Study of the Human Figure (when you don't have a body)

A lot of people, like me, cannot have the pleasure of live models posing at their whim. I know it is better to have that practical experience, but they are not lining up at my door yelling "draw me". There are some apps that can help with those days no one is around:

For my iPod I downloaded the free version of Randompose. The full version is only $4.49 at the app store and is made by Art and Mobile. There are over 15000 images of nude reference poses for drawing study that were taken from posemaniac.com archives. They are the muscles of the human body and the poses are challenging. I try to pick a random one each day to study some sketch ups. The screen is really small on the iPod for my eyes...so for my pc

I downloaded Kindle and bought the "Art Models 6: The Female Figure in Shadow and Light" by Maureen and Douglas Johnson. There are several version of these type of books, but this offers shadows and a good variety of body types. This is another daily exercise of picking one figure to work out.




The more practice you get at working out how the body moves and is shaped the better you can work out your compositions and figures for paintings/drawings/whatever. One day I use pencils to work on lines, and another charcoal to develop shadows and be loose with the composition. There will be a day I can proper studies, but there are at least alternatives for us busy artists to enlist.

As I said, I am practicing - never said I was good at it.


My hubby and I are researching about becoming one of the growing numbers of grey nomads roaming the roads in a caravan working when needed. I want more time to draw and sell, he wants to be able to fish at least once a month. The more we look into buying a home the more we know it could never be paid off in our lifetime to enjoy it. We have joined the Workabout Australia Club and looking into what type of "home" would serve our needs. The hardest part is figuring out what we can and cannot have in such a smaller space when my art gear already overpowers a bedroom. This may be my opportunity to put my toe in the art market, weekend markets, etc. I will definitely have more time for developing possibilities. It will be discussed more while we are on holiday in the USA, but this seems to be more a planning time than a question of doing it.

Don't forget about my new merchandise store...new content added daily.
www.cafepress.com/shops/CroftAngleArt
Any help to get us on the road would be greatly appreciated.

The Biz of Art

There has been so much being laid out for business that I have not done as much drawing as should have been accomplished. Currently Steptoe is on the block to add to the dog works for card production (plus the husband has ordered that I finally get around to drawing my own dog). Steppy is a jack russell/shitzu cross and our rag/bone man. For my American friends "Steptoe and Son" was the original British "Stanford and Son" of the USA.  

Some items that I have learned from the Art Biz blogs:
I have gone commercial.
If you would like to purchase merchandise with my artwork or artistic photography there is now a Croft Angle Art shop at www.cafepress.com/CroftAngleArt. The journals really impress me and will get some for my own inspirational writings and jotting down sketches while on the road. This is a link to the pug pen/ink drawing journal "Play with Me" - Journal Play with Me Croft Angle Art

If you would like to purchase originals or prints there is also the Etsy Store at www.etsy.com/shop/croftangleart?ref=pr_shop_more.  The "Angel Watching" original is one of the times listed for sale.

This week has been busy at the shop and getting us ready for USA trip. We are not as far as bags having items in them, but a pile of drawings and such is gathering around them to be packed. I am very much looking forward to family time and introducing Craig to my half of the world.

Keep smiling!

Art blogs lessons

To learn the business of art (much less the creation of the art) you have to know what is going on in the market, find inspiration, get practical tips and find what is out there to build the career you dream of. I try to read as many of these sites as the search engine can pull up for me to search through. Many say the same old song and dance, but there are exceptions to every rule.

1. www.workyourart.com
This site have an artist business online course that can be taken, but the blog is a tremendous resource for tips. The latest installation is apps for artists and another talks about the business tactics of the likes of Andy Warhol that I never would have figured him to have employed.

2. www.artsyshark.com
I just found this site through another art blog and finding it quite informative. It is put together for emerging artists and lists great career advice like selling your work, studio hazards and artist insurance options.

3. http://learntoart.wordpress.com
A blog by Miranda Aschenbrenner to help learn art. There are entries for inspiration, how to do an aspect of drawing/painting or business advice. The latest entries I've read are "5 practical tips to get your first gallery show" and "solutions to Online Art Sales".

The Easter break week has been hectic. The hubby was off work so we took a trip to Dubbo, servo has been busy and my fibromyalgia is acting up again. I did manage to get one piece complete, a larger version of Miss Molly for Karen.




I have the afternoon off and if I can get my brain out of fibro fog long enough hope to finish some pieces on the drafting table. It is so cold here I may just curl up under the donner and see if I can get this fibro menace to go back into the dark hole it came from.

One more month until homeward bound!