Spectrum Live!

 Spent a fabulous weekend in Kansas City at Spectrum Live!

(came back with so.much.swag!)

There is a little blog entry with my faculty that attended on the TLCWorkshop site -

and lots and lots of pics on my facebook page.

SO.Much.Fun!

You should all make sure you go.

Monday Music - Lime in the Coconut

Just got back from a *fabulous* weekend in Kansas City attending Spectrum Live (a full report will follow soon). Have been trying to think of a sufficiently celebratory song for the lingering elation... This isn't *quite* that, but close (and one of my favorite scenes from Practical Magic):

WIP Wednesday - Georgetown Atelier

I had the same view this week at the Atelier (extreme foreshortening!) -

This week, I brought a 'cheat' - a quartered plastic sheet clipped onto a frame that you can 'trace' the image in front of you with a dry erase marker (a la Betty Edwards - Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain).

I'd kind of forgotten about this tool - haven't used one for years (but I also try hard to not ever draw anything that foreshortened from life if I can help it!)

Hugely useful though. I didn't have to spend so much time referee-ing the knock-down, drag-out arguments that my right and left brain have when I attempt this kind of thing. It's generally paralyzing (see the incredible lack of progress with this same pose last week).

After lunch, we continued to discuss composition. This week, Root Rectangles -

(with example armatures on classic paintings)

As well as a discussion on Golden Sections - all aspects of formal composition I've never really studied before. So, yay.

*And*, I'd asked about our instructor's approach to line work (SO beautiful!!!) -

So, we ended the day with a discussion on his thought process behind his line and brush making. Looking forward to seeing if I can apply this stuff!

Music Monday - Farewell Col. Chris Hadfield

Astronaut Chris Hadfield has been commanding the International Space Station for the last 5 months. During that time he's been posting photos, observations, and videos about his experience. (His interview with William Shatner was priceless).

He is a pretty darn good musician as well. I love this joint-rendition from space and earth (with some help from The Barenaked Ladies):

Col. Hadfield returns to earth today. A few days ago, he posted a revised version of David Bowie's A Space Oddity... Quite poignant actually:

 Thanks so much for all the views from space, Col. Hadfield! You helped to make the earth feel like one unified place...

Sunday Sketching - Mother's Day Tribute

Decided to draw my mother in church today (engaging in her favorite activity).

 My mother is darling - elegant, kind of quiet, serene, proper...

That is, unless you get her in from of a camera!

 To be fair, she is posing for photo-reference for me...

 But, I am continually amazed (and rather tickled) at how 'in character' she'll get!

In the contest for "The Best Sport" award, I think my mom wins!

Thanks, and Happy Mother's Day Mom. xxxxx

Figure Friday -

 Costumed model today (3-5 minutes. Pretty creaky warming up...) -

 Lots of folding draperies to play with (10 minutes).

 15 mintues...

45 minutes...

WIP Wednesday - Georgetown Atelier

This week my easel was WAY over on the far side. Talk about adventures-in-extreme-foreshortening!

(Hurts my head, rather like perspective does...)  Made an attempt. Got a draw over (although, the teacher is enough taller than me that the view differed quite a bit) -

Nudged my easel and tried again. Several times. Boy! one's left brain really fights you drawing what you see in situations like this! I didn't get very far - but was a good brain-stretching exercise...?