1st entry for July 2, 2013

A family member relocating and preparations for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition made for a sketching hiatus for over a week. On the Wednesday I tried the Gladstone's Art Bar drawing group for the first time.
It was also a first time for Samantha, who was working that evening. These are some 2-minute and 3-minute poses that she took, done with a Sakura Graphic felt marker on 18 x 24" sheets of bond paper.

2nd entry for June 21, 2013

These are a 10-minute and two 15-minute studies, all done with warm gray Copic markers. The top one is on an 18 x 24" sheet of Canson Recycled Sketch paper, and the lower two are on 18 x 24" sheets of Cansin Mixed Media paper.

1st entry for June 21, 2013

(Open session updates:  the TSA's open life drawing session for summer has moved from Friday to Thursday nights, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.  Short poses only, no long sitting at this point.
I also got news that Sion Irwin-Childs has restarted his open drawing sessions at OCAD , in Room 615 in the 100 McCaul building,  6:30 - 9:30 PM, $8.  I expect Sion will be the model for most of these, but he's dramatic enough in his work that repeat visits are a good workout. Toons on Tap people would know Sion from his Conan, Terminator and Film Noir modeling stints.
Another person who is the principal model on his own sessions currently is Paris Black, who I understand is doing a looser 3-hour session at the Epic bar in Yorkville. I gather it starts around 6:30 - 7 PM each week, and runs 3 - 4 hours. The fee is $15, I think. If anyone has more complete detail, please pass it along.
Also, Diane McGrath's aerial Drawing Room sessions should be restarting soon - stay posted)

On the Friday night at the TSA, Polina was working. From the top, these are a 5-minute, three 10-minute and a 15-minute study. The top one is Sakura Graphic marker on 18 x 24" bond paper. The others are a range of Copic warm gray markers on 18 x 24" sheets of Canson Recycled Sketch paper.
The background in the bottom was added while she was taking a break.

3rd entry for June 16, 2013

In the afternoon Meredith came to work. These are 1-hour studies, done with a range of Copic warm gray markers on 18 x 24" sheets of Canson Mixed Media paper.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit this weekend at the Toronto Outdoor Art Show. The weather wasn't the best, but I enjoyed getting to meet and talk to so many people, both familiat ones and new faces too.

2nd entry for June 16, 2013

These are, from the top, a 15-minute study, a 10-minute one and two more 15-minute ones. The lower two I experimented with after the fact, using dilute Speedball indian ink in an empty wide-barrel Copic marker. The ink delivered very evenly, and built up cumulatively, but overlapped marks would not blend together.
It was an interesting effect, but somewthat limiting as well.
Anyone who likes the aerial images I've posted on here should come by the Toronto Outdoor Art show tomorrow, Sunday, July 7 and visit Booth 144 in the White section, where I'm showing and selling drawings from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM.

1st entry for June 16, 2013

On the Sunday at the Daniels Spectrum building, Echo was working. These are a 5-minute, a 10-minute and a 15-minute study. All are warm gray Copic markers on Canson Recycled Sketch paper.
This weekend, - July 5, 6 and 7 - I am showing some drawings at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition at Nathan Phillips Square. Booth 144, in the White Section. Most of the work is direct figure studies, most of aerialists and dancers. Come say hi if you can. More details about the show and a site map here.

4th entry for June 14, 2013

These three studies finished that evening- they are two 15-minute ones and a 20-minute study at bottom.
The Copic markers do allow for a lot of latitude in relative range of shading - I added a couple of additional warm grays to what I have on hand, which is here up to 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 60% and 70% plus black.
The upper of the two lowest studies is what I did in the session. Justin's head is just overly large enough to look disturbing here. In the lower version I've photoshopped his head his head slightly reduced in size and moved up, which is more anatomically plausible.
All the same, there's something disquieting in an `uncanny valley' way in the big head drawing that I kinda like...