Michael G's Sketchbook

[Peter Dransfield]

If its any consolation I just put my current piece on the monitor and found exactly the same problems I am serious about the angularity - it gives the drawings strength, immediacy and honesty.

[Michael Georges]

Yea, I agree with you Peter. A wonderful wacky thing is how many different styles I am seeing pop out of these drawings. My work in the past has been hallmarked by very technical rendering and high finish and what is coming out of some of these is so organic and raw and as you said - immediate feeling.

I cannot help but believe that these are going to have a dramatic effect on my more finished work long-term.

[Peter Dransfield]

I shall follow what happens with great interest Michael.

[Michael Georges]

Rhea - Open Studio, July 22

I am coming to like the umber sticks much better than the sanguine with this process as you can use the white to tone down areas and do a little blending without getting that sickly pink color that you get with the sanguine and white.

For my skill level at this point, it is working better.

Rhea was beautiful, and had very high set ears and thin lips. I looked and measured and squinted multiple times and by golly that is where her ear was. It gave her a very classical old world look and was a lot of fun to draw.

[Michael Georges]

So I have been at this life drawing stuff for about 20 weeks now, and I thought it might be good to give a sort of progress report and reflect a bit on this focused time drawing from life.

As I have written about before, I had spent more than 100 hours drawing from life through the years, but had never really achieved any proficiency. The first drawing below is where I started from - certainly not an auspicious beginning...

While I still have a LONG way to go, in just 20 weeks I feel like I have seen pretty dramatic improvement. My comfort level drawing from life has gone way up. I see huge improvement in my ability to get a likeness. It has greatly helped my ability to perceive and represent value as it is expressed in color from a live form across a distance. It has improved my compositional skills, understanding of edge control, head anatomy, etc.

In short, I am really pleased at how quickly I have seen improvement!

Last night our model flaked out, and Lanette, our host agreed to model. The second picture is Lanette and I think represents a lot of what I have learned in these 20 weeks.

I still have a vast distance to go, but I have rarely done ANYTHING in my life that has been so interesting, engaging, and so rewarding!

[Mischa Milosevic]

Michael, the progress is quite evident. good for you. do tell us the umber sticks the # and brand you are using.

[Christy Talbott]

Michael, this last one is my favorite, really nice!! You've inspired me. I'm going to keep a sketchbook for life drawings as well.

Christy