2012 – Page 2 – Ken Crocker Artist

Action Sketching

Here are a couple of 10-minute drawings from my morning sketching sessions, using an Alvin Ailey DVD, Lamy Safari ink pen, and 2 waterbrushes, one for gray and one for black. Although I like them, they’re pretty stiff and I need to find a way to get more action into them.

Friday Figure

A half-hour study painted yesterday at the P&C. I’ve got my drawings skills working again, so it’s on to improving the painting side. Yesterday I worked on putting more color into the shadows. I got reflected light under her breasts but missed it on her neck. I’m still not very confident with my palette; fumbling… Continue reading Friday Figure

Things are better

I went back to basics this week and worked on drawing skills, then managed one decent watercolor at P&C last night.

My worst-ever fig. drawing sessions

My worst-ever fig. drawing sessions at P&C yest. Bad feeling of all skill gone. Dark mood. Could only slow down & keep drawing..

Train in Snow

Lesley likes train pictures, so every so often I try to do one. Besides, it was the only thing I could find with any color in the snow. Camera pic’s kinda washed out.

Alvin Ailey

I started sketcking from an Alvin Ailey DVD this morning. My usual routine is to read a section of Walt Stanchfield over breakfast, then sketch for an hour. It’s been silent comedies (Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton–lot’s of action) for the last few months, so I thought I try some dance. Inspring; great muscle definition.

Behind the Orpheum

Another out door watercolor (from my car—temperature in the teens). I liked the way the buildings stacked up.

Best Drawing Books Ever, Part I

“Drawn to Life” by Walt Stanchfield. I’ve been reading a small section of this book amost every morning for almost a year, just before I sketch from old silent comedy dvds. It’s actually 2 volumes of handouts from his classes in life drawing at Disney. His main message is get the gesture. Here’s a sample… Continue reading Best Drawing Books Ever, Part I

Corner Gas Station

Bad weather, so I had to cancel my usual Friday trip to the P&C. Following Mary Whyte’s advice that the best way to learn to paint is to paint plein air, I went out and painted an old gas station on a gray day instead.

MGandE Smokestack

This is one of some first attempts to return to plein air painting, after having basically given it up to “go back to school” to improve my basic art skills. Done on an amazingly warm day in January.