JOEL TIDEY

Sketch Book

2011-10-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

There is something special about viewing an artists sketch book; the drawings will usually reveal observations from life and or various creative ideas. It is rare to see the preparatory work included in an exhibition but when they are combined, it gives a deeper look into the creative process. Sketches that are done in small bound books are not meant to be so-called finished works but they have an energy about them. The viewer will be able to observe visual thinking and invention. The sketches tend to be exciting and fresh because they are executed without any restrictions.

Tonal study from life

2011-10-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

This drawing was done on a Canson antique white paper. I rendered this study with simplistic black and white tones.

Life drawing on mid-toned paper

2011-10-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

This drawing was done on a mid-toned paper with graphite and white highlights. Some poses speak to the artist immediately and this one had an instantaneous effect on me. This is what I hunt for and most times it is not something that can be preconceived.

New Model-The Sketch Club

2011-09-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a new model at The Sketch Club. The studio was full and the syncopated rhythm of pencils created a meditative drawing session. The group has been going for almost 4 years now and we are going strong. The "Sketch hunters" are out there, as Robert Henri called them; All we need is a good model and a place to park an easel.

Outside of the city it can be hard to find a good open life drawing session, although a little searching and word of mouth... we can be found.

The drawings below are from 10/27/11 session.

Quick Sketching

2011-09-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

This pose was a challenge to capture with in five minutes. The quick poses train you to express the only the essential information.

Wire Gesture

2011-09-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Adding a wire concept to a traditional gesture allows you to explore three-dimensional space.
This quick expressive figure drawing was done in under 3 min.

Problem Solving

2011-09-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

The following photos illustrate the masterful progression of W. Bouguereau's working process.

One of the hardest things to learn as an artist is utilizing the power of the inventive sketch. Artists love detail and diving right into a finish. Unfortunately, skipping over the invaluable rough stages causes unsatisfactory results, leading to frustration. I know this well from my early experience as a student...I used to think somehow the magic drawing angels would assist me in going in for the finish as soon as I had the initial concept. After trying this a few hundred times, I realized the importance of this process. Trying to solve problems while crafting a beautiful finish is like trying to sweep sand off of a beach.

Moving from a thumbnail directly to a finish does not work very well either. Drawing is visual intelligence, it is a game of chess in which a multitude of problems are solved; composition, movement, clarity etc, we deal with this even when we are drawing from the live model...how do we fit the entire figure on the page? In my opinion art should not be an accident; everything must be composed and contemplated. There are some exceptions with the so-called abstract artists, where accidents are a part of their art form. I don't believe that "luck or happy accidents" should be a part of any profession. This reminds me of an interview I heard with the late Miles Davis. Mr. Davis described how he finally got the chance to play in front of a master musician. After miles finished his very abstract and expressive song, the musician asked, "what are the notes you just played?" Miles replied, "no idea." The man replied, if you can't describe the notes you play, your just messing around. Mr. Davis went home and learned every note from that point on.

If your not making changes your are not drawing...

Master of the day

2011-09-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

John W. Waterhouse 1849-1917

English Pre-Raphaelite

Life studies

2011-08-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

The drawings below are quick expressions done from life. The mid-toned paper drawing was done in about 8 minutes. The interesting thing about quick posses is that you have no time to contemplate the finite details. You are forced to capture the essential information or what your response is to your subject.

Foreshortening/Perspective/Proportioning

2011-08-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

The complex nature of drawing the foreshortened figure will quickly illustrate why a set system of measuring is problematic. We know that the figure is generally 7.5 heads tall, ONLY if the figure is standing perfectly straight like a telephone pole. If you were inclined to draw a human fence-post pose, the model's head could be used as a comparative measurement. The head would mark particular points as you move down the figure like the nipples and navel etc; As you see in this figure drawing I had extreme foreshortening to deal with. No preconceived system of measurement would help in solving the pose. Drawing the figure requires many things, but you must solve the problem at hand, according to the abstract positions of the anatomy. Foreshortened anatomy tends to compress shapes. Visually, the measurements are closer together than they actually seem, requiring...(here is the secret of drawing) Slowing down and measuring the beginning and end of a specific graphic section, in perspective; What is the actual visual distance? (this distance is the three-dimensional illusion that we draw when viewing foreshortened anatomy) This is no easy task...

"It is not form but in the understanding of form"-Degas

Creative effort

2011-08-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of intelligent effort. (John Ruskin)

Beautifully crafted art cannot be produced by accident ...it can only be created through diligent study, knowledge and passion. Sound drawing skills will be obtained through self initiated practice. In my opinion, too much emphasis is placed on how someone else creates a work of art. However, An understanding of the artistic process is important. The marketing of brushes and pigments that popular artists use may be good information, but it will not be the reason for success. An impressive drawing can be executed with a whittled twig and muddy water.

We must understand the science of art, but limiting one's expression through another artist's process will produce a mechanic, not an artist. I can watch another artist work all day long; it is fascinating and entertaining to observe, but remember you are watching how that particular artist sees, connects and responds to a specific subject. Artistic demonstrations are helpful but should be limited. The hardest thing to do whether you are learning form a book, instructor or DVD is to extract helpful information that may guide you in finding your process. There are no recipes to solve the multitude of problems you will encounter. Every time the model changes the pose you are given a new problem to solve. If you memorized a system that may get you through the present drawing, but you may be in the weeds in the next? In my early years I can remember just trying to make it through a life drawing ...it can be a frustrating feeling. We all know good figure drawing requires observation, anatomy and drawing skills, but the most important aspect is engaging in the art of exploration of form. We solve problems, through trial and error, not merely copying what is before us. The ability to de-construct our subject and creatively re-build an expressive drawing requires intellect, focus and risk.

Figure studies

2011-08-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

The following drawings were done from life at The Riker Hill Art Park open life sessions. Working from different body types creates excitement and new challenges in the drawing process. Depending on your reaction to the model or particular method of stylization, both will yield unique expressions.

Torso study

2011-08-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

This drawing is a study of a torso done from life. This was the last pose of the session and lasted a little over an hour. This pose was very challenging due to the dynamic foreshortening.

My advice to artists that want to improve their drawing skills from life is to do studies from various sections of the body. It is good practice to try the entire figure in one session. The problem in doing this every time you draw is that you will work to fast and not absorb the intricate shapes and planes. Speed will always lead to frustration and curtail the learning process.

Sketching from the cadaver

2011-07-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Many artists from the past including Di Vinci and Michelangelo had access to cadavers to study the extraordinary and complex human anatomy. In fact, Di Vinci collaborated with the doctor Marcantonio della Torre in 1510 to 1511. In 30 years, Leonardo dissected 30 male and female corpses of different ages.

Some artists used tomb raiders or gravediggers to get their supply of corpses. This activity was condemned by the church and was done in the greatest of secrecy.

The following is an interesting note from Di Vinci

And though you should have a love for such things you may perhaps be deterred by natural repugnance, and if this does not prevent you, you might be deterred by fear of passing the night hours in the company of these corpses, quartered and flayed and horrible to behold.

I visited the Bodies Exhibit in New York and sketched form cadavers that have been prepared in various deconstructive states. This was a great experience to observe the anatomy in a multitude of positions.

The drawing of the cross-sectioned thigh was great to study. This is a very complicated section of the hip and is problematic for artists that are not familiar with the hip and thigh anatomy. You can see the twisting and wedging action of the flesh that George Bridgman talked about. This drawing is of the thigh lying on a flat surface. The muscles are converging to the anterior superior iliac spine or artist's point of the pelvis. The arm was from a standing figure that also shows the twisting action of muscles.

Todays life drawing

2011-07-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Today's longer pose ended with about one hour with the model in a resting pose. This drawing was initiated in a traditional drawing style, then I decided to brush on graphite powder (See recent post on reductive drawing) and model through line and tone. I used a one inch brush and applied the dark charcoal dry to the white strathmore paper.

Todays life drawing session

2011-06-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

We had a great drawing session today, the model executed several expressive gestures and than we went into a few longer poses.

It has always fascinated me how certain anatomical forms or even the way ordinary things become interesting in their composition. For instance, the way charcoal sticks, or pencils are layered, or intermingled in the bottom of your bag of supplies. For artist's it becomes second nature to observe interesting or abstract patterns in everything. In fact, I really can't stop doing this. Fortunately, It is one of the good compulsions to have and in a way most artist's have this to one degree or another. Today's model in particular has a sculpted and streamlined shape to her feet. Ok, before this conversion goes in the wrong direction, I am only speaking of the incredible design and beauty in form following function. There is a certain angular curve in the arch of the foot when viewed from underneath...

Constructing limbs

2011-06-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

Drawing the torso and limbs can be challenging to define their correct angle, length, and general placement. I find it extremely helpful to place a linear armature for the limbs, so that a confident arm can be rendered. This twenty-minute pose illustrates the arms orientation in a constructive stage. This is a good example of constructing large masses over smaller masses. The trunk is the base for the limbs. Drawing the arms in front of the torso will add even more difficulty in observing the correct mass of the torso. See through the arms to observe the overall construction.

John Ruskin

2011-06-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

"Give me some mud off a city crossing, some ochre out of

a gravel pit and a little whitening and

some coal dust and I will paint you a luminous

picture if you give me time to gradate

my mud and subdue my dust."

John Ruskin

Photo Tidey

Two figures

2011-06-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

This quick drawing was done at Spring Street Studio, open life drawing sessions in NYC. It is rare to get to draw two models interacting. This was quite challenging to capture the intertwined figures in only a few minutes.

Keep it simple!

2011-06-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a few sketches that illustrate the overall directions of the torso and limbs. This initial process will set your drawing in the right direction. You only need to observe and place four to six basic directional lines to set up a drawing for a solid block in. This concept forces the artist to look between the outside boundaries of the figure.

Reductive modeling

2011-05-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

Reductive drawing is a process of rending through the effects of light. To create the illusion of form,the lights are removed from a toned paper with erasers. You can buy powdered graphite from an art store for about $10 to $15.00 a jar. This lasts a long time so it is worth the money. Using a large soft brush you can apply the graphite to the paper in different directions so that it covers the fibers evenly. Use the pigment sparingly... a little goes far. Kneaded and hard erasers are great tools to model the lights with.

Additive drawing can be used in conjunction with the reductive method. Basically adding traditional drawing with this process.

I suggest to spray the work to protect from any unwanted smudging.

Art Courses

2011-05-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching the following courses at Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, in Summit NJ.

Courses

FIGURE DRAWING With a focus on drawing fundamentals and anatomical information. (six weeks)

7/19 through 8/23 Tuesday nights-7:00pm -9:30pm

BASIC DRAWING Learning the fundamentals. (six weeks)

7/20 through 8/24 Wednesday nights-7:00pm- 9:30pm

Workshops

PAINTING THE LANDSCAPE Studies in oil (one day workshop)

6/26 Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm

I offer private instruction in my studio. Please contact me about private lessons.

For more information http://www.artcenternj.org

If you have any questions about the classes I will be teaching please feel free to contact me.

www.joeldtidey@comcast.net

973.941.6453

Drawing the foot

2011-05-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

The foot is an incredibly strong and complex mechanical structure that bears our weight and produces locomotion. To draw the foot with confidence you have to get to know this bony structure. Similar to the hand the foot is limited in its muscle mass. Understanding the basic mechanics will enable you to draw the foot instead of hiding it behind... furniture, drapery, smoke or small farm animals.

Don't get caught up memorizing the abstract names of each bone...start by observing the bones and actions through its movements, and most importantly...the plane changes. Take time to study the lower leg muscles because the muscles and tendons control the basic movements of the foot.

Mid-tone paper

2011-05-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

The drawings below were done from life on a mid-toned paper. This produces an optical neutral to work from. The use of an optical neutral is popular in oil painting where a tone is rubbed on the canvas before a painting is started. I used a "sketch and wash" pencil and a white pencil for highlighted areas. Working on a toned paper tends to save some time because tone of the paper does not have to be rendered. The value of the paper becomes a part of the finished drawing. My goal was to use a limited amount of line and value to say what i needed to say. Only the essential information is important to me.

Art

2011-05-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

I will be continuing the Riker Hill open life drawing sessions throughout the summer. This is for artists of any level interested in working from the live model. There is no instruction for the sessions. We meet on Tuesday and Friday each week from 10:00am to 12:30pm. We have easels if needed. The fee is $15. per session... pay as you go. Hope to see you there.

We are located at- 284 Beaufort Ave. Livingston NJ 07039

Please call if you have any questions. Joel 908.941.6453

SUMMER COURSES:

I am teaching several courses through the summer at The New Jersey Center For Visual Art, in Summit NJ.

Figure Drawing

(Every Tuesday night for six weeks) 7/19 through 8/23 7:00pm- 9:30pm

Basic Drawing

(Every Wednesday night for six weeks) 7/20 through 8/24 7:00pm- 9:30pm

Please go to the art centers web site for details.

http://www.artcenternj.org

Only the essentials

2011-05-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

This quick sketch of two cows was from a farm in NJ. I was commissioned to do a painting from this property and I just found the initial sketches in my studio.

I have found that the initial sketch or immediate expression far exceeds most finishes. I feel that many artists battle with this situation. we can easily loose the essential idea or artistic impulse through the process of over rendering.

Rough sketches, which are born in an instant in the heat of inspiration, express the idea of their author in a few strokes, while too much effort and diligence sometimes sops the vitality and powers of those who never know when to leave off. (Giorgio Vasari)

Drawing Tools

2011-05-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

1. PENCILS
A pencil's core is made of powdered graphite mixed with varying amounts of a clay binder made in varying hardness and softness. H stands for hardness and B stands for blackness. Pencils come in a wide range of tones however, I recommend choosing a few pencils that will be able to produce light, medium and dark tones. One problem with pencils is that they may leave an unwanted sheen. This sheen is made by trying to make a hard H-pencil produce a darker tone. By experimenting you will be able to know when to alternate from one pencil to another for the desired effect.

Softness to hardness: (9B pencils have the least amount of clay)
9B/8B/7B/6B/5B/4B/3B/2B/B/HB/2H/3H/4H/5H/6H/7H/8H/9H

2. CONT'E
Cont'e sticks are named after the french inventor and painter Nicolas-Jacques Cont'e. He is also known for the popular Cont'e crayon. Cont'e sticks are square in cross section and generally found in black and white, red-brown called sanguine (French for blood) and can be found in a wide range of other colors.

3. POWDERED CHARCOAL
Fine powdered charcoal is popular for toning large areas and is great for reductive drawings that are produced by erasing out various tones and highlights.

4. KNEADED ERASER
Kneaded erasers are a very useful tool. Their consistency resembles putty or gum and therefore easily shaped. This eraser is effective as a blending tool along with lifting highlights

5. VINE CHARCOAL
Made by burning different types of woody vines into combinations of soft, medium and hard consistences. The wood is burned at varying lengths. The longer it is burned the harder and lighter the markings will be. Vine Charcoal tends to be more softer than willow and therefore darker. Because of its free flowing and expressive capabilities vine charcoal allows the artist to curtail detail and quickly mass in large tonal shapes. Vine sticks are highly recommended for large drawings because of its ease of use and exquisite blacks and velvety grays.

Photography by J. Tidey

Hand drawing

2011-05-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

This is a drawing of a hand in a traditional yoga pose. The drawing is about 6" by 10".

Legz

2011-05-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a few leg studies done from life.

The lower limbs are an intriguing aspect of the figure. Their strength and grace play a large role in expressing an interesting figure drawing. The tapering and twisting shapes are brilliant in their design.

Drawing not only develops hand-eye coordination, it teaches one to really observe, to see, as nothing else ever will. (Nancy Marculewicz)

Life Drawings

2011-05-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

It is interesting what kind of expression or, so-called finish happens according to the time frame of a pose. In my drawing session I planned on slowing down and doing a well-crafted drawing. After drawing for an hour or so the drawing was boring and was void of life. With only about 15 minutes left, I moved to get a new angle of the model and produced a drawing with life and expression...see the seated headless drawing below. With a limited amount of drawing time I had to try and capture the essentials or the figures character. There is something to be said about a well crafted drawing, but in no way is it a guarantee that an "academic drawing" will produce an emotional reaction from the viewer. On the other side of the coin I would not be able to produce quick expressive drawings of the figure without years of study. The quick beautiful expressions we see artists doing are deceiving in that they are backed up by many years of practice and studying the figure. We have to know the rules to break'em. Bravo to any artist that has the tenacity to push through and keep moving forward.... now where did I put my Absinthe!

Rodin-The Gates of Hell

2011-05-03T05:50:00.000-07:00

I just visited the Rodin museum in Philadelphia, and can't say enough about this collection. At the front of the building you can see one of the versions of "The Gates of Hell". This work was commissioned in 1880 and depicts a scene from "The Inferno", the first section of Dante Alighieri's Devine Comedy. Rodin worked on this piece for 37 years until his death. There are 180 figures with in the composition. There are 7 bronze versions in the world. Most of the figures are clearly on the way to hell, while others seem to be in limbo.

This museum is a must see!

Hands and pole

2011-05-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

This drawing was done from a ten minute pose with a pole. The planar changes in the fists were great to draw.

Repose Drawing

2011-04-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

This drawing was done from life from one of my favorite models. The pose had an interesting flow through the spine and hips, that ended with the curved composition of the feet. I will end up finishing the details from memory.

Mobile Easel

2011-04-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Studio tip...

Most large wooden easels are non-portable after they are assembled. I found myself scratching my wood floors when I had to move my easel. I thought of an idea while walking through Ikea's store. I saw a set of heavy duty metal wheels with rubber treads that would be easily attached to the base of my easel. I am able to move my work around with ease for changing lighting conditions, or just to get a different view of what I'm working on.

Auguste Rodin hand studies

2011-04-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Rodin-1840-1917

Rodin was a French sculptor that was heavily criticized in the way he expressed the figure. At the time the predominant movement was formulaic and decorative. His figures showed individual character through realism. Rodin never changed his style to please anyone.

Beyond his incredible drawings and sculptures, his tenacious attitude to express his ideas in his own way deserves great praise.

This photo of Rodin's hand studies is from the Metropolitan museum in New York City.

Marker Drawing

2011-04-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am constantly designing and making compositions out of the images I observe.

A few thousand of these sketches will lead toward the hopes of making a really good work of art.

The two marker drawings below are-

Study of a corn case- I saw this at a market and it was yelling at me to draw it. I think they make pills for this disorder.

Industrial interior- Once I was in the building, I couldn't stop looking upward at the arrangements and abstract patterns of iron girders and machinery.

Lets face it; we are never really done learning when it comes to drawing skills. In my opinion, once you have a solid foundation in craftsmanship, the act of making something look realistic, or like a photograph becomes less interesting to me. Making something appear real on its own is an exercise, a way of learning. The great Robert Henri, described this as being a mechanic. Don't get me wrong, there are many incredible "very realistic" paintings and drawings that knock your socks off, but there is an undercurrent to be found in these works. There is an individual aesthetic statement from the artist. This is where the impulse for any great work of art starts, not in the superficial details. Look at a Rodin statue, although very life-like, there is a humanistic emotional quality that radiates from his work. He was able to tell a story through 1200 pounds of plaster. His concern was to animate his figures. He was a true pioneer in his expressions.

Interesting poses

2011-04-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

Where would artists be without good models? Whether you are an artist who represents the figure or not, most likely you have learned how to draw through the live model. It is the most challenging aspect of an artist’s education. There is no cheating in drawing the live model, you will always know where your stand.

There is nothing like attending a drawing session where the model becomes a part of the creative process. Both the artist and the model must be aware of the human form. Modeling is a true art form that is under-appreciated. So models...THANK YOU!

2011-04-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Painting in Provence! We have two trips planned for this summer- June 11th through the 18th, and August 13th through the 20th. If you are interested in traveling and painting outdoors, please look at the website for all the details. www.nashirajourneys.com/

(En Plein Air) Is a French expression which means “in the open air”, and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. The passion for painting in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon school and the Impressionists. The great painters like Camille Corot, Jean Francois Millet, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre Auguste Renoir are some of the masters of capturing their impression of the fleeting light. Many artists today are enjoying the art of painting outdoors through its challenges and rewards. This type of painting has its own unique experiences compared to painting indoors. There is a direct connection with nature that is inspiring and meditative.

Our limited number of Participants allows for individual instruction and will be geared toward your specific needs. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, your desire to learn is all that is needed. I will be focusing on drawing, tonality, color and composition in oils, but suggest bringing watercolors or any other mediums that you prefer. Painting after all is about observing and expressing, no matter what media you choose to record your impression. We will be painting in the mornings and in the afternoon where the lighting conditions change quickly. Therefore, we try and record our impressions with economy. I will be focusing on teaching how to simplify large masses of color that will become the structure of our studies. An important aspect of en plein air painting is to learn to draw with the brush and to express atmospheric effects rapidly. My philosophy on learning is to do many studies and experiment freely without the pressure of making a masterpiece. Moreover, you will be surprised what happens when you allow yourself to work in this way. I hope you join us on this incredible trip to France, where you will be inspired to learn, relax and express yourself. Whether you are sketching in a local market or capturing the sunlit rolling hills, it will be an experience of a lifetime.

My philosophy

There is an extraordinary sense of pleasure and achievement in painting and drawing from life. There is an underlying meditative focus that the artist experiences. It is difficult to put into words the excitement and challenge of capturing your subject. The expressive lines and brush strokes leave traces of your artistic impulse. Furthermore, the artist leaves behind an impression that goes beyond the act of simply recording. Artists are not born with the technical skills of creating, but they possess an inherent passion and curiosity toward shape and its unlimited creative arrangements. Through knowledge and practice you will gain the confidence to express yourself. Whether you enjoy painting as a hobby or want to become a professional, art affords us pleasure and a greater appreciation of life.

Joel Tidey

Study of the back

2011-04-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

This study of the back will be in my up coming book on drawing the figure. The back is another elusive, yet expressive aspect of the figure. The overlapping patterns of the muscles will accentuate some areas and obscure others. The undulating landscape of the back is a fascinating puzzle to construct. When looking at the back in normal lighting we have to search for clues, but when lit from the side we need to add a few hours to the drawing session.

The Hands

2011-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

The hands are able to express an incredible amount of emotions through their actions or non-actions. Depending on the pose the hands will capture all my attention, and I will need to draw what they are expressing, despite the whole figure. I don't know how to express this excitement in words, but it is an addiction that I embrace.

Below are my drawings of the hands. The key to drawing the hands is understanding the bone structure. The hands have a limited amount of flesh, so the visible bones and tendons are paramount in rendering a believable and expressive hand.

The photos are various master paintings I took from museum collections.

1. John S. Sargent

2. Edward Charlemont

3. Lawrence Alma Tadema

Gesture drawings

2011-04-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

The drawings below are a variety of one minute poses. I tried to feel what it was like to be in the pose that the model was in. There will usually be a line of energy through the form that will guide the pencil. The importance of gesture drawings can not be emphasized enough.

The Pencil

2011-04-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

What do drawings mean to me? I really don't know. The activity absorbs me. I forget everything else in a way that I don't think happens with any other activity... (John Berger)

Drawing is intimate and reveals exactly where we are, and in a culture that isn't comfortable with that, it frightens many. You just cannot cheat when you draw. (Sandy Davison)

Make a drawing, begin it again, trace it; begin it again and trace it again. (Edgar Degas)

My pencil is like a fencer's foil. (Andrew Wyeth)

The Pelvis

2011-04-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Anyone interested in improving their figure drawings should take some time to study the pelvic girdle.

Anatomy can be overwhelming, but my suggestion is to take manageable bites of anatomy and try to put it to use in your next drawing session. Try cropping in on a section of the body and study that area. It is good practice to draw the whole figure, but you will improve dramatically by doing studies of various parts. When I first started life drawing classes, I would focus on drawing the whole figure over and over. I experienced the same frustrations as any student trying to make a solid drawing. Any drawing is good for improvement, but if you are having trouble drawing the hand or foot how can you take on the whole figure with confidence. In your drawing sessions I recommend changing up your sessions by doing large studies of small sections for example; the hand, arm, leg or any area you would like. If you study any of the great artists, you can bet the farm that they have done hundreds of studies that focus on various sections of the figure, along with the overall anatomy.

The pelvis is an interesting part of our anatomy because it is vital in the overall gesture and mass of the torso, but it is mostly hidden by flesh. Pelvis is Latin for Basin, describing its bowl-like structure. Our pelvis tilts forward slightly, producing the low curve in the back. There are two bony-landmarks on the front of the pelvic region that can be very important in rendering the torso. The anterior superior iliac spine or ASIS, tend to be more visible on the female figure. The two bony landmarks will illustrate the various tilting actions of the lower torso, that will counter-balance the upper body. This is a great place to start when observing the figure. Don't let the abstract anatomical names get in the way of the importance of structure and angles first. As artists we are visual, so start with familiarizing yourself with basic anatomical shapes.

En Plein Air

2011-04-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

This painting was done for The Salmagundi Club's "En Plein Air Exhibition". I cropped into the architecture of the building to compose the painting. The opposition of angles and curves created an interesting abstract design. Grace's church is located on 10th and Broadway in New York City.

I received a second place award for my oil painting. This was painted on an Ampersand board primed with Gamblin ground. The surface allows a smooth paint application, but the adhesion can also produce interesting textures. I have been experimenting with this type of ground and it has replaced my use of traditional gesso.

Riker Hill Art Park (The Sketch Club)

2011-04-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

The two drawings below were done at The Riker Hill Art Park in Livingston, NJ. I run two open drawing sessions every week. Artists are welcome to come draw and paint from the live model every Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 12:30pm.

Working from the live model offers artists one of the greatest challenges. The meditative act of expressing the nude form is one of the greatest pleasures. All artists are welcome to join us for a great drawing session.

284 Beaufort Ave. Livingston, NJ 07039 Building 500.

Pay as you go, $15. per session.

Short pose sketching

2011-03-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's been a while since my last post. I have been busy teaching and working on my book about drawing the figure.

Here are two quick drawings done from life both are under 5 min poses. I used powdered graphite, a kneaded eraser and a 4-B pencil to render the form. Through short poses you are able to express the essential energy of the figure. When you force yourself to capture the essential information, it allows a freedom that can be lost in longer poses.

The Salmagundi Club's member show

2010-08-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

My painting of "The Green Bottle" won an Honorable Mention at the Salmagundi Club's Summer Exhibition. This show will be on for the next two weeks. If you are in NY stop by and see the show. The Salmagundi Club's location is 47 5th Avenue.

This oil painting on board was done from life in my studio. My wife and I collect small interesting pottery from various places and this unique bottle became an interesting still life.

Portrait

2010-08-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

This is my latest drawing for my upcoming book on drawing the Human figure. This drawing is in NY at the Salmagundi Club's members show and will be on view for the next two weeks.

Statue in oil

2010-05-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting. This is a post on an en plein air painting that I started a while ago. The weather and lighting was perfect the day that I started, but we got some rainy days when I tried to continue. I decided to finish from a photo. As you can see I deleted the large tree in back of the statue for compositional purposes. Hope you enjoy viewing the process.

Blocking In

2010-03-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

"Blocking in" The most neglected practice. This can be an abstract way of conceptualizing your art,but it will enable you solve many problems. In the early stages of learning to draw or paint, we tend to go straight for the details or the fun stuff. Working in this way will improve your work drastically. Contour lines will always be there that is the easy part, focus on building mass before the details.

Top: detail from a life drawing session. 60"high by 35" wide on craft paper. For studies this cheap paper used in construction work is great for large studies. It is about $10. a roll at Home Depot.

Bottom: small oil study, blocking in with a brush and oils.

2010-01-17T19:04:00.000-08:00

West Essex Art Association's Open Juried Art Exhibition at The Vincent Visceglia Art Center. The exhibition will be on from January 17th through January 29th, 2010. I was honored to receive the "Best In Show Award" at the artists reception.

Pigment confusion

2010-01-02T15:06:00.000-08:00

Today most all natural pigments have been replaced by a synthetic alternative. Commercial paint company's use the original natural pigment names to market with a poetic flare. To add more confusion they use names like sunset orange! What is Sunset orange? look out for the word hue at the end of the title of the paint color. For instance the color rose madder hue does not contain any rose madder, hue is used in a title when the paint does not contain the real ingredient. It would be wise to stay away from paints that have three or more colors, this really causes trouble with mixing color. There are some great synthetic paints that are light fast and permanent just do some homework before heading to the art store.

(ASTM), American Society of Testing Materials rates the light fastness of a paint scoring it from 1 through 5, 1 being excellent and 5 rated very poor.

On the label the first letter is P this stands for pigment the second letter is the color and than an identification number. Example: PR108 Cadmium Seleno-Sulfide (common name cadmium red). This is a good quality red that replaced the original natural color vermilion. If you are purchasing a red paint that has vermilion in the title check for the ingredients on the label.

William Bouguereau 1825-1905

2009-12-31T12:01:00.000-08:00

One is born an artist, the artist is a man endowed with a special nature, with a particular feeling for seeing form and color spontaneously, as a whole, in perfect harmony, if anyone lacks that feeling one is not an artist and will never become an artist and is a waste of time to entertain the possibility. This craft is acquired through study, observation and practice. It can improve by ceaseless work, but the instinct for art is innate. First one has to love nature with all ones heart and soul and be able to study it and admire it for hours on end. everything is in nature a plant, a leaf, a blade of grass should be the subjects of infinite and fruitful meditations for the artist. A cloud floating in the sky has form and affords him joy, helps him think.

W. Bouguereau

Note: pronounced (Boo-gro)

Fleshtones

2009-12-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

In this test chart of cooler flesh tones I mixed Ultramarine Blue with a few different reds than I tinted them down in value with white. Following this I added Yellow Ochre for a basic

flesh color. The possibilities are endless with color so I try to experiment with charts. I believe that simplicity is the key so I try not to get to complicated with a plethora of colors. (Painting manufactures produce tons of colors that can complicate painting) In my experience and also by studying the masters I have found that value is the first concern followed by color. A great example of this is John S. Sargent's work, limited values and color to express form.

"Express the maximum by the means of the minimum".
Carolus Duran-John S. Sargent's teacher

REDS

2009-12-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

The Reds!

Top row-Straight from the tube

Second - Tinted with white

Cadmium Red Light (warm red leaning towards orange) is a great red, very clean and bright. Very good for flesh tones and natural light painting. Look on the label for (cadmium seleno sulphide) and the number 108. Inferior name for reds is- cadmium red hue. Spend the money on a good quality red. I mainly use paints from Gamblin. They have a really nice buttery, smooth consistency. I highly recommend Gamblin's oil paints.

Alizarin Permanent (cool, slightly bluish red with a smokey glaze)

Gamblin has produced an alizarin that has replaced the problematic alizarn crimson.

It's worth the time to make paint charts to remember the qualities of your pigments.

Dagnan Bouveret

2009-12-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

This is a paper back book on one of my favorite painters, Dagnan Bouveret (1852-1929). He was one of Jean-Leon Gerome's most talented students. He was considered a naturalist painter and by the latter half of the nineteenth century he was known worldwide.

His paintings are brilliant! I was breathless when I had a chance to see an original painting from Bouveret. His sensitivity in his values and color will make any painter salivate.

I believe the hardback book is out of print and goes for around $200. This paperback is at the Dahesh bookstore on 55E. 52nd st. Ive seen this paperback on websites for $100, you can purchase it new for $35 at the Dahesh Muesum bookstore.

Note: The Dahesh Museum is not open. Look through their website but don't pay attention to the hours of operation.

Clean up

2009-12-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

Cleaning up your brushes:

Forget about wasting oms, turps and all the other products that art stores sell for cleaning your brushes. Odorless mineral spirits and turpentine are harsh on your natural hair brushes and its also a waste of money. The Best and cheapest product is "Murphy's Oil Soap".

You will be amazed at it's cleaning abilities and it will condition your brushes along with saving some cash.

32. oz bottle is around $8.00

Upcoming Exhibition

2009-10-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

ALLIED ARTISTS OF AMERICA

Reception & Awards Ceremony for the 96th Annual Exhibition at the National Arts Club,
15 Gramercy Park South, NYC
Sunday, November 29th, 2009 at 1:00PM

Exhibition Dates:
November 13th through December 1, 2009

If you are in NYC during this time please come and check out a great exhibition.
One of my portraits was chosen for this show. Both dates are open to the public.

From 1914 to the present, the Allied Artists of America, inc. will continue to achieve it's goal of furthering the cause of contemporary American artists through its various art exhibitions.

Trip to Bermuda

2009-10-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here are a few studies done on a recent trip to Bermuda.

These were quick studies done in en plein air.

It was hard to relax because I wanted to paint everything.

The Statue

2009-10-13T13:49:00.001-07:00

This is my oil study from the summer. This painting started as an en plein air painting but do to the rain I did not get back to the site and finished it. I really enjoyed the imperfections in the statue with it's cracks and missing arm.

This painting was done on stretched canvas with Gamblin oils.

The John R. Grabach Award for "Sunlit Bed"

2009-07-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

My painting "Sunlit Bed," received The John R. Grabach Award at the American Artist Professional League's Juried Exhibition. This painting was done in oil on an Ampersand board. I enjoy the challenges of working in a limited palette. Whether it's the subject, color, or style, I believe that simplicity is key. Due to the over marketing of paint choices, an artist can fall into a false sense of security by relying on a plethora of tubed color choices. Some of the greatest paintings were done in a limited palette. My advise on color is to choose good sound primaries, and a few warm and cool colors to help model form.

The Audubon Award for "Alysa"

2009-07-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

THE SALMAGUNDI CLUB'S 32nd Annual Painting and Sculpture Exhibition

Here are a few photo's from the exhibition. The show was a great success, it was a packed house at the club

on a beautiful Friday night. I received The Audubon Award for my painting, "Alysa", and sold the painting to an art collector in the area. After the show, I was invited by the collector to see my paintings new home, and was very pleased to see it surrounded by many beautiful paintings. It was an honor to attend and receive an award from this impressive art organization.

DR. 90210

2009-06-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Keep an eye out for a Tidey painting in a future episode of Dr. 90120. Dr. Jason Diamond, an artist in his own right, recently purchased a painting from my collection. It's new home is in his office in Beverly Hills, California. The painting is from a 1,700 acre farm in New Jersey. I have had the privilege to paint on this beautiful farm for many years. I have enjoyed many hot summer days painting on this land.

Reality is not obtained by imitation, but by producing the sense of nature. (Robert Henri)

2009-06-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

This landscape was painted in oil, on an Ampersand board with(Gamblin's Ground) see previous blog.

Titled, "Scotland Clouds", I'm not sure of the exact area but this was done from a photo I took on a trip to Scotland. I fell in love with the landscape of Scotland, with it's velvety greens, illuminated by those tenacious gray sky's. It's great to paint in a full sunlit landscape, but there is something magical that happens to greens on a gray day. Even under a gray sky the greens seem to radiate light from within.

Cochineal, Blood Red

2009-06-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

The next time you take a sip of cherry-cola, try a new red shade of lipstick, or view one of

W. M. Turner's paintings you will be enjoying the blood of a bug called the "Cochineal ".

Also known as color additive E-120, this bug was used for century's to produce the worlds reddest dyes. I will go back in history to explain more about this very intriguing insect. Many famous artists throughout history have used this color. The earliest Persian carpet found in Siberia's Altai's mountains, knotted 2,500 years ago, contained this beautiful red dye. The cochineal bug was used by the ancient Incas, Aztecs, and the Spaniards. The Cochineal's are native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico. The bugs are found living on the nutrients of cacti. Produced almost exclusively in Oaxaca, Mexico by indigenous producers, Cochineal became Mexico's second most exported product after silver. After the Mexican war the monopoly on the female bug had come to an end, because of the production of Alizarin crimson and many other artificial dyes.

(Alizarin Crimson-first synthesized in 1868, replaced madder lake color)

Note;

People can be allergic to the E-120 dye, and can have serious reactions.

Pharmaceutical company's use the dye in medication's...... So thoughtful of them!

Solid Ground

2009-06-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

GAMBLIN GROUND

(Priming canvas for oil painting)

I highly recommend a product called Gamblin Ground from the paint company Gamblin.

This primer gives a very strong foundation for painting, much stiffer than acrylic gesso and it is more flexible than oil primers. I have used traditional gesso for years and was never satisfied

with the feel of the absorbent surface. The feel of Gamblin ground is a perfect blend of absorption and smoothness, it allows you to push the oils around, but also allowing you to build up layers. This product has a large amount of titanium compared to traditional gesso, allowing for fewer coats. Gamblin ground is made with an alkyd resin instead of linseed oil for more flexibility and quicker drying time. Traditional lead/oil base primers are toxic and need about 6 months to dry. After the final coat with Gamblin ground you are able to paint in 4-5 days with half the coats of traditional primers. There is a lot of information on painting materials which can make any artist feel confused. If you use high quality materials and follow sound painting techniques like "Fat over Lean" etc., your paintings should be able to survive along with Cher and the cockroaches.

In the 1950's the name "gesso" was inappropriately given to acrylic grounds causing confusion among artists. (gesso is Italian for gypsum)

Names get confusing so here's the basic terminology;

For oil painting-Gound is put on sized canvas

For oil painting-Gesso is put on panels

Note; two good reasons to use Gamblins products-

1. High quality

2. Made in US...yes, can you believe it!

A must have in your art book collection

2009-06-16T12:35:00.001-07:00

ANTONIO MANCINI (1852-1930)

Mancini is one of my favorite artists. Mancini was one of Italy's greatest modern painters. He was known for his daring and innovative painting methods. If you are an oil painter and especially a figurative painter, you will be astonished at this mans rare talent, skill, and insight. John S. Sargent called Mancini the greatest living painter. Nothing more needs to be said after that compliment!

BOOK: Antonio Mancini-Nineteenth Century Italian Master

BY:Ulrich W. Hiesinge

ISBN: 978-0-87633-254-2

This book was published on the occasion of the exhibition held at The Philadelphia Museum Of Art, Oct, 20th 2007

$5.00 Anders Zorn

2009-06-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

Any Anders Zorn fans out there?

If you are not familiar with Anders Zorn, he is the most well known Swedish painter

(1860-1920).

He is known for his paintings and etchings of the people of Dalarna (Where Zorn was born)

He painted many subjects, but he is really known for his nudes done out in nature.

I am always looking for great art hidden in antique shops and garage sales just like many other art lovers. Most of the time I come up empty except for my last venture through an antique store....well a so-called antique store. I was on a trip in Maryland and I stopped by a place that I usually go to when I'm in the area. This shop is full of Indian head pennies, old milk bottles and many items that under the correct lighting appear to be real antiques. After a five minute walk through I said to my wife lets hit the road. On our way to the door I see this old frame leaning against the wall, I knew right away it was a framed Zorn from thirty paces, but I assumed it was a print.

As I got closer my heart started pounding because I started to see his signature and the markings from the copper plate. I picked it up and saw the $5.00 price tag and bolted to the cash register. I am now the very lucky owner of an original Anders Zorn etching.

After talking to a Zorn specialist in Sweden, I was able to learn about it's history and even it's original title "WET."

2009-05-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Painting En Plein Air

This is my latest painting done outdoors at The Skyland Manor.

This is a great place to paint, but as far as the statues are concerned....very difficult to capture due to the lighting. The light will only start to hit them around 4:30pm and it varies for the next few hours left. I was only able to get a block in and get a solid start on this day. I will return on another day with the same lighting. I posted this painting in the rough stage because I love to see other artists work at this stage. The early progress in a painting really shows the artists intention and thought process. Hope you enjoy.

EXHIBITIONS

2009-05-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome

My paintings will be in the following exhibitions:

Salmagundi Club, 32nd Annual Juried Show
47 Fifth Avenue, NYC 10003
June 29th through July 10th, 2009
Reception at 8:00pm Friday July 10th, 2009

The Hudson Valley Art Association, 78th Annual Exhibition
The show will be held at The Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
July 6th through July 26, 2009 Reception: Sunday, July 12, 2:00-4:00pm