Thursday, May 31, 2012

First Friday at the Library

"J.D."                                            Susan Ishii

Please stop by the Library Atrium (1201 Caroline Street) for First Friday, June 1st, to see the Figure Drawing Show.

The Library has been working hard to promote their first - First Friday exhibit and they're expecting a big turnout. Hope to see you all then and on Saturday to meet the artists at the Opening Reception (also in the Library Atrium) from 6 - 8 p.m. 

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Memorial Dazed

 I think I was still coming out of my vay-coma last night but managed to somehow pull it together. It was a nice turnout for a holiday and great to see everyone again. It's amazing to me how much I miss it when I'm away, but how taking a break from time to time makes me appreciate the experience, and those who come each week, that much more.


Last night we got to review the work for the library show and it looks like it's going to be a good one. The show opens in the Atrium on June 1st for First Friday and the Reception will be on Saturday, June 2nd from 6 - 8 p.m. I hope all artists, models and fans of Figure Drawing (and fans of the fans) can be there.


I've added new figurative artists to the link below (on the right) so we can all be inspired. I guess I still have salt water running through my veins because I was so taken with the work of Jason deCaires Taylor ... his work literally takes on a life of its own.





Thank you all for coming last night and thank you, Linda, for your always perfect, seemingly effortless poses.



Les will be posing for us on Monday, June 4th and I'll see you at the library on the June 2nd.


Susan Ohle
Susan Ohle
Anita Holle
Anita Holle 
Barbara Deal
Barbara Deal 
Bruce Day
Bruce Day 
Bruce Day 
Karen Julihn 
Karen Julihn 
Phyllis Graudszus
Phyllis Graudszus
Saeed Ordoubadi
Saeed Ordoubadi
Ed King 

Ed King
Susan Ishii
Susan Ishii

artists maintain the copyright to all images posted










Friday, May 25, 2012

Nowhere Chair

We headed out early today for a swim, a long walk on the beach and picture taking. Jonathan spotted this plastic chair, sitting on the point in the dunes, faded by the sun. His pictures are much better than mine, but I thought I'd share anyway.




See you all on Monday and don't forget to bring your work for the Library Show.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Musing from the Beach

Well, here we are, at the southern tip of Topsail Island and the weather reports have called for thunderstorms and fog every day and this is the first day that it's actually been cloudy ... no rain, no fog, perfect weather. It's just as well there's no sun today, our skin needs a break and I have a book to finish. I've been reading an amazing book that I highly recommend -  "The Undressed Art - Why We Draw" by Peter Steinhart. 


The author is a naturalist and writer who has been going to figure drawing groups for the last fifteen years. He takes a naturalist's eye for observation and detail in looking at why we draw and what compels us to it. He writes about the variety of groups out there, who attends and why we keep coming back. It's about how we see, how our brains work differently when we draw, the importance of observation and memory. On that subject, he tells of James McNeill Whistler, while teaching in Paris, placed his model on the ground floor and student's easels upstairs, so students had to observe and then walk up a flight of stairs before drawing. As the term progressed, he moved the easels higher and by the end of the term, the students and their easels were on the 6th floor. And you thought the one minute poses were challenging!


It's all about the allure, the ritual, why the figure, the models ... he covers it all and I've relished every page.


Well, the sun has come out after all, so much for Weather Central. A few more days here (the truth is, I don't know what day this is, nor do I care) and I look forward to seeing you all back at Figure Drawing on Monday where we'll be drawing Linda ... because we have to draw.


"... In these groups, I have made long-standing acquaintances and friendships, and it is clear to me that for many of us, drawing is a kind of compulsion. Every week, we drop family and work and draw together ... There is a dogged quality to what we are doing. We come back week after week, happy to see one another, grateful, I think, for our shared complicity in a doubtful activity. It is doubtful because its most noticeable attributes are nudity, desire, effort and failure. It's all funneled through a kind of meditative state that is internal and private, for the most part incommunicable except in the drawings themselves. It is by turns erotic and puritanical, social and narcissistic, uplifting and depressing." Peter Steinhart















Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Woo Hoo!

It was a big group last night (a baker's dozen!) and a great evening. There were some beautiful drawings created of Anna Page's graceful poses. All of you make Figure Drawing in Fredericksburg possible ... the wonderful artists who come each week and our magnificent models. We're so lucky to have this opportunity.


I want to remind everyone that Figure Drawing will be cancelled, Monday, May 21st


Linda will be posing for us on May 28th. Please bring your work for the library show to the session (on the 28th) for review. The art work will need to be delivered to the library atrium before 10:00 a.m. on June 1st and we'll need to see what we're hanging beforehand. I'll be sending out an email for the library guidelines.


There's a lot to plan for in our near future ... more wet session at the Purina Tower, a Figure Show at Sara Irby's Studio in August and our 2nd anniversary of  Figure Drawing. We'll tackle it all as soon I'm back in the burg. 


Anita Holle
Barbara Deal
Brian Burgess 
Brian Burgess
Bruce Day
(1 minute poses)
Bruce Day 
Bruce Day 
Susan Ohle
Ed King  
Ed King 
Ed King 
Jenna Anderson 
Jenna Anderson 
Karen Julihn
Karen Julihn
Nicole Hamilton
Susan Ishii
Susan Ishii

artists maintain the copyright to all images posted

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Heads Up!

copyright


Bring your work for the Library show to the session on Monday night - finished or unfinished. I'm going to be at the beach for a week, so we'll need to talk about a few things and make some plans. Anna Page will be posing for us. Hope to see you there.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Don't forget to breath ...

Just a reminder that Life Drawing is cancelled for May 5th. It's been a whirlwind week of life drawing ... whew!


My sincere thanks to Hamilton & Bea for loaning their beautiful space for the session on Saturday. There was plenty of room, the space is amazing and the light was just perfect. Thank you, thank you.


Anna Page will be posing at Read All Over on Monday, May 14th. I hope you can join us then.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Saturday

Just a reminder that the wet session will be Saturday, May 5th from 10 am - 1 pm at the Purina Tower.
Please let me know if you plan on attending. Doors will be locked at 10, so please be there early. We will be painting (or drawing) one pose for the three hour session. So, bring your easel, chair, and paint supplies (no solvents, please - linseed oil okay).


Monday's session will be cancelled, so to get your weekly Life Drawing "fix" ... you need to be there!


Contact me with any questions. Thanks, Susan.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Go Figure!

It was a great night for life drawing and many thanks to our model, Felix, for his perfect poses - every time. Thanks also to attending artists for your support.

I have organized a wet session for this Saturday, May 5th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Purina Tower. It should be a great session in a wonderful space, with terrific north light and perfect model. You will need to register for this session, so please let me know if you will be attending. This session will be $15 per person, bring your own easel, paint supplies (no solvents allowed) and chair. The door will be locked at 10, to allow artists to work uninterrupted.


Susan Ohle
Matt Austin
Phyllis Graudszus
Phyllis Graudszus
Saeed Ordoubadi
Saeed Ordoubadi 
Nicole Hamilton
Nicole Hamilton
Nicole Hamilton
Ed King
Ed King

Bruce Day
Bruce Day
Bruce Day
Jenna Anderson 
Jenna Anderson 
Susan Ishii
Susan Ishii

artists maintain the copyright to all images posted