figure drawing

Here are some figure drawing images from last year that I think turned out well. These are all quickish poses, 20 mins max.

Sketchbook work from October 2024 2024, Ballpoint Pens on 5” x 8” (10” x 8” Double page spread) Sketchbook, Adobe Photoshop

Recent commission: How do women move forward when doors are continually closing in front of them? Doors that were open in the past are now being closed by those who think that you should live your life the way they do even though your life situation is vastly different from theirs. 2022, 13” x 19” Ballpoint Pen on Paper, Digital. Model: AmyM

Sketchbook work...

From a wonderful photograph by Mr. Georges Courreges.

Pastel pencil study of the intertwined hands of the Ambrogio Borghi sculpture, Chioma di Berenice. Faber Castell pastel pencils, Black and White Generals charcoal pencils on 9” x 12” Strathmore Toned Grey sketchbook paper.

Model: Meadhbh (Maeve). Bic4 Ballpoint Pen, Novelty 10 Colour Ballpoint Pen on Archival 9” x 12” paper

The lovely Ms. Taylor Hill channeling an Audrey Hepburn vibe. Reference photo from the Vanity Fair 2018 Oscars after party (Getty Images).

Escaping daily life through music immersion. 2023, Ballpoint Pen on 9” x 12” Archival paper.

My third attempt at drawing Ellie in her black turtleneck. Ballpoint Pen, ink wash on Moleskine Sketchbook.

Some LGBTQ+ members of the community can’t openly love who they want to love, so the bars represent that barrier. The fabric, with all its complex folds and creases represents sensuality, desire and love. Love, in all its forms is a complex thing of beauty.------------- The companion piece to my previous post ‘Ecstasy.’ Agony and Ecstasy were always meant to be a diptych. The issue for me is that there is a two-year gap between the completion of the two - there is a noticeable difference in the the way both were drawn. Faber Castell pastel pencils, Black and White Generals charcoal pencils on 9” x 12” Strathmore Toned Grey sketchbook paper.

A sketch of Naomi listening to some Blues (Johnny Hartman, I think).

2023, Ballpoint pens on 5” x 8” (10” x 8” Double page spread) acid free Moleskine sketchbook paper, Adobe Photoshop.

Last month's sketchbook work. Slightly wonky because I was kinda rushing it. 2023, Double Page Spread-5” x 8,” Ballpoint Pen on Moleskine Sketchbook.

Meadhbh with her long wild red hair all over the place. 2023, 5” x 8,” Ballpoint Pen on Moleskine Sketchbook.

From 2021, Meadhbh massaging her neck after a long pose. Red Bic pen drawing converted to black and white in Photoshop.

SteveO with his arms up. An old ballpoint pen sketch from several years ago. Red Bic pen layer converted to black and white.

An automatic drawing, everything is out of my head with only the briefest idea of a story line. I played around with shapes and lines and shading to see what affect would result. It was fun, but time consuming.

Binge-watched “Bridgerton” last weekend and paid the price for it all day Saturday. The drawing is based on my wife's picture of me on the couch sleeping off my bad decision. HB, 2B Staedtler mechanical pencils on 8.5” x 11” acid-free sketchbook.

Donna was one of our best models in Victoria, B.C..

Chandra was a wonderful model who posed for me in North Vancouver years ago.

This drawing, with a bit of watercolour, was done years ago in North Vancouver during a figure drawing session. Probably 15 - 20 minutes. Watercolour, subtly employed, can have wonderful affects. The challenge of working fast forced me to ditch excess thinking. And it's funny, because at first I thought, "Oh, this is terrible." Then the next day, with fresh eyes, or checking out the drawing in a mirror, I think, "Wow! How did I not see how good this is?" Never throw out your artwork immediately after a drawing session. Give them a few days and look at your work with fresh eyes.

A two hour digital figure drawing pose. Drawn from a video of a model for school. Time: 2 Hours Medium: Procreate on iPad.

Another sketch of my hand

This was a twenty minute drawing for a figure drawing sessions in Victoria, B.C..

A challenging media—Crayola wax crayons! A self-portrait: I find that I’m grasping for something that always seems to be out of my reach. I didn’t bother to enter the official competition because I don’t have access to the specific colour set that they specified in the brief. I did enjoy drawing this self portrait with a medium I would not have considered. An awesome change of pace!

Malik straining to keep the twisting pose. Decided to leave this one as a slightly rough red Bic pen sketch for now. There’s something to be said about the energy found in the work-up drawing.

figure study in pencil