What a great start to the year

Well the Emma and Scott Wedding portrait is finally done. The photo is a bit dark, having taken it after work, but it is the general idea. The matting and framing is done, but they are on a beach somewhere and won't be able to get it to them for awhile.

We had a couple of slow days at work, so decided to play with the pastels again. I choose a photo taken by my granddaughter, Chrissy, of her husband and daughter fishing at Easter. Austin's face isn't quite right, hard to get nice shapes when points are great. I have to find a better method of sharpening them, Derwent sharpeners get dull quickly and just want to break the points off. Not bad for a study though...I'll keep at it.

Vince stopped by yesterday and gave me six portrait commissions. So happy, can really use the money for getting ready to head home for a visit. First young man is almost complete and two other are sketched out ready for detail layering.

Not bad for the first month of the year. I check out some art competitions to see if I could make up ideas for their submission base. There is one in Townsville that has to have some connection to its history, I want to try doing a portrait of my father in law, behind him his father and in the background a sheepherder to represent his great grandfather that was brought here for the job for a bloke in Townsville. I'll call it the "Road from Townsville". Another regarding Anzacs got me thinking about my family's military history, I'm researching different uniforms of all the wars my family has been involved in and titling it "My Inheritance". Another pastel is on the board for Springwood Show, Katie and her horse "Bo" hugging. Want to see if I can get muscling and hair with pastels.

Lots of ideas! Now time to do them all. Cheers... talk to you later.

Norman Lindsay Gallery's Life Drawing

What a wonderful four days to spend doing what you love! The atmosphere at the gallery grounds was astounding, the teacher (David Newman-White) was outstanding, the models were wonderful and the lessons were inspiring. This is worth everything you can do to attend. There were people there from Victoria, Queensland and all around New South Wales - 14 in all.

Day one - Graphite pencil, continuous line with reference artist being Kimon Nicolaides (model: Passon)

Foreshortening was a definate challenge! Passion was a beautiful model - wish I had more time with her.

Day 2 - Conte Crayon, light & shade, artist inspiration: Kathe Kollwitz, model: Natasha

Conte Crayon is not my friend, but it will be nice to learn control of pressure for different tones.

Day 3 - Willow charcoal, form & anatomy, artist inspiration: Lucien Freud, model: Rodney

Another medium to learn pressure for different tones. I loved Rodney as a model, would love to do character drawings with him. He is so versatile with his look. Wish I could have captured him better.

Day 4 - Willow and compressed charcoal, artist inspiration: Norman Lindsay, model: Berinice Doray

Another beautiful model and I am starting to get the hang of the charcoal. The top one we had to cover the entire page with willow then notch out the white with an eraser and follow up with compressed charcoal. That was fun and can't wait to do more.

All of the classes were very inspirational and my mind is racing to do heaps more. I definitely want to work up this quick sketches as well. I was scared at first because of never had taken a drawing class or life drawing before. There is a lot of studying I need to do on anatomy and measuring.

David is holding a portrait workshop in Lithgow each month from February to May with colour. I so wish I could do each of them, but there is only 4 spots in each, they cost $200 per session and I have to work every Saturday. Check out David's website at www.newmanwhite.com.au...he has amazing portrait pieces.

Bye for now...I am back to 12 hour days again, plus I have an essay due on the Renaissance for Monday.