Escape from technology

Having fun with gouache

2011-11-13T13:51:00.003-05:00

Watercolor and gouache sketches

2011-11-13T13:27:00.005-05:00

My sister was cleaning her studio the other day and as a result I've got quite a load of art supplies: water colors,gouache, oil pastel, etc.. I was dying to try gouache.It reminded me time from childhood. My dad had a gouache set and we loved painting with it.It was such fun!

Charlie's drawing

2011-10-31T21:51:00.003-04:00

It always amazes me how effortless kids make their drawings. They don't analyze them or 'work' hard, but what comes as a result is never ugly.

Recent paintings

2011-10-25T20:06:00.004-04:00

iPhone doodles

2011-10-15T20:40:00.007-04:00

It looks like the only time I get to draw lately is on Go train.

iPhone doodles

2011-07-03T21:11:00.008-04:00

Simple Value Plan

2011-02-13T12:33:00.011-05:00

Continue assignments from Peggi Kroll-Roberts DVDs. Merged a lot of small shapes to simplify the information.
For value studies I am now using acrylic paint: Titanium white and Raw Umber. There is no particular reason for Raw Umber. I just happen to have only those two colors in acrylic.

The benefits:
- no need to prime canvas
- you can paint on paper
- easy to clean brushes
- no chemicals in the air

Eyes. Part 1.

2010-10-24T15:14:00.008-04:00

Asaro explains the structure of the eye in his book "Planes of the head":

My analysis on real faces with 3 types of lids (not slanting, slanting up, slanting down):

Asaro: interlocking contour lines and planes. Part 2

2010-10-24T15:12:00.003-04:00

Asaro: interlocking contour lines and planes. Part 1

2010-10-18T21:00:00.007-04:00

P.S. in the lower drawing the chin is off the center. Did not see it until now :-)

I saw similar approach in Nathan Fowkes drawings, take a look here.

Basic planes of the head

2010-10-17T11:22:00.008-04:00

"..The planes of the head should be memorized, for through them we have a foundation for rendering the head in light and shadow..." (A.Loomis)

Working on these magazine photos I was surprised to see how smooth were faces. Almost no visible planes. Loomis actually writes about it:

"...If you have softened the edge so much as to have lost the plane, the drawing is bound to take a smooth, photographic look. For this reason, planes have to be established when you are drawing from a photograph, since they are not apparent..."

Human skull

2010-10-04T21:40:00.003-04:00

Andrew Loomis suggests to study human skull to learn the bone structure.

Head construction with features

2010-10-03T20:12:00.001-04:00

Now I am practicing putting face features on a "ball". If your ellipses are at the right places adding features is easy.

Head construction: problem solved!

2010-09-28T18:09:00.007-04:00

If you studied head construction by Andrew Loomis you'll understand the issue I'm talking about in this post.

On page 21 of Drawing the Heads and the Hands Loomis describes his method of constructing a head using analogy with a ball and a nail. It looks very simple and easy to understand...until you actually start constructing a head yourself.

My problem was with the "ear" line. I could not figure it out.I gave up and moved on.

A few days ago, I was reading a ConceptArt forum and came across the post called "How to correctly establish ellipses using Loomis head construction?" Needless to say how happy I was to discover that someone had asked my question. But the real treasure was ahead. There was that JohnB who shared his method of establishing ellipses. It was answer to my prayers! Thank you, JohnB!!!

Here is a link to the entire post: click here

JohnB has his own blog, interesting and very informative.

And this is John's tutorial I recreated:

1. Draw a cicle and mark the center (A)
2. Think about position of the face: is it looking up or down? turned to the left or right? Add a point (B) to where a "brow" cross will be
3. Connect A and B
4. Draw a brow line as per step 2
5. Add a line running through the center that is parallel to brow line
6. Add tick marks perpendicular to the line in step 5
7. Draw ellipse that starts and ends at tick marks you did in step 6 and passes brow point (B)
8. Draw a middle line (face line) that is tangent to the ellipse you just drew. This line determines the tilt of the face plane. This line and line you drew in step 4 are what Loomis calls "the all-important cross on the ball".
9. Draw a line that is parallel to the middle line from step 8. This is what Loomis refers to as a nail in the ball
10. Add tick marks that are perpendicular to the "nail" line
11. Draw ellipse that connects tick marks and goes through the brow point. This is a brow line.
12. Add tick marks that are perpendicular to AB line
13. Draw ellipse that connects the tick marks. This is "ear" line.

Inspiration: Matisse

2010-09-22T22:53:00.008-04:00

I was in my twenties when I saw this painting at the State Hermitage Museum.
I still remember the impression it made on me: I felt as if I was standing in the middle of the circle engulfed in heat of the dancers moving around me. It was breathtaking!

iPhone doodles

2010-09-20T21:36:00.008-04:00

iPhone doodles

2010-08-29T14:01:00.006-04:00

To kill time I sometimes draw with my fingers on iPhone.

Proportions of the Male Head

2010-08-29T13:33:00.005-04:00

From "Drawing The Head & Hands" by Andrew Loomis.

Value Studies

2010-08-29T12:56:00.008-04:00

From all objects flowers were hardest to paint: changes in values are very subtle. Besides, I have not learned how to simplify yet.

Value studies

2010-07-24T18:27:00.004-04:00

One sunny week-end I asked my sister to take pictures of me for tonal value studies.I noticed that values on photos appear a bit darker than in real life.
It is easier to study values in still life setting because you can observe value scale in a direct way.

Value scale blocks

2010-05-27T20:46:00.005-04:00

I painted these blocks to use them in simple still life set ups to study values and how they change under different light conditions. To create 9 value scale is challenge on its own. I am still not happy with the results, but for the time being they are good enough because I am planning to use no more than 5 values in one set up.

Simple Value Plan (continued)

2010-05-02T12:26:00.005-04:00

Today I was practicing with figures. I am trying to simplify as much as I can.

Value Plan

2010-04-27T11:23:00.003-04:00

Simple Value Plan

2010-04-25T21:19:00.027-04:00

For start I picked "Simple Value Plans" lesson, because I read a lot about how critical it is for a successful painting.

I watched the DVD and questions started popping up. Peggy decides to do a four value plan in her fist demo, but does not say why. Inside the disk "jacket" you can see examples of her value plans and notice that some are painted in just 3 values, while others are in 4. I wish Peggy explored this theme in the lession.

When I was doing the assignment, I noticed that sometimes you want to change the values of the background to improve design or get an effect you are after.

DVDs from Peggy Kroll Roberts

2010-04-25T19:02:00.008-04:00

I bought a set of 6 DVDs from Peggy Kroll Roberts. I like her high key paintings and brushwork.

The DVDs are based on a single assignment.You work on one task at a time and that makes the difference.

I read recently Vilppu's "Drawing Manual" where he writes about the pace of learning and what his approach is based on. In the book Vilppu refers to Alexander Marchack who was commissioned by NASA in 1963 to write a book to explain how man reached that point to make it possible to land a moon. Marchack's research allowed him to make a conclusion that "one of the basic elements that distinguishes man from most other animals is his ability to think in sequence....in his discussion he talks about how impossible the task of sending a man to the moon is when considered as a whole, but taken as a series of small steps or problems, it becomes possible"

I could not agree more.

I am looking forward to doing the assignments.

Sketches from Samana

2010-01-31T19:01:00.009-05:00

I had a great vacation in Samana, DR and spent almost all the time on the beach...

Drawing a head: basic shape

2010-01-10T21:48:00.005-05:00

After unsuccessful attempt to memorize the ball at various angles (see previous post), I decided to move on.
As a next step I chose Andrew Loomis. The studies below are aimed to draw basic shape of the head turning it to sides and up and down. I call it 'first cycle of evolution of the ball'.

Planes of the head. Part 2

2009-09-29T20:36:00.011-04:00

John Asaro instructs to rotate the ball and draw it at all angles until you can draw it correctly from memory. You do not realize the difference it makes when you actually start drawing from memory. I've got so many questions popped up in my mind when attempted to draw it without looking at the ball. It made me think and analyze how lines change and move. I am learning tons!

P.S. September 20, 2010. I have discovered a way of drawing a ball at all possible angles without having to memorize it. You just construct it using Andrew Loomis's method. See this post

Planes of the head. Part 1

2009-09-28T09:51:00.013-04:00

I started my studies with this book by Asaro:

In the book Asaro instructs students to take a ball about 3 inches in diameter, draw lines, glue ears and a nose. The ball is then used to practice drawing it at different angles (see picture below).

This is the ball I made. The mouth line was first drawn too high. I had to redraw it.

John Asaro

2009-09-24T21:05:00.008-04:00

This is my first post about artists that inspire me most and I want to dedicate it to John Asaro. When I came across his recent paintings of female figures I instantly fell in love with them. After 50 year depression John Asaro decided to paint what he always wanted to: female figure. His work is stunning and I believe this happens when you follow your heart.

The artist's website

Back to basics

2009-09-16T20:06:00.014-04:00

I've decided to put on hold oil painting for some time and go back to basics from academic point of view. I never attended any art school and whenever I paint or draw I always feel "shaky ground" under my feet because of that. May be lack of formal training is not an issue with any other artist, but it's definitely a problem for me. So it is time to go back and build a solid foundation in a traditional way - learn how to draw first and then paint.

There tons of books on drawing available today. Thanks to the Internet you can learn from other people what worked best for them and why.
This is my list of selected books to start with:

- John Asaro: Planes of the Head
- Andrew Loomis: Drawing the Head and Hands
- Andrew Loomis: Figure Drawing for All It's Worth

Note: you can download these books in PDF files for free or any donated amount here

Some old stuff

2009-07-06T20:20:00.007-04:00

...from the book by Andrew Loomis.

Elena Petrova

2009-06-07T20:31:00.006-04:00

some recent paintings from my sister's studio

For purchase information visit Elena's ebay store

"Bell peppers" (6"x6")

2009-02-16T19:11:00.002-05:00

"Letter A" (6"x6")

2009-02-10T19:48:00.005-05:00

"Honey Tangerines" (6"x6")

2009-02-09T21:04:00.002-05:00

"Vine tomatoes" (6" x 6")

2009-02-01T20:53:00.003-05:00

" Three apples" ( 6" x 6")

2009-01-26T19:19:00.009-05:00

I did this value study before painting in color. I tend to rush and skip this important step. I read that in art schools students are not allowed to paint in color for a year or two until they master values first.

" 2+1" (6" x 6")

2009-01-07T18:41:00.006-05:00

SOLD

" First Knight" (6" x 6")

2009-01-03T15:45:00.006-05:00

Red Hat (5" x 7")

2008-12-28T13:33:00.008-05:00

This painting was done from a photograph provided on the blog Different Strokes From Different Folks, where artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations. I like the red hat a sitter is wearing on this photo. It became my focus on this painting.

Nusya (6" x 6") - NFS

2008-12-27T21:13:00.012-05:00

This is my Nusya. My only pet. Adopting her almost 9 years ago I did not know that my poor parental skills will one day produce such a result. She can be stubborn, selfish, but also very compassionate and caring at the same time.

P.S. Read more about Nusya on her own blog Writing Claws

"Hope" ( 6" x 6" )

2008-12-15T22:20:00.008-05:00

White is my favorite color. Needless to say that I love horses. Who doesn't? If I am fortunate enough to have a white horse one day, I would call it "Hope".

The Artist's Boots

2008-12-13T18:58:00.009-05:00

This sketch was done from a photograph provided on the blog Different Strokes from Different Folks blog, where artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations.

Beads ( 6" x 6")

2008-12-13T18:54:00.004-05:00

"About a Horse" (6" x 6")

2008-12-09T18:48:00.007-05:00

SOLD

Green Onions (6"x6")

2008-11-29T16:50:00.005-05:00

Buddha & Hydrangeas (6"x6")

2008-11-29T16:45:00.006-05:00

This was done in response to a weekly challenge from Different Strokes from Different Folks blog

Big "Pom" (6"x6")

2008-11-26T19:36:00.008-05:00

Lately, I've been inspired by the art of Carol Marine. I love her style and the way she personifies the objects of her still life paintings.

"Letting it through" (6"x6")

2008-11-25T21:05:00.011-05:00

SOLD

Aubergine Couple (6" x 6", oil)

2008-11-13T17:34:00.006-05:00

SOLD

Aubergine Solo (6" x 6")

2008-11-08T18:35:00.006-05:00

SOLD

Roses (6" x 6", oil)

2008-11-08T18:31:00.006-05:00

SOLD

Studying masters

2008-07-25T20:54:00.005-04:00

This is a copy of Reg (Paul Hedley). I used white chalk in this drawing for the first time. Inspiration came from a book "Portrait Drawing Techniques" by Dianne Flynn.

This is a copy of Head of a Young Girl (Jean Millet). I liked the way Millet expressed mood and feeling by the way he has lit his subject.

My sister's show

2008-07-24T19:17:00.009-04:00

These are shots of my sister's show at Kohl Gallery of Arts (Avenue Rd/Eglinton West). You can see a lot more here

Sketches of my cat

2008-07-24T18:54:00.011-04:00

5 values sketch

2008-05-04T12:49:00.004-04:00

Charlie (pencil sketch)

2008-04-20T17:03:00.004-04:00

5 values sketch

2008-04-13T18:21:00.004-04:00

Back to basics until I nail it: five values (for now).

An apple is an apple is an apple.... (6" x 6")

2008-03-22T10:19:00.009-04:00

SOLD
SOLD

Red Slippers

2008-03-19T17:17:00.014-04:00

Nusya loved those slippers, I had to buy another pair for myself.

Still life ( 6" x 6" )

2008-03-19T17:17:00.013-04:00

Odin

2008-01-01T21:02:00.005-05:00

this is a little trouble-maker and irresistible cutie, Odin.

Shoes (5 x 5, oil)

2007-12-15T19:12:00.002-05:00

Warm ups

2007-10-28T11:06:00.002-04:00

from A.Crawshow "Oil Painting Course"

Watercolor sketches

2007-07-08T11:48:00.001-04:00

It's summer time! no time for oils :-)
just quick watercolor sketches.

Born to a poetess mother (mixed media)

2007-05-27T10:07:00.002-04:00

My first three-dimensional work made of wire (click on the image for larger view).

The rocks in the nest are wrapped in "poetry" - a poem by E.E.Cummings " I carry your heart with me". The poem can be found in my other blog http://onesreading.blogspot.com/

Portrait Week 2 (14" x 17", charcoal)

2007-05-03T21:35:00.002-04:00

Portrait Week 1 (9 x 12, pencil)

2007-03-26T17:57:00.003-04:00

Untitled (6" x 6", oil)

2007-02-11T12:28:00.001-05:00

Winter Landscape ( 4" x 5", oil )

2007-02-06T21:24:00.003-05:00

From my sister's studio

2006-10-14T11:19:00.003-04:00

Some recent works from my sister's studio.

...and my favourite "Pianist"

Back Light (26" x 30", conte)

2006-10-10T20:59:00.001-04:00

Self-portrait in charcoal

2006-08-27T19:34:00.002-04:00

Self-portrait in pencil

2006-08-18T19:44:00.002-04:00

Love (conte on paper)

2006-08-06T12:12:00.001-04:00

Girl (Conte on paper)

2006-07-30T21:06:00.001-04:00

Life drawing (charcoal, 20" x 25")

2006-07-28T20:29:00.001-04:00

Portrait of my mom in AGO!

2006-07-03T18:19:00.003-04:00

Portrait of my mom which I submitted to AGO to participate in exhibition called In Your Face is on display now!

Lindsey postcard (mixed media)

2006-07-01T09:21:00.003-04:00

I had lots of fun on Easter Seal relay...Lindsey showed us tricks with her dog Alla.

Red Barn (5" x 7", oil)

2006-04-26T21:31:00.003-04:00

Crocuses (4" x 5", oil)

2006-04-26T21:26:00.001-04:00

Papaya (6"x 8", oil)

2006-04-09T21:38:00.003-04:00

First oils

2006-03-27T12:51:00.001-05:00

Face (24"x 24", oil)

2006-03-25T22:01:00.001-05:00

Male back (25" x 20", charcoal)

2006-03-25T21:56:00.002-05:00

Portrait of my mom (4"x 6", charcoal)

2006-03-08T12:38:00.007-05:00

French Knot (charcoal)

2006-03-08T12:38:00.004-05:00

Fuchsia

2006-02-18T18:23:00.002-05:00

A Roman Woman (copy)

2006-02-18T18:17:00.002-05:00

This was made as an asignment from the book "Drawing Course" by Charles Bargue. It is a copy of A Roman Woman by A-W Bouguereau.

Drawing # 3

2006-02-14T21:41:00.002-05:00

Drawing # 2

2006-02-10T12:52:00.002-05:00

My first drawing

2005-09-16T13:21:00.002-04:00

This is my first ever charcoal drawing.