Lounging like a Christmas Greyhound

Okay, technically Christmas Eve Greyhound. Hugo is a big old gentleman, well-seasoned and kind, looking stylish in his brindle coat. I sketched him last night as he napped through the second half of a party. I felt he had the right idea, with the napping; I've been dead on my feet, myself, but the party was a joy.

Today of course is the holiday and I am not supposed to work, but chances are that I will, because there's something I want to do and it won't feel like working. I'll post the results, probably tomorrow night.

At the moment it is one of the more beautiful mornings I've ever seen, and I am going to get my shoes on and go walking in the clear December sunlight.

Woman in Pink Velvet Jacket

Woman in Pink Velvet Jacket, 5 x 3" mixed media on paper

The eternal challenge with making art is finding the time to actually do it. For me, it helps to carry very small sketch books around. These drawings-in-little-moments are fuel, and they sharpen my skills, and they make me happy.

Often, they make other people happy, too. There were two women I drew on this same day, and the other one's drawing isn't posted here because she gleefully bought it from me on the spot.

Dr. Sketchy's Minneapolis!

This is Frenchie Kiss. She's what you missed if you didn't go to Dr. Sketchy's today.

Sweet Frenchie Kiss, mixed media on Stonehenge paper, 11 x 8".

Saucy Frenchie, mixed media on fawn Stonehenge paper, 6.5 x 11"

My friend Tom Winterstein of Old Town Artists went along with me and we had so much fun. I got a Strongbow cider and a bratwurst with kraut, relaxed into the drawing process, and won Frenchie's Favorite with the sketch at top. What a great day.

Mark Balma at his Demo

Mark Balma at Minnetonka Center for the Arts on 8/3. I was taking notes, really I was. But the curves of his hat that caught my eye, so I used Mark for drawing practice. Hope he didn't mind.

DR. SKETCHY IS SKETCHALICIOUS

Dr. Sketchy is here.

Truly, I can't recall the last time I was this loose and had this much fun while drawing. This was my first Dr. Sketchy and I can't wait for the next.

Queenie in pastel pencils & pastel on paper, 11 x 8", by Tracie Thompson

I had about 20 minutes each to complete these, and I was working while sitting on a barstool, and it was so much fun, letting go of the need for it to be perfect because there simply wasn't time. 

Queenie in watercolor/mixed media on paper, 8.5 x 11.5", by Tracie Thompson

I won, too! I got the Queenie's Favorite prize for the watercolor sketch. Queenie's a great model. Man, did I mention how much fun I had?

Old Town Artists drawing session

This was Wednesday night, 5/26/10. My first life-drawing session with the Old Town Artists, a group I've now joined.

I am setting up a studio space with Old Town Artists in the ACVR Warehouse at 106 West Water Street, St. Paul. This building is part of the bi-annual St. Paul Art Crawl, and I can't wait to participate in that!

Stay tuned for more news as I get out of the basement here in Robbinsdale and into this fun, thriving little artist community.

Culture

On Sunday, 11/15, I went to Tea with Tarts and Tartuffe, an outing organized by Twin Cities TOSCA. Their events are always a lot of fun, and I got to learn a little about Moliere and watch a collegiate production of Tartuffe, which was a hoot.

The sketches are about 3" x 5", done in ballpoint pen in my little Moleskine notebook during the play. I was very taken with the costumes ans characters, so I did my best to catch a little of the feeling of them, and these are the results.