Something Old

I took this figure study out of it's old frame today to reframe it for an upcoming figurative show at Aucocisco Gallery. I will also be showing my new portrait, Greta's Dark Self. This drawing is titled Matthew, and I drew it at a figure study group at The Academy of Carlo Pittore in the late fall of 1988. I chuckle at the word Academy: Carlo's studio was in a dilapidated old chicken barn. Never the less, we worked very hard there! The upcoming show is titled In the Spirit of Carlo Pittore, in honor of Carlo's birthday, May 14th, and a percentage of the proceeds will go to The Pittore Foundation which issues grants to figurative artists. Bowdoinham artist Susie Drucker and I are the curators, and we are both old friends of Carlo, who died in 2005.

Simple Conte

An hour long portrait study of Gwen in simple conte crayon. Sometimes it feels good to just go back to the basics.

Reworking Greta

Or should I say, Re-Greta? :^)

I've been working on finishing this portrait of Greta Bank for an upcoming figurative show, using the photo of Greta as a reference to resolve the drawing. The drawing is roughly textured and layered with paint and drawing media - mostly pastel and colored pencil. I haven't felt this free to work a drawing to this level of finish since working on some of my older self-portraits. It feels quite satisfying to do so. I hope that the composition stays strong and that the piece retains its power without my initial loose and expressive lines...

I rather like this...it reminds me of an early Lucien Freud, or perhaps a Stanley Spencer...