Resting Woman in Charcoal and Gesso on Composite Board

When you take time to speed things up, the making of art becomes more fun. Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I sue am enjoying the approach. The image (left) in charcoal and gesso was one of the first portraits of the term (week 3). We took some time during the second week in conte crayon (mine at least) but this one was different, emotion, depth, scale, value – all things seemed to work in this one. 4 days left (as of this posting) and I will be sad when it is all over and done. I regret not knowing the names of all my classmates (but that isn’t much different than my school year and all the students I have in class – my bad). Something to work for this week. All my “homework” is done (40 figure drawings and 10 masterpiece recreations) and my last 2 projects are in the bank too! The final project was a portrait based on the work of a current figurative artist – I chose Elizabeth Peyton. My take on it is my brother Scott. The third (of four) projects was a portrait in mixed media – I did four – overachiever that I am. Please visit the link at the top of this page to see more of the works. I am still working on the names of the pieces (a lot of time crunching the webpage) so please bear with me. Please, let me know your thoughts – I am looking forward to any comments you may have.

Cheers – Frank

Seated Nude

Please take a look at more of the works I have been completing at UWM at the tab above… otherwise… I am having a GREAT time working with serious young artists and being back in a studio. The development of the figurative work is directing me in very different and far more spontaneous directions than my current portraits have led me. While I am still looking to the shape and form of the face, the figure is offering more and more challenges. For the time being, I am putting away the tightly rendered 15+ hour pencils drawings and concentrating on work a bit more loose yet still well developed. One solid week in, tons of drawings, lots of sketches and some master works recreated – it is good to be back in college! It is great to work directly with another professional practicing artist (Andy Fletcher) and the feedback from the rest of the class is being absorbed daily. i do hope that you take a look at some of the other works and please, enjoy!