sees them as a symbol of freedom. She has been inspired by the artist Giacomo Balla. She worked in a futurist style to produce this piece.



What do you like about Art?
A way to express myself.

What do you like about your Art Teacher?
Really helpful, we have two here and they are really helpful.

Sketches of Students working on their final year exam I

I once went to a Plumstead Manor School( Art Department) to do a bit of research on what students like in an Art teacher in preparation for an Art Teacher Interview and it was really interesting. I sat in the class with them, chatted and then sketched some of the students working on their final year examination pieces. Each sketch had their name, the exam they were taking and what they were working on. It is so inspiring to be in the midst of young budding artists, the energy flow was just incredible in those studios. these studies were working on the theme "BOUNDARIES"
Even though this was done about two years ago, looking at these sketches brings back the memories to life again!

Delvina



Why are you working on this?
I chose to paint something around baby and wrappings so as to portray boundaries from this sense. It has an African Influence to it, as this is how most of the women carry their babies. It also shows a sense of security. (She actually had a baby doll tied round her which she painted from as her model didn't turn up)

What do you like about Art?
Being creative and putting a piece together from scratch.

What do you like about your Art Teacher?
Very helpful, gives advice, I have learnt a lot pf things from her.


Sam




Why are you working on this?
I chose to use butterflies the opposite of boundaries as butterflies are free and they have no boundaries(She worked on a large square canvas with a big painting of a butterfly)

What do you like about Art?
I like and enjoy painting.

What do you like about your Art Teacher?
Really helpful, my teacher is a painter and she really inspires me. Last year I couldn't paint but she showed me how to do it.

Almitra




Why are you working on this?
I chose the subject of bondage and slavery. How the Africans were enslaved by the Europeans. the chains denote boundaries. (She set up a still life which she was painting from- It had teapots /cups tied to African goddesses.

What do you like about Art?
I like painting, learning from other Artists, especially learning about their background information.

What do you like about your Art Teacher?
Very encouraging, She changed our points of view about painting and artists. She is very motivated and motivates us too. We all got good grades in this class.

Sketches on the bus in February II

I got two pages today and because there were no models in the first bus I got on, I sketched myself through the window reflections. This works well in the winter as the days are shorter and it gets dark quick, this now makes the windows so reflective from inside the bus that it almost gives a perfect mirror effect. I have done this many times in the past and would continue to do it this season when in a bus and there are no models.

Graphite Study Drawings of two lovely children. 13" x 9", Graphite/Oil base pencil on Watercolour paper, 2009

I recently posted sketches I did of these two lovely children and I have now completed the graphite study drawings in preparation for the painting and comments from their parents.




I have used graphite pencils and oil base pencils for this piece on a self sanded Cotman watercolour paper.




I tried to capture the boy in one of his funny moods and the girl with the spark of wonder, these are things I observed keenly in both of them, the day I went to sketch them from life.




Hope they like the studies so I can get down to business on the actual paintings.

Sketches on the bus in February II

More people, some more interesting faces. I even got one one man smiling and a bookworm diligently reading all the way through, above!

Sketches on the bus in February I

Just one page spread today but enough to keep my hands busy!



This is the link to my biro sketching kit

Norman Road, Belvedere, 12" x 10", Oil on Canvas Board, 2009

It started snowing on Sunday night just before I left church and it has only stopped snowing this morning. We don't always have this sort of snow in London so I decided to take the opportunity to paint a snow scene on the spot, something I have never done before. The only other time I attempted a snow scene, I only did a sketch, then took pictures and worked it out in the studio.





But today it was fun! Not too cold at the start as I was well geared up but after a while the numbness on my fingers started to ooze in and that was it!




I have worked on a cotton canvas stuck onto MDF board, in an Alla Prima technique. I used titanium white(Alkyd), lemon yellow, cadmium yellow light, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, viridian Green and Ultramarine blue.

WHEN I GROW UP.........12" x 12", Graphite on heavy watercolour paper, 2009

This is my entry into Week 21-22 in Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from different folks.
The reference for this challenge was a lovely Victorian house, it just reminded me of my dreams and aspirations while younger- I wanted to be an Architect but some how the Good Lord changed my plans and now I am an Artist!




I have used only graphite, my best medium, to work on this piece, the model is my son Josh and he kind of represents me and my ambitions of yesteryear's. His face is rather serious because I was very serious about my ambitions then that I got A1 (highest grade) in Technical Drawing in my High School days.....But alas it's sketch....., paint......, draw.... now!

I have also decided to use so many angles and cubic shape/shades to depict the influence of architecture on my drawing.

Sketches on the bus in January XI and a menu of freestyle heads

These sketches were done today and the menu of heads at a conference meeting I attended.




The free style heads are done more with a technique that I would say has improved my sketching the most over the years- it is called the "Blind Contour"- it is achieved by not looking at what you are sketching but just focusing on the subject and drawing the contour of the subject to the best of your ability and not letting your hand leave the paper! It works like magic! I think it trains the eyes-hand co-ordination which is so vital to sketching!

Sketches on the bus in January X

One page spread, but enough to keep the juices flowing... I got distracted by these two girls talking about guys that fancy them and all that kinda stuff.... It's amazing how much we used to talk about things like this when younger- it seems to be a big hot topic that never dies!

AFRO XXIV, 8" x 10", Mixed Media on Heavy Watercolour paper, 2009

This is number 24 in my current Afro series- another experiment- I started off by mixing the charcoal dust with some Liquitex Slow Dri Blending medium(Never tried this just looking for effects)I didn't do any initial drawing just attacking the paper with my brush as I would approach a watercolour piece. Then when it was dry, I added more definite drawing and tone to the piece with the oil base pencil. I then added some intermediary tones with cool grey and white coloured pencils.




The emphasis of this series is all about the beauty and variety you can get with natural black hair

The model is my little boy, "Josh" and that was when he had a bit more hair and was younger.