2nd entry for Jan 27, 2012

(Thanks to everyone who came and visited my open house - it was great to talk with you all. Keep a look out for the next one.)

These are a 10-minute and a 15-minute study above, both of which are done with Nobel hard compressed charcoal on 18 x 24" Canson Sketch paper. Below are two 20-minute studies done with the same charcoal on 22 x 30" sheets of Maidstone paper. 
The lowest one is a 10-minute study with U-Art hard compressed charcoal on a cheap 18 x 24" bond paper.

1st entry for Jan 27, 2012

On the Friday,  L-   was working at the TSA. These are two 5-minute studies above, and two 10-minute studies below. The top two are on 18 x 24" bond paper, done with hard U-Art compressed charcoal.  The lower two are done with hard Nobel charcoal on 18 x 24" sheets of Canson Sketch paper.

2nd entry for Jan 24, 2012

(Anyone in the Toronto area with time free, come visit my informal open house, today and Sunday afternoon Feb 4 & 5.  It's on 1 - 6 PM today,  and Noon - 6 on Sunday.
I've pulled out quite a number of graphite figure studies on Canson paper, plus some other graphite pieces. 
I'm at 165 Bathurst St, suite 604, and entry info will be on the downstairs door.
Hope to see you.)

These are 20-minute studies on 22 x 30" sheets of 90 lb Maidstone paper. These use a mix of hard Nobel and U-art compressed charcoal, to push the value/texture range. I find the switching back and forth gives a good effect, but also slows me down a bit in the bargain.

I felt these were fairly faithful to E-   as I saw her, and the lowest one, while not at all flashy in pose or handling, is particularly honest in all its marks - nothing dressy or extraneous.

1st entry for Jan 24, 2012

(Anyone in the Toronto area with time free, come visit my informal open house, Saturday and Sunday afternoon Feb 4 & 5.  It will run 1 - 6 PM on Sat,  and Noon - 6 on Sunday.
I'll be pulling out quite a number of graphite figure studies on Canson paper, plus some other graphite pieces. 
I'm at 165 Bathurst St, suite 604, and entry info will be on the downstairs door.
Hope to see you then.)

On the Tuesday, I went over to Artists 25.   E-    was working.  She has a lot of character as a sitter, and the sense of  life lived thus far,  which I like about drawing her.  These are, from the top, a 10-minute, a 5-minute and another 10-minute study below. All are done with hard compressed Nobel charcoal on 18 x 24" sheets of Canson Sketch paper.

2nd entry for Jan 22, 2012

Anyone in the Toronto area with time free, come visit my informal open house, Saturday and Sunday afternoon Feb 4 & 5.  It will run 1 - 6 PM on Sat,  and Noon - 6 on Sunday.
I'll be pulling out quite a number of graphite figure studies on Canson paper, plus some other graphite pieces. 
I'm at 165 Bathurst St, suite 604, and entry info will be on the downstairs door.
Hope to see you then.

These are a 15-minute study above, and two 20-minute ones below. I was switching between hard Nobel and hard U-Art charcoal to get a punchier value range while retaining a smooth texture.

1st entry for Jan 22, 2012

(Anyone in the Toronto area with time free, come visit my modest open house, Saturday and Sunday afternoon Feb 4 & 5.  It will run 1 - 6 PM on Sat,  and Noon - 6 on Sunday.
I'll be pulling out quite a number of graphite studies on Canson paper, plus some other graphite pieces. 
I'm at 165 Bathurst St, suite 604, and entry info will be on the downstairs door.
Hope to see you then.)

Following a very inspiring weekend at the Dance Ontario dance weekend, I dropped in to the last half of the Sunday night session at the TSA. M-  was working, which was a good fit, owing to the performative nature of his modelling.

These are two 1-minute studies using hard charcoal on 18 x 24" sheets of bond paper, and a 15-minute study with the hard Nobel charcoal on an 18 x 24" sheet of Canson Sketch paper.

2nd entry for Jan 20, 2012

After S-  finished, I slipped in for the final 20 minutes of a painting session next door.  P-   who ia a drawer was sitting. This is 2B graphite on a lightly prepared graphite ground.