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.

Zoo Trip.

Went to the Zoo with the drawing class the other day, knocked out a few quick sketches.
I always try and draw a few animals and at least one insect while I'm there.
It's good practice.

Art Museum

The demographic of the students where I teach is drawn from young people who are obsessed by:
VFX driven movies, comic books, and video games.
The majority of them have no interest or knowledge of Art History.
Some know a few artists names but only the ones that are Ninja Turtles.
Many of them have never set foot inside an art museum.
Its my job to take them there.
 I give them the basic tour and talk about the various periods and artists.
Then they have to study and draw some of the art.
It's an invaluable lesson from the past.
 I always try and knock out a few sketchbook drawings while I’m there.
Here’s a couple from the other day.
 I block them out quick and then increase contrast and selective details. 
(I have a lot of drawings I do at various museums and may put more up later.)

Bust of Pope XXI 10'' x 8''

Rodin - Thinker - 10'' x 8 ''

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A few more figure models.

 A few figure models came down to pose for the drawing bootcamp class this past week.
I’m teaching the students to understand proportion and anatomy from various views.
Some of them find it challenging when they can't see the models face and frontal anatomical landmarks.
You use the same principles of drawing in any pose the model takes.
 Proportion, value, anatomy, and basic hand eye coordination
 Here are a few more demo’s from class.

20 minute drawings. (Quick & dirty.)
 Models curtsey of: The Bay Area Models Guild.

Koyote's Back 17'' x 12''

Carrie's Back 17''  X 12''

Koyote's Back Again 16'' x 12''

Carries Back Again 17" x 12"

Some Recent Figue Drawings.

  I knocked out a pencil portrait of the figure model as a demo in class the other day.
Basic principles of drawing what you see. How to hold the pencil & then: structure, form, value, anatomy.
20 minutes (quick & dirty.)

Wendell 18'' x 12''

Here's a couple more 20 minute life drawing demos from last week.

Models curtsey of: " The Bay Area Models Guild."

Dread Locks 18'' x 12"

Jennings Back  15'' x 11''

Figure drawing- measuring proportion & value demos.

With the new term ramping up, I had the first figure model come in for the drawing bootcamp class.
On the first figure drawing day I have the students draw the model head to toe for 20 minutes with no prior explanation or instruction.
 What I hope to see is everyone drawing expertly and have my job made easier.

20 min. figure proportion demo 20" x 14"

But, most of the time the beginning student drawings are badly proportioned and sometimes barely resemble the human form.
So, I’ll have to do a 20 minute figure drawing demo while explaining measuring, head count, plumb & level lines,
triangulation, anatomy, value, etc.
Here’s the demo from the other day with measuring lines visible.
Here’s a couple more quick demos from the same day on how to draw with white charcoal on dark paper and how to use pencil and white charcoal on middle grey/blue toned paper.

Portrait - 14" x 11" quick demo white on dark.

Seated figure - 14" x 11" quick demo pencil & white on middle grey