Roman Statue, "Anzio Lady", Circa 300 B.C.

Silverpoint on Pink Clay-coated Paper with White
Gouache Highlighting, 7 1/2" x 10"
I taught a small workshop at my home today called
"Exploration in Art". We will be doing four different
media altogether. Today we did silverpoint and
water-media monotypes. I did this while my students
were doing theirs. I was so happy with it, that I decided
to post it to my blog. I've always loved this statue.
She is standing up, and holding a large book. But, it
is her beautiful face and peoccupied eyes that have
always fascinated me.

I usually prepare my own silverpoint paper using
hotpress watercolor paper and a mixture of gouache
and Liquitex acrylic (colored with acrylic paint), but
this paper was given to me by a person in a church I
use to go to. She gave me a whole bunch of it. It's
a beautiful pink, and really smooth. The silverpoint
just glides over the surface, so it is really fun to draw
on.

Thanks for visiting today, and have a nice weekend.

Essence Drawing of Sharon Posing

Essence on Laid Paper, 7" x 9", $100.00 SOLD

This is another painted drawing done in the

essence technique that I've talked about in

previous posts. I wasn't crazy about the color in

this one, but I do love the pose, light, and linear

work. The paint goes on the laid paper (Ingres

paper in this case) just beautifully once the oil has

been leached out of it, and of course it dries with

no ugly oil stains around it. I love this technique!

It is great for quick sketching of the model. I will

be offering a workshop in this at The Art League

School in Alexandria, VA next School year, and

will also ge using the technique this quarter in

my figure class.

Andy No. 2, 7/7

Drypoint Etching, 2" x 3 $55.00 Bid Here

This is an image that I have gone back to several

times - which seems to be a habit that I have. If

I didn't know that it was/is common among other

artists, I'd worry about it. But some images just

sort of grab you and don't let go. This guy was

a model for my classes for a while. He was unusal,

and that is all I'll say about him. But his face in this

image has something transcendent about it, and I

was happy with the way that I caught that. I also

like the burr in his hair.

For those of you who are not that familiar with drypoint,

it is a demanding medium, that differs from etching, in that

you draw directly on the bare plate with a diamond or

carbide steel point. There is never any acid involved. Any

tone, line variation, texture, etc., all that has to be produced

with the point of your instrument. It takes a lot of practice. I have

taught many people to do it, and have found that some people are

naturally skilled in it, yet for others, it is a struggle they eventually

master if they keep at it.

People who do a lot of graphite drawing find drypoint etching

rather natural, so if you think you might be interested in doing

this, that's what you should be doing to prepare for it. Or course

you need an etching press , and printmaking paper, and ink to print

the plate. Editions from drypoint plates are not large, because the

burr (the piece of metal that is kicked up along side of the line that

you draw through the metal surface - that would be cut off by an engraver,

for instance) wears down a bit with the pressure of every printing.

Twenty prints is a large edition for drypoints!

Jaclin Posing in a Kimono

Oil on Board, 5" x 7 1/2" , $100.00 SOLD

This is another composition that I have played

around with several times. I took a series of

photos of this model in various positions quite

a while ago. I was so captivated with her long

torso and legs, and her white skin, which really

was pale like this. She owned the kimono, and

the colors weren't anything like this, but I have

fun making up the colors each time I paint her.

Creating color harmonies is one of the things

I enjoy most about painting.

When my husband and I lived in Boston in the

80's and part of the 90's, we had an architecture

and interior design business. I am not an architect -

he is - although he also went to art school... but I really

enjoyed the interior design part of it; particularly

when we had interesting, imaginative clients who

weren't afraid to experiment with color and pattern.

My own taste does not lean toward the modern in

interior design, so it was fairly easy to get along with

our clients, most of whom had a "Beacon Hill" mentality.

We got one job just because, when the woman said,

"I'm thinking of a specific color for my library", I piped

up with "Pompeiian Red?". That just happened to be it,

and we began a job that lasted two years, and included

our designing everything in her residence down to the

bookshelves, the rugs, the tiles in her bathroom, and

a mural in her dining room. That was something.

A lot of work. But, I learned a lot as well.

Thanks for visiting today.

Chincoteague Afternoon

7 1/2" x 5", Oil on Board, $100.00 BID HERE

I went to Chicoteage with my family many years ago, and I was

most fascinated by the marshy land that spread everywhere, and

the little inlets of water that would reflect the colors of the sky.

It was also fun to see the horses.

The last time we were there some of those horses were actually

wandering around on the beach trying to steal peoples' lunches

and treats, and my daughter, quite a bit younger at that point,

kept talking about "ponies gone bad". It was so funny, and we

had a wonderful day. I think this is kind of a Technicolor

Chincoteague, but, whatever. I had fun using my memory,

which was probably looking " through rose-colored glasses".