DRAWING MARATHON PAINTING OF SHANNON

Today was another drawing marathon at the Palo Alto Art Center. I decided to stay on the "long pose" side and work with my new slow drying acrylics on canvas. At the last minute, I had the "brilliant" idea to collage some papers on one canvas and cover the other with red gesso. The freshly gessoed canvas was partially wet when I had to leave (that's the brilliant part) but my carpeting, car and clothing managed to come out unscathed.

I painted Shannon in the morning and was very pleased with the result. There are two layers of tissue. The first with several shades of blue paint on tissue, the second what was left of my stamping session a few days ago. I felt like I was getting the hang of these new paints. Then came the afternoon session.....a total waste of paint! (It's never a waste of effort) Like I always say, you can slap some gesso over a bad painting.

If you attend these sessions very often you start to see the same models over and over. Some you fall in love with and are excited to draw or paint them, and some annoy you for whatever reason. I was not happy with the afternoon model and somehow that seemed to show up in the final results. I am thinking about putting some collage over the image and a few other altering ideas and then working on it some more. The best part about having a painting you don't like is you have no fear of ruining it, so exploring other ideas is very liberating. There's a pony in there somewhere!

There was a gentleman at the Marathon who does beautiful charcoal figures and he had made a book through a website called "blurb.com" I checked it out when I came home and I am very excited. I think I will create a workbook to go along with my "Variations" workshop. I think there will be room in the book (40 pages) to include some of the work people have sent me of the Frenchman. I will get everyone's permission beforehand. If you have done something and never sent it to me, it's not too late. This little project may take some time.

Speaking of workshops, my website has been updated with the most current workshop dates along with descriptions of each of the three workshops I give along with slide shows and photos. Click on the title of this post and it will take you to my web page. I have 4 scheduled for this year and 4 for next year. I like to do 6 each year, so pass the word on if you would like me to come to your area.