Home made frames

After couple visit to Home Depot, hand sawing, a bit of gluing and painting, 4 home made frames was born. The best part is that it cost only a fraction of the price compare to the framing shop. Although I would still leave proper framing job to the pros, these might be alright for small painting studies.(Keeping my fingers crossed and hope I don't see them again.)

The materials, glue, saw, and paint end up to be about $20 per frame.(The more I make the lower the overhead cost for each frame as well.)

Back to painting

Few recent studies, around 1.5 to 2 hour working time. Been focusing on the brush work and still stuck in the muddy place. They are 6x12 inches since I tend to like longer formats. A nightmare to frame them though...

Apologies for the lack of reply for the previous postings. Somehow I am not able to post comment even when logged in.(Still trying to figure it out.)

Weekly chore

Drawing workshop at the end of the month

Will be conducting a drawing workshop in Vancouver at the end of the month. Time to visit the basics...(and my Draw123 Book. *smile*)

Recent studies

It's been a while since the previous update, and many white hair later.(assuming no significant hair loss. :P ) Here are some of the recent studies. Been working on adjusting my schedule and hopefully I will be able to update more often.

Another study while I still have time...

Did another test to see if it is possible to have similar approach consistently. Well, it turned out to be more than I can chew on. About 5 minutes into it, I had one of those "What the hell were you thinking?!" moment. End up taking around two hour for this head. Now I really want a pony... I will clean and draw it every day!

PS. I will leave out the artist who's work I copied from. It is easy enough to guess. *smile*

Late night study

Can't sleep. Decided to do a study using a Loomis piece. Took a little over an hour or so. Hum... now I am really awake...

DIY compact watercolor brush

Compact brushes are often super expensive in the art store, and often very small in size. Being the cheap guy I am, I got some lipstick form dollar store and turned them into my compact watercolor brush.(those are number 12 brush in the photo.) It is not only compact, one would never have to worry about messing up the hair when the brush is retracted and capped. Total cost of the brush is about $15.(Brush is about $12, the lipstick was $2.25, plus the cost of glue and cleaning supplies.)

I think anyone who love to sketch on location should totally do this too!!!

Watercolor watercolor

Still trying to be loose with watercolor. Strangely, the more I try to be loose, the tighter it looks. (I am sure something is going on in my head.) Anyway, here are the latest attempts in the local workshop. About 90 minutes to 2 hours each.

Kenneth Paul Block, passed away at age of 84

Fashion illustrator Kenneth Paul Block, one of my hero in the field of fashion illustration, have just passed away, at age of 84. A very sad day indeed.

More water color stuff

Finally completed the location/object sketchbook. A whole new sketchbook is waiting to be started now...

Hard not wanting to do one of the air plane interior after seeing Jame Jean's sketchbook.

Was having tea that day...

Sketch of the famous steam clock as I waited for the rest of the people to show up.

In a food court downtown Vancouver around lunch hour.

Near the entrance to the public library.

A quick one.

A slow one...

Watercolor stuff

Still trying to use up all those tubes of watercolors that everyone gave me. It is seriously ridiculous how many tubes of paint I have. I am still very timid with watercolor compare to how I would use acrylic. Practice, practice, and practice!

Quick gestures

Been extremely busy lately with the classes amongst other things. Haven't been able to update as often, but will after this big rush.(Keeping my fingers crossed)

Back to using my large pad again. Good to have my freedom back with the real estate of all that space to draw.(Besides my sharp charcoal pencils were dying to get out of the tin cases.) All of these were 2 minute poses on rough newsprint. No animal nor slave were harmed during the making of the drawing.

21st SketchCrawl - Vancouver

Time flew since the last crawl. Went downtown Vancouver for the crawl today. A much smaller turn out compare to the last one.(Guess no one want to be out under the cold, rainy X-file weather.) Anticipating some delay(based on the experience last time), I picked a complicated scene to start with. Luckily, I end up having slightly under two hour of working time as we waited for any late comers at the meeting spot. Hopping from one in door location to another, my umbrella was stolen(or mistakenly taken) at the sushi restaurant. Fortunately, I have my rain jacket and hat with me.

Stuff from this week...

Picked up my watercolor again. Not sure why. After using the cheap watercolor for so long, it is hard to get used to regular paint again. Avoided using pencil and went directly with the brush this time.

Done in the local workshop during the weekend.(If Monday counts as weekend...) We had a really nice model with a pink dress. She was nice enough to bring them through the difficult commute.

Just a warm up sketch today. Around 30 min or so.