Koi Acrylic Class

Two Thursdays a month, I conduct an acrylic painting class at University Art in Sacramento from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. We usually spend from one to two Thursday classes painting subjects ranging from portraiture to still life to landscape. I always provide a reference photo and demonstrate how to start the painting with very, very rough shapes, values, and colors that can be slowly and patiently morphed into a more refined state. I generally like to paint visual impressions without overly refining and getting too photographic. My last class assignment was to paint this Koi from this photo ref. The acrylic with the two koi is from the Ye Old Lobenberg Archive.

My Good Buddy, Pauly

This is a 5 minute Sharpie pen and Tombow/Waterbrush sketch I did today in the pen andiInk class I teach at Sacramento City College. Pauly and his golden retriever, Gus, attend my Monday and Wednesday drawing and pen@ink classes. Pauly is my teaching assistant and Gus is the classroom mascot. If you are interested in learning about this type of sketching, click on the book cover at the top of my sie bar. That's Pauly drawing during one of my summer vineyard workshops last summer. Good old Gus is taking a break.

Watercolor portraits from ye old Lobenberg archive

Know anyone out there that would like a Lobenberg watercolor portrait? I'm getting better at it. Honest.

What's under that swan?

Answer - Dos Koi. Carandache (spelling??) water soluble crayon on deep turquoise drawing paper. From the Lobenberg art archive of yore.

I can paint swans too!

I do NOT want to be type cast as a killer chicken artist! I also paint other birds. Here is a watercolor from the archive.

2nd Annual Tour De Cluck is coming!!!

My "2nd Annual Tour De Cluck Art Workshop" is coming May 7th. At the workshop, I inspire and aid artists to create killer chicken art in any medium. Participating artist who want to donate a piece to the tour's silent auction pavillion will help support the serving of wholesome, locally grown food in school cafeterias. This is all part of the city of Davis (just west of my home town of Sacramento) "Tour De Cluck", a one day event. Buy a tour ticket, get a map of the city's residential hen houses, and have a clucking good time! More to come as we get closer to the tour date.

My band of brothers and sisters in art

Here is the group photo and workshop photo of my artists in Reno, Nevada. Last week I conducted an On-The-Go Ink and Wash Sketching workshop for the Sierra Watercolor Association there. They all learned my technique and did some great sketching in the process. If you are interested in this process, dear reader, click on the book image on the top right hand side of this blog. I first introduced On-The-Go ink and Wash Sketching to the art world in 2006 through an article in The Artist's Magazine. What a fantastic way to easily go out in your neighborhood or around the world and do some fantastic looking sketches! I have included a color and black and white sketch here. Personally, I like black and white sketching the best. You can put all the art tools you need into your pocket, purse, or a small bag. Bon Voyage, and don't forget your On-The-Go Sketching kit!

Howdaya like these wheels?

This was an on-the-go Sharpie Pen/Tombow Pen/ Niji Waterbrush sketch demonstration I did for the Nevada "Sierra Watercolor Society" in Reno. I conducted a two day workshop there last week teaching the participants how to use these three wonderful art tools. The third day was my demo day for the SWS monthly meeting. They all were a wonderful and very welcoming group, and it was an honor for me to have been invited to do the workshop/demo. Nevada has a desert climate and an absolutely beautifully stark looking landscape. I'd like to go back someday to sketch and paint it! I'll post some photos of the workshop soon. Oh, by the way, if you are ever in Reno, check out the Nevada Art Museum...spectacular!

Sharpie pen and Tombow wash sketches

A few posts ago, I announced my "On-The-Go Ink and Wash Sketch" how- to booklet that I now have for sale on Blurb.com. I thought that my fellow bloggers might like to see a few more of my sketches utilizing just an office pencil, cheapo Sharpie ultra fine tip pen, a double ended Tombow art pen, and a Niji Waterbrush. I carry these humble art tools in a plastic baggie and along with an inexpensive watercolor sketch pad, I go out into the world and do my thing. The world is indeed my oyster!

My final portrait study

A few posts ago, I showed a three step painting sequence of a young North African man. Here is the same sequence but with the final completed painting added.