Bartlett Pears

I spotted these pears as soon as I walked into the store!  The red/orange blush on the green pears is so striking!  I'd like to do a painting of these, but don't know if their color will change before I get the chance.  This is a small drawing with conte pastel sticks. 

Objects on a table

Many times, I find little "found" still life set ups around the house that are more interesting than anything I could try and set up.   I had been using these objects and setting them aside, not paying any attention to where I put them, and ... today I just happened to notice how interesting this random scattering of things looked.  Bananas, a cup and a little manikin on a silver tray, a dried orange peel, a silver ladel, some grapes and a book...on a white cloth.   I would never think this up on my own! hahahaha... but so fun to draw!!!
I drew this in a pad of 5.5x 8.5 in.  toned gray paper, with conte pencil, and colored conte sticks. 

More Manikin drawings

I've been having fun drawing this little guy. First pencil on white paper, then in ink on brown paper, highlighted with white conte. 

Little Manikin and cast shadow

I like drawing this little manikin, it's good practice and it's human form gives the drawing a spirit that an inanimate object doesn't have.

 Mechanical 2b pencil on Strathmore drawing paper

This drawing is of an Italian marble statue, called "Saint John the Baptist".  It is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I copied it from their website, here. 

It was good practice and a nice drawing, but the likeness is off.. that's something I need to work on. 

Drawing of my Hand

It was a beautiful day today,  Spring is definitely on it's way!

I drew a few pictures of my hand, following the instructions in the book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain".  It's been a long time since I've sat down and did something like this, it was a good exercise to do. It's about life size,  drawn on white paper, with graphite, and using a kneaded eraser for the highlights. 

Artichokes and garlic

                                      Ivory black Derwent pencil, and white conte on 7x10 inch toned paper

I bought these artichokes a few days ago, meaning to draw them before I cooked them.  I forgot about them until today, and so I spent some time drawing them, before I stuffed them and put them in the pot for supper.  Spring seems to be the season for them, they show up in larger quantities in the store, so I'm sure I will be trying to draw them again sometime. I need more practice before I try a painting of them.   They have such a beautiful shape, and I love the way the light falls across the rounded petals. 

Marble Statue

These drawings are of a marble statue called "Clytie".  It is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I drew it from the image on their website, which you can enlarge to see lots of detail.  I'd like to practice drawing faces and figures more often, and this is a convenient way to do it. 

What I did today...

I spent most of the afternoon arranging a plate of fruit to paint.  I should have known better than to start painting just because it was taking too long to find something wonderful about this plate of fruit.  I thought the colors would be interesting enough.  I didn't even bother to finish it.  It didn't keep my interest, and in the end, I just wiped it off.  If I don't care enough about a painting, to be able to wipe it off without any regrets, I know, nobody else would have cared about it either.

Anyway, I went back to the beginning and found something interesting to draw.  Here's a couple I liked.  They're drawn on toned paper, with black pencil and highlighted with a white conte stick and some pastel.