Time to send 'er in!

It's been said before... progress, not perfection!

I've shaded about as much as I can shade and I've drawn and redrawn as much as I can. Time to let it go.

These are all the pieces for this next-to-last assignment. I want to publicly thank everyone who has commented on my progress, especially those who encouraged the dream.

And I lift up a prayer to all those who don't believe in dreams, don't believe in the passions of the heart directed towards God above. May we always be what we are, and be it well!

Lord, if this is the talent you have given me and want me to use, then may that always be enough of an excuse for me to plow ahead and do it. Deo Gratias!

Figure drawing

Trying to see what the best way to start a figure drawing is. I've tried the boney landmarks, drawing the major shapes, drawing the bones and/or muscle. Seems like proportions get skewed in most cases. This is one of those times where I wish I was in an on-site art class where I could just look up at the teacher with big, round eyes and say... HELP!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

What's a birthday? Well, for one, it means you made it through another year. Trials, tribulations, joys, sorrows, adventures, love, frowns, and smiles. Friendships won... friendships lost. A valley of tears softened by love and consolation.

But also the realization that indeed, what hasn't killed me has made me stronger. So before I get into any deep philosophy, enjoy my newest birthday past time... drawing and shading pictures of nude 1950's models!

As Aneta says, progress... not perfection. Good grief! Time to quit shading this lady and move on. Suzy is waiting!

Suzy Gridlock

After much deliberation and a bottle of scotch (okay, that's an exaggeration. I don't even like scotch!), I gridded my lady, Suzy. The grid is compliments of GridArt (after I bought their product, of course. Check out their website at http://gridart.com). And what I ended up deciding was to cut off the bottom 2 inches to make the 8x10 picture fit on 8x8 worth of space.

This morning, I set up the grid on my paper and lightly penciled in my lady. The lines are so light that the scanner couldn't even pick it up. So as I darken the lines, I'll post the results.

Thanks for bearing with me. Someday, we'll all look back on this and laugh... with a beer!

30-Minute Dash.

I am so glad to be posting regularly on my blog again. I have made a non-blood pact with Roma to draw SOMETHING for 30 minutes each day. For those who saw my earlier posts, I am in the home stretch of finishing my Art Instruction School (AIS) program but have bee procrastinating big time. This morning discipline may be the only way I can get the course finished before my time runs out in February 2009 (on the course that is. I don't think I have any terminal illness).

Life gets in the way and no matter how good or bad it may be going, something will ALWAYS get in the way... if you let it. So for the past week or so, I have been making 30 minutes of art work my second priority each morning. Interesting how easy it is to surf the Internet for 30 minutes or stare into space for 30 minutes. Yet how crazy is it to not take part in your passion for a measly 30 minutes. Time is the one resource you use that you NEVER get back. 'Tis a shame to waste it... no?

So drunk with success on my art work, I'm now working with another buddy to write for 30 minutes each day. It's amazing how much more committed (to the Funny Farm!) you get when you know someone is checking up on you. And even though I get frustrated that I'm not making more progress, I can now say that I put in 30 minutes of writing EVERY day as opposed to the zero I was doing previously.

Amazing how it can take years and years to come to see the truth applied to one's life. The answers are always simple... the doing is the hard part.

Of course, if someone sends me some chocolate, I might write and draw even longer (or I might just end up sitting in a corner stuffing my face full of chocolate!).

Cheers!

Mark

P.S. Wondering how to work in 30 minutes of photography in each day...

Winner by a foot

I drew these off of some photos in a book. Something less than real about them (probably because they are feet not attached to any bodies). And I have to admit... I'm not a fan of feet. Well, at least not ugly feet like these!

Male/female figures

Spent an hour this morning sketching even though I had only scheduled 30 minutes. Looking forward to getting back into the groove!

Sketching people... ARGH!

The one thing I want to be able to draw most and the one that frustrates me the most... PEOPLE! I savor the thought of the day when I can draw people that look and pose and act the way I want them to.