Veuve Cliquot - Figure Drawing

Here's another drawing I worked on this week using a technique I first saw in Barcelona done by the amazing street portrait painters there.

It is actually oil rubbed on paper, not charcoal. The second time I went back to Barcelona I specifically looked for a street artist who could spoke english and explain the technique to me. I was lucky enough to find someone. I remember boring my two young children in tow and the very gracious female artist who shared freely with me.

So on return to the U.S.  I started to work with this technique really fine-tuning it in 2010 when I drew every day for a year.

I am still really grateful I did that year in drawing. It changed me as an artist and is very much part of who I am and how I think today.

Enjoy.

"Veuve Cliquot"
By Johanna Spinks
12"x 18"
Oil on Paper
$395.00
For purchase at my online store
here

Cosmopolitan - Figure Drawing

It's been a busy week in the studio so far starting two new large portrait commissions but I have also taken some time to do some drawing in the evening. This is a technique you maybe remember seeing a lot of in my 365 Days of Drawing Challenge, successfully completed, and featured in American Artist Magazine in 2011.

I feel in tip top shape after some time spent at my drawing board away from actual easel time.  There is a saying: "If you  don't practice your drawing it will soon disappear", and I think never a truer word has been spoken. Drawing is a separate discipline from painting although the two go hand in hand at the easel.

Drawing the full figure often flexes the drawing muscle.

I'll post another tomorrow.

"Cosmopolitan"
12" x 18"
Mixed media on paper
For sale at my online store
$395.00
here

Keeping Abreast of Things...365 Days of Drawing

I am keeping abreast of things in my daily drawing challenge this week. Are you?

Won't be posting this weekend. Off to San Francisco. Guess I will have to draw that red bridge again.