Nude Female Figure Drawing at Studio D
February 8, 2010
Liz Mohr
14″ x 11″
graphite on paper
I drew this during a five-hour pose at the weekly drawing group at Studio D. I particularly like how there are triangular shapes repeated throughout the pose.
Figure Quick Sketch: Week 3 of Vilppu’s Drawing Class
February 7, 2010
Drawing box forms for the parts of the figure was the focus of this week’s class with Vilppu at the American Animation Institute. Old masters such as Luca Cambiaso used the box forms in beginning stages while planning his compositions. I’ve found this useful in clarifying the front, back, and side planes of any part of the body drawn.
This image above is an amazingly dynamic composition by Luca Cambiaso. Below are my sketches, which are mostly 10 minute poses.
NYC Subway Sketches: Drawing Faces
February 3, 2010
Here are more urban sketches of people’s faces on the subway in NYC. They are from my most recent visit there, and I’ve just gotten around to posting them. Drawing on the subway was a nice way for me to feel ‘connected’ to fellow passengers, and a productive way to while away the hours on my commute to and from Grand Central Academy of Art. I used a variety of Micron, Faber Castell, and Prismacolor permanent ink pens. I especially like the super fine point styles which allow for more detail on tiny 1″ head drawings.
Figure Quick Sketch: Week 2 of Vilppu’s Drawing Class
February 1, 2010
This week we focused on drawing the spherical forms of the figure on top of our gesture/lines of direction. Vilppu likes to use the Shmoo as an example of how to do this. It is basically two balls joined together that can go in any direction. It is then helpful to add the center line to the ’shmoo form’ to show either the spine (if it is a back pose) or the linea alba (if it is a front pose). If you can draw the Shmoo from imagination, it is the beginning of drawing the figure from imagination.
And here are my drawings. The first page are 3 minute poses and the second page are 5 minute poses. I found that drawing the ’schmoo form’ for the torso and pelvic area a fun way to add movement and action to a pose.
Plein Air Oil Paintings: Palm Springs Landscapes
January 30, 2010
Here are a couple of paintings I did on a recent trip to Palm Springs.
Tiny Cloud
6″ x 8″
oil on linen on panel
I painted this one because I liked the soft, luminous colors of the desert and the tiny cloud in the vastness of the landscape.
Desert Windmill
8″ x 6″
oil on linen on panel
I love all the windmills off the highway going to Yucca Valley. The newer ones are so sleek and white, like the snow-covered mountains in the distance.
Figure Quick Sketch: Week 1 of Vilppu’s Drawing Class
January 26, 2010
Here is a selection of 3 minute figure sketches done in Vilppu’s drawing class at the American Animation Institute . Week 1 focused on capturing the gesture, movement and lines of direction in the poses. I used water-soluble brown ink and a water brush for quick shadows.
Oil Portrait Painting of a Child: Little Doll
January 25, 2010
Little Doll
8″ x 10″
oil on panel
This is a painting of my niece, Azalea. I decided to simplify the background that I initially planned for a more calming effect.
Oil Painting of a Baby: Cocoon
January 17, 2010
Cocoon
14″ x 11″
oil on panel
Here is the completed painting of my nephew, Maximus.
Oil Painting of a Buddhist Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
January 15, 2010
Monkey Temple, Kathmandu
14″ x 11″
oil on panel
This is a painting of a Buddhist monk circumambulating Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu (aka ‘Monkey Temple’). I painted this using some of the photos I took for reference while I traveled there a few years ago. In this painting, I focused on capturing the atmosphere of energetic devotion and the rhythmic pulsing of the wind flapping the prayer flags, the sounds of footsteps, and the soft chanting of ‘om mani padme hum’.
Topanga Canyon with a View of Malibu Oil Painting
January 11, 2010
Topanga
6″ x 8″
oil on linen on panel
Here is a painting I did while out hiking in Topanga Canyon last week. I love the views of Malibu from here. Sometimes it is easy to forget how beautiful this place is when you spend so much time in the city.
