The Wonder that is Waterhouse...

Due to book-illustration-deadline-craziness, I know I haven't really given a report on the incredible Waterhouse show I saw in Montreal -

- but the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has a terrific website covering many aspects of it here (the only downside, is that it only covers a smattering of the actual art included in the show).

(and you really should listen to Loreena McKennitt sing "The Lady of Shalott" to you as you look. This is an abbreviated, live version. You can also hear the full poem sung here. This show marks the first time all of Waterhouse's 'Lady of Shalott' paintings have been together in one place.)

It was amazing seeing so many of his paintings (and studies and sketches) in person. I was surprised at how much the finished sizes varied. From the ginormous Mariamne to the surprisingly small 'mermaid' paintings, and the teensy Miranda (which is nearly identical to it's larger version painted the same year: Miranda - the Tempest). It was also very interesting to see the progression and changes in his style and subject matter throughout his career.

The painting I enjoyed most in person was Circe Invidiosa - which I've yet to see any reproduction do justice to. The color and detail in this deceptively simple composition and limited-palette piece were just breath-taking. The green stream of poison was nearly iridescent in its vividness. (And I'd never really picked up that she was standing on a fish before.) The choices of which items were finished sharply with detail and which were left much more impressionistically were perfect. The warm and cool choices were perfectly balanced - nearly forming a yin/yang symbol. I am stumped for a better descriptor of this painting than all around *perfect* (not a reaction I had previously had to seeing small reproductions of this piece).

I checked out the accompanying exhibit catalog/book - but it was $60. And in French. So, if you want to read more comprehensively about the life and work of JW Waterhouse, might I suggest this very good offering from Phaidon (details here)?

Life is better with more Waterhouse in it.

(The show is up in Montreal through February 7th. Worth the pilgrimage is you can swing it).

And on to the next thing...

(from The Wind Dancers, published by Feiwel & Friends)

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The puppies are *finally* finished.

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Goodbye puppies.

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Now on to pickup trucks and County Fairs....

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Christmas Promo - Finish

There.

Now to spend one last session on finishing up the gazillions of puppy illustrations, and then it's on to book #10!

Sunday Sketching-

Happily, my Moleskine did show up (it had gotten shoved way under one of my studio cabinets), so Sunday-tiny-Moleskine-perched-upon-the-knee resumed today.

In other news, I must immediately return to work - book #9 interiors and my Christmas promo need to both be finished by tomorrow...

bye again...

Life Drawing -

"Draped figure" day at life drawing this morning-

We did a series of short poses of our long-necked, leggy model. I decided to mostly ignore the faces/hands/anatomy and focus on the drapery and folds. To see how much I could get laid in in the various scant 20 minute poses. Also tried out different densities of charcoal pencils, from hard to soft - which means I can either have more control or more value variance....

Made good use of "The Virgin Queen" soundtrack for background accompaniment.

Sunday Sketching-

Minor tragedy struck today. When I got to church and went to pull out my nearly-full Moleskine (and all of it's drawing accompaniments - pencils, pens, erasers, sharpener, tiny tin of colored pencils - all perfectly placed in a small 4x6 velcroed, cloth 'envelope'), alas! It was *not* in my purse. Dang. I've been carrying that envelope of drawing supplies around for over 5 years, and this mostly-Sunday Moleskine for nearly a year. Feeling kindof naked and bereft without it. Have looked all over in the car and at home, but it is nowhere to be seen.

I had to use my not-nearly-as-sensuously-surfaced Strathmore mini-sketchbook that was in my other bag. And scrounged a scratchy ball-point from the depths of my purse.... I don't draw in pen that often, so eased myself in by drawing drapery (baby blankets and leather jackets...)

By the time we hit Primary, I decided to attempt some pen faces (which I suck at. I am very eraser dependant apparently). Actually this is a very good exercise and I'm sure will help me be more precise in my initial laying-down-of-lines.

I just would really like my good, purse-drawing-kit pen.... :-(

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(My Moleskine does have my name and phone number in it. Maybe it will still return home).

Christmas Promo - WIP

The other thing I am squeezing in with all the puppy-painting:

It is sadly dragon-free, but I ended up liking where it went.

Must have it painted by midweek for the agents.