Rodin - The Three Shades

 I take my Design class to the Art Museum every term and I always knock out a few sketches while I'm there.
 Often the museum is crowded so I find somewhere unobtrusive to stand and draw.
The Legion of Honor in San Francisco has a huge Rodin sculpture collection ( thanks to Alma de Bretteville Spreckels ) including the full size Three Shades sculpted for The Gates of Hell.
Generally the museum visitors are looking at the front of the sculptures so there is no one around on the backside.
I've stood around back on a few separate occasions and done some sketches.
The last time I was there I was approached by a museum guard.
 I assumed he wanted to look at my drawing.
 Instead he admonished me for inadvertently dropping a pencil.
 He said it could possibly cause injury to a guest.
 So, I picked it up.

Here are some sketches - The Three Shades by Aguste Rodin.

Star Wars Episode 1

 I came across this video while checking on some of my students work.

I sort of remember a student asking me some questions about the work I did at ILM on this old film.

Anyway, here's a picture and a link.

Episode 1 trailer/interview

Star Wars Episode 1 - Sculpting "Beggars Canyon"

Concept Art Doodles.

 A concept artist is someone who generates ideas and communicates them visually.
Concept art can be expressive and abstract, not just realistic.
Studying the "real" enables you to create believable designs with the added ingredient of your imagination.
In the world of Pre-Production for any creative project ( films, games, etc.) concept art is where it all begins.
I'm teaching concept art this term at the college.
When I get a spare moment I scribble out random ideas and character sketches.
Commonly known as "phone doodles" in times past.
 Let them out swift, refine them later...
"Quick and dirty - Fast and loose."

Giant Thorny Walking Stick

 I took the drawing class on the field trip to the zoo again today.
The day was hot so I hung out in the bug room.
Always a strange smell in there but ...
Here's a new drawing of a Giant Thorny Walking Stick.
 I'll be posting more new stuff soon.( I've been busy.)

( Alien life is here, at our feet, in our backyards.)

Zoo Animals

 Back at the zoo the other day.
The drawing class field trip, again.
I take the students there to help build their visual library for future creature concept design.
I go because I like the animals.
 I've been there more times than I can count but I always find something that draws the attention.
(Then I draw it.)
A good exercise in selective concentration. ( Focus.)
Here's a few new sketches.

Winged Walking Stick

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Golden Frog

Elephant Head

Figure Sculpture & Mold Making.

 I'm a sculptor by trade so I thought I should post some sculpture and related topics.
Creating a sculpture from clay is just the beginning of the process.
Besides the basic principles of form, anatomy, modeling, visual clarity, and organic unity,
a well rounded sculptor knows armature building, mold making,
casting, welding, metal finishing, patinas, etc.
 "Within its contours the statue stands alone."
 Here is a recent1/5 scale clay figure sculpture I completed..
Next comes mold making.
In the images you can see the basic sequence of the clay up, first silicone layer,
subsequent layers, and the mother mold.
I'll be putting more sculpture, techniques, and related anecdotes up as they occur.

Jennings McCown - Figure Drawing

                                                          Well, Jennings McCown, one of the best male 

Jennings McCown - 12'' x 18''

 models in the Bay Area had a bad injury.
 He's a circus performer and a great anatomical specimen..
Seems he tore his right subscapularis from the insertion into the lesser tubercle of the humerus and the anterior part of the shoulder - joint capsule. Ouch!
Here's a quick figure drawing I did of him right before the injury.
Hopefully he will have a speedy and full recovery from surgery.