live nudes

Painting has been my first language so it’s rare for me to have to practice to do something the way I really want it.

Which is why it was really good for my ego to encounter this new thing I’m doing- painting live nudes in watercolor, inspired by years of staring at Wendy Artin’s work, wondering how in the world she does it.

I’ll tell you that story another time, but for now, just let’s say- Uff!!

Painting from a live model in freaking watercolor (it runs!) when you have 5-15 minutes to get a whole person flattened onto a sheet while making them look real- it’s, well it’s harder than it looks…

I almost blacked out with joy when they let me into the class, but I’d never done watercolor nudes before. And I’d already missed the first day. And everyone was just plugging away somehow magically getting what looked like people onto their pages. And I had umm just put 3 strokes down on the page!

Hahah!

Lots more to say about this another time. But this was the first set of semi-done sketches from 5 min poses that made my whole body happy.

Then on Day 2 I did this one below, and I felt the flow- I could feel it coming…and even though it didn’t look stellar when I did it, I felt pretty damn proud looking at it later. She gave me hope, this one!

I learned drawing bigger is easier, not harder. I learned to focus on the parts I found most interesting and leave the rest. I learned being bold pays off. Being decisive is key, when your paint dries in 20 seconds!

And I came home determined to keep painting till I did a whole person, well.

And it happened! I love love love how this painting came out. 20 min pose. It’s amazing what the hand and eye can do.

What a magic body suit!

Mine, and the model’s, and yours too…

Joe in the summer. A wonderful model.

Classic reclining nude, just male, and just facing away…

Next time I’ll paint his face so you can feel his spirit. It’s very sweet.