Italy Sketchbook 3: Florentine Masterpieces

The next two from this sketchbook are from giants of the art world; they are ninja turtles, even: Michelangelo and Donatello.

Above is a sketch of Michelangelo's Dawn; it is located in the Chapel Medici. The vault where the statue is located is at the bottom of a few staircases. I remember it being really cold in the vault because of all the marble.

I actually got kicked out of the tomb, by the security guard, while I was working on the drawing.  There is apparently a time limit to how long you can be in the vault. It's understandable because the vault is kind of small and there are a lot of visitors.

Below is Donatello's St. George. I actually drew it from the bronze cast outside the St. Michael's, Orsanmichele, so it is not the real statue. I drew it in the alleyway where the statue originally stood. I got a lot of good comments about the sketch from random tourists and Florentines.

The original statue of St' George is located in the Bargello, which is where the next series of sketches in this book are from. 

Vampire Portait 9/29/12 - Chasity Black

So last week Saturday was Vampire Masquerade and again I played my Toreador and did portraits of the local players. I did two portraits that night and the first I am posting is the Honolulu Brujah Primogen Chasity Black.

The player's hair is not blue in real life. The player dug the blue so much that she honestly debated dyeing her hair.

This is a good portrait with a great likeness. I'm actually very happy with it.

HMoA Drawing Class 10/01/12 - Adele

Another Monday drawing class at the Honolulu Art Museum.

I felt I rocked the gesture drawings this week. I decided to only use a wedge sharpie and am really happy with how these are coming out. It figures, after countless experiments with art felt pens that range 3-5 dollars a piece; I chose the 85 cent sharpie.

That night I was running low on oil pastels. Both of the boxes I bought were lacking important colors Specifically the dark browns and the middle peach. So that is why you see the blue and the red start appearing in the drawings.

I think the top pose is my most successful of the night.

This life drawing class is on Monday at 7PM. It is located at the The Honolulu Museum of Art School, formerly the Academy Art Center at Linekona. There is a 10 dollar class fee.  

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."

 ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Woman at a Work Meeting

 I was at a work meeting. It was a training that was open to people who were not from the company. This woman was a mother of a special needs student who came to the meeting.

I really like this drawing. I used a G2 pens (10 and .38) for it. I like the texture changes and my cross hatching. I like the way I rendered the shadows of her blouse. I also like the simple outline of her extended foot.

Italy Sketchbook 2: Perseus

I really like the statue of  Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Cellini in Florence, Italy's Piazza Della Signora. After I did this sketch, I wanted to do a larger version of it.

I remember having a little difficulty rendering the dark bronze as opposed to the white marble. As I look at this sketch, I think it is because the piece is rather dynamic. I think this has a lot to do with the dark tones as well as the composition. I also enjoy the fact the subject is larger than the page, so is gives the sketch a cropped photograph feel. 

Timeless strength and majesty.
I was so happy with this sketch and this statue, I decided to do a larger more finished version. The larger drawing has already been posted. I have included it again below.

Montypes - Jason Dancing

So awhile back, I was working on a group of monotypes. I prepped the plate and watched a man outside doing something similar to Tai Chi, but actually seemed more like a crazy person dancing in the park. There was a frantic chaos to his movements. It was a lot of fun trying to follow him.

I thought these prints came out rather neat looking. Some of the figures look like calligraphy. I do like a lot of the line quality and the crispness of the prints.

I enjoy the fun of creativity.

Dennis

This is a great picture of Dennis. He my friend the wine connoisseur, erudite Cthulhu game master. Once a week, I split a bottle of wine with him as my friends gather to play his Call of Cthulhu game.

My favorite way to describe Dennis's Call of Cthulhu game involves another friend Ashlyn. Ashlyn didn't enjoy playing in the game, but insisted on coming not to play but to sleep. She wanted to sleep in the room because in her words the game, "Gave me weird dreams."   

Dennis is a great guy and interesting to talk too.  

Bonus: I did this drawing of him and was pretty happy with the likeness.