figure

Graphite on sketch paper.

8x10 white charcoal on black paper.

Hand and drapery sketchbook drawing. This combo never gets old for me. Faber-Castell PITT pastel pencils, charcoal pencils on 9” x 12” Strathmore Toned Grey sketchbook paper.

A "longer" colored pencil drawing, took about 4 days, 6.25" x 6.25". What originated from a moment of frustration turned into me staring at some flowers in our house, and then into the drawing I now present. The piece's original purpose has shifted, and hey, that happens. I'm not sure what I'll do with it now, but I'll figure something out...

Overwhelmed...started as a little tiny sketchbook sketch and turned into my statement about recent events. It complements my previous post "Fevered Dreams." Bic ballpoint pen on archival 9” x 12” paper, scanned into Photoshop where the text overlay was added. Model: Jose

Another drawing of Meadhbh in my sketchbook. 2023, Double Page Spread-5” x 8,” Ballpoint Pen on Moleskine Sketchbook.

Page from my sketchbook 2023; gouache and white gel pen

Love of my life caught in a contemplative moment in a Midtown NYC coffee shop. Ballpoint Pen on Archival 9” x 12” paper, Adobe Photoshop.

This is a section of a very large drawing. The entire drawing was a massive doodle that could be used in a children's book one day.

A few drawings/paintings from my class this week. I like to work alongside my students.

First real art of the year. It took longer than I wanted but I love how it came out. Guess that's what happens when you put time into your projects - go figure. Just a little Copy Cat art from a beautiful, innocent, charming film - Ponyo. What's your favorite Studio Ghibli Film?

Autumn is a peculiar time, I suppose. It's one of the prettiest times of the year (in my opinion) and one of the most mysterious. I'm not sure what it is that leads to it, but my mental state always shifts dramatically during this time, not always in the best way. I don't know. The transition is darker and murkier.

Quick sketchbook portrait of Yolanda. Bic4 Ballpoint Pen, Yellow Micron pen on Archival 9” x 12” paper.

A little bit of an issue with the foreshortening of the figure. Model: Meadhbh (Maeve) 2B Pencil, Soft Charcoal Pencil on 5.5” x 8.25” Moleskine sketchbook.

Nat checking her email. The polar fleece blanket colour and texture didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. Bic4 Ballpoint Pen, Sanrio Novelty 10 Colour Ballpoint Pen on Archival 8.5" x 11" paper

Bronwyn lounging on the leather Barcelona chair looking bored. I really don't like drawing feet, which is why I forced myself to draw her feet.

From a snap of me sitting in the waiting room. Pencil, Charcoal Pencil, Pastel Pencils and white Prismacolor pencil on 9” x 12” Strathmore Toned Grey sketchbook paper.

Bic4 Ballpoint Pen, Sanrio Novelty 10 Colour Ballpoint Pen on Archival 8.5" x 11" paper. Inspired by Charles Dana Gibson’s “Woman: The Eternal Question” (supposedly a drawing of his muse Evelyn Nesbit). I’ve always loved Gibson’s loose, graphical penwork. Working hard to be more ‘loose’ with my pen drawings. Model: Meadhbh (Maeve)

Meadhbh massaging her neck kink after posing. Bic4 Ballpoint Pen on Archival 9” x 12” paper. Model: Meadhbh (Maeve).

Playing with some experimental media while drawing from life with my students last spring. Gearing up for new sessions in a couple weeks.

Bic4 sketchbook drawing of my hand.

Meadhbh standing in front of a green wall. Simplified her hair and the leaves in the background a bit. Charcoal and pastel pencils on 9” x 12” Strathmore archival sketchbook paper, scanned into Photoshop. Model: Meadhbh

A drawing that turned out better than I expected. Two hour seated pose. Pencil, Charcoal Pencil, Pastel Pencils on some weird pad of paper I found in my closet.

Currently exploring image making with fountain pens: immediate mark making, no pencil, no eraser. I'm enjoying the discovery process and embracing the stray mark made with semi-blind contour and continuous line drawings.

Taken me a while to finish this one - not feeling very focused lately. Also, I restricted myself to using Bic’s yellow ink, which is way more vibrant than the cheap 10-colour ink click pens that I usually use.

Where do I begin with this one? This is a drawing of my dad and I; the picture was taken back in 2006, a happier time, I suppose. I don't commonly think about my dad, I don't necessarily think about how much I miss him or how I wish I could see him again, so it was odd for me to sit and look through old photos. I don't really know my dad; I do, but I don't. My dad was physically part of my life for 10 years, the second half of those were not the best. Mental illness, self medicating for years, debt, heroin, arguments, threats, uncertainty. I feel like I remember the negative more because I was older, my parents couldn't hide it from me like they used to. At the same time, when he was sober and stable, life was good. Life was great, things felt complete. So here I am, 6 years since he died. I don't want to say his image is fading, but I know less of who he was than I did before. I see the good from some (the ones who praise him, who act like he was a saint), and I see the bad from others (the one who felt the pain). I suppose I no longer see my view, my memories aren't there anymore. I don't necessarily feel sad, the anger has faded, and I can't say I'm happy. Maybe I'll figure it out one day, but, for now, it is what it is.

Hand pose 8 with one detail and work progression shots - started with the red pen layer, then green and finally the yellow ink (feature image).

A wonderful model I had two years ago brought the most amazing dresses. This was rather a plain one, but very elegant.