Student Sitting on a Chair

Student Sitting on a Chair, Watercolor on Paper, 11" x 14"

"We live amid surfaces, and the true art is to skate well on them."
 ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Yesterday I was subbing over at Kailua Intermediate. This is a drawing of one of the students in the classroom I was in.

There is a spontaneity with this watercolor I really like. It also has a remarkable likeness to the student.

Rosemarie

Rosemarie, Watercolor on Paper, 11" x 14"

"Genius is the ability to put into effect what is in your mind.
There's no other definition of it."
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

So this is a portrait of a co-worker, Rosemarie.

It is regrettable she looks so serious in this picture, as normally she is so bubbly and full of joy. I happened to sketch this while she was reviewing some paperwork. Perhaps that was the reason for the dour look on her face.

I have been using a Goldenrod, oops it's called Spanish Orange, pencil to do the initial sketches. I really like how the yellow is leaking through in the highlights. I think it creates a neat effect.

Girl at Starbucks

"Art is beauty, the perpetual invention of detail, the choice of words,
the exquisite care of execution." ~ Theophile Gautier

I pulled this one together after doing a quick sketch at a local Starbucks.

The recent rain effected cable service making my home wireless spotty at best. So taking the opportunity, I did this sketch.

I do like some things about this painting. I was trying to show the face being lit by her computer screen while her whole form is back lit from the window behind her. I debate whether or not this worked.

I really like how I made the cup and specifically the reflection or refraction of her arm through the plastic cup.

Danielle Awakening

"The most potent muse of all is our own inner child."
~ Stephen Nachmanovitch

So this is one of many watercolors I hope to put up today. The weather out in here has been dreary and rainy. So much so it was hard to get a good images of these particular art works.

So there looks to be a proportion problem with the head and the body, but both are rendered well so I am unsure if it is very noticeable. It may also just be the perspective.

Monotype Profile: Matthew

Odd Fellow Meeting

"A work of art is a corner of creation seen through a temperament." ~ Emilé Zola

So tonight is a meeting of the Independent Order of OddFellows here in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii... As with any meeting in paradise, I took the opportunity to make a few drawings. Armed with a pair of ball point pens I began to sketch. Here are the products.

Erica #2

"Both body and earth are sacred." ~ Mathew Fox

So this was a drawing of Erica. This for a while was one of the opening drawings in my portfolio. I have since changed it. There is a real crispness to this drawing that I like.

Sumi Landscape

"The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery." ~ Anais Nin

So, this is a Sumi landscape, the art style is a tribute to my Japanese heritage. I sort of based this picture on the image of a wall scroll in my room.

Bamboo #1

So getting in touch with the Asian part of me.

In high school I took a few classes in Sumi painting it is difficult and takes an extremely high degree of skill to make thing look perfectly. There are just so many things that could go wrong on these. So after filling the house with these paintings. I have a few that were very good. Here is one.

The stamp at the bottom is a katakana name stamp from 8th grade we made from an eraser. heh

Drawing Class Portraits

SO here are 3 quick portraits from a drawing class I took. The first is Jonathan Busse one of the instructors at WCC. I posted a link to some of his works. A lot of landscapes and watercolors, very neat stuff. The bottom two were two students at WCC.