Painting Reportage Drawings / Instructional Video

Train drawings to Sketchbook paintings: Building a rhythm

So I've been vigorously improving my drawing ability for about 4-6 years now. My Master (mentor) said I should focus on drawing and gain strength there before moving on to painting, I also read this advice from John Singer Sargent. I've dibbled in paints a little over these years but nothing consistent. I've been more into line aesthetics than anything else, though in the back of my mind I really wanted to paint, I kept telling myself,"Not yet - in due time." The child artist inside didn't want to hear that.

 I'd noticed some of my favorite painters did it every day, they'd warm up and paint away for hours, just as I did with drawing. I tried this from time to time but just hadn't built of a rhythm. I would get on a painting kick and it would be great for a week or two and then CRASH!! Back to the drawing book. Where drawing spontaneously weaves in and out of my daily schedule due to that nature of my primary style (fast/ quick captures from life), painting is something I have to find and make blocks of time for.  Well looks like that train has finally pulled in because I am painting regularly now and it feels good, not forced. I figured I'd start with these sketchbook studies and build up to full size paintings. This is the fun stage!! Where I get to see myself go through many styles until one fits, sticks and I evolve with it just as I did with drawing. I like to see the marriage between the line and paint, I don't burying my beloved pen strokes under the paint completely, the painting has outlets here and there where the drawing can breathe:)

Gouache studies

Woke up this morning and did some gouache studies for value, color and technigue done in a moleskine watercolor book. These were done from reference photos I shot around town. I really like the way the guys vans came out and also the girls purse.

Drawing on the bus today...

This was a young Queen on the transit. I did a quick sketch and added the gouache wash right there on transit. Tremendously uncomfortable but the lighting was so nice I had to try and capture it.

Girl riding to school

11x14

Pencil and Gouache in Sketchbook

Drawing in transit again

Today I drew people on the end of the day commute. It was very relaxing sitting there listening to my ipod staring at people in they're "Thank God The Day Is Over" state. This is one of the drawings that developed nicely from the session.

Evening ride home
Graphite and gouache
11x14

This was a draw/ painting demo

This was a demo drawing/painting I did of one of my students. She was deeply into her work at peace and I had to capture it. I build beautiful relationships through teaching. The instruction I offer helps people in so many different ways. The bond that this student and I have is expressed in the care I took in rendering this work.

Vergie
12 x 9
Ball point pen and gouache on paper

In the sketchbook...

Finally I had a chance recently to do some covert drawing on public transit. It feels really good when I come back from a hiatus with ballpoint pen.
Here I am experimenting with "Light and Drama" in watercolors.

Understanding me

Understanding me

Mixed Media in sketchbook
12 x 9

Mud Cloth study

A shot of my morning workout session. Studying The African MudCloth.
Acrylic and Gouache in Sketchbook

Reconnecting with Ancient Kemet

Ballpoint and Watercolor on paper
12 x 9

Man Reading

Having fun with watercolors. It's funny, I was sooooo close to this guy staring at him while drawing yet he never looked up.

Ballpoint, watercolor, gouache in watercolor folio
12 x 16