Magical Monster People: under the sea

Reverse mermaid blowing a kiss.

Octomaid hangin out

Magical Monster People from May

Magical Monster People: Forward Mermaid & Reverse Mermaid

Magical Monster People: Horsehead Man & the Harpy

Magical Monster People: Butterfly Woman & Reverse Mermaid

More Magical Monster People

Some Magical Monster People from recent figure drawing sessions in Santa Monica.

I've been posting them more frequently to their own tumbr: magicalmonsterpeople.tumblr.com/

Perspective Drawing Class Week 1 - 3

I've been trying to work on my drawing weaknesses lately. One of my biggest one is drawing environments and architectural elements in perspective. I rush through my drawings too quick and don't have the patience to slow it down and get things right. Perspective is one fundamental that I feel I never got enough instruction. To address this, I am taking a perspective drawing class at the Concept Design Academy in Pasadena taught by concept artist, Polina Hristova. I'm forcing myself to take it slow and do all of the beginner exercises.

One of the fun things I learned was that the horizon line crosses a figure at the exact same height on the figure's body no matter where they are located in depth.

Also I learned how to transfer lines:

aaaand how to make repeating shapes with two different sized boxes:

I've begun a one-point perspective drawing of an interior of a 1910s era bar. Its in the initial block in phase right now. I'll continue adding details and interest as it goes on.

Figure Drawing

The model was BEARing it all this week at figure drawing. You see what I did there?

This week I brought along Animal Anatomy for Artists, by Eliot Goldfinger. For all the last pieces I just made up the animal parts so this time it was helpful to have animal reference. That being said, 20 minute poses don't exactly allow for much study and of course all of the lions in the book were facing left.

Happy Father's Day

To my father, William J Shaw III, on Father's Day. Thanks for being a great dad, you taught me a lot and I couldn't ask for a better father.

Figure Drawing

Sometimes its more fun to make things up.

Figure Drawing

Figure drawing from the YWCA model sessions:

Melissa

Melissa kindly posed for a quick 20 minute drawing/painting. Drawing people that you know is the most difficult because the pressure to get a decent likeness is quite high. I see her every day so I should be able to ballpark it, right? If it looks off its because she's fidgety, thats my excuse anyway ;)

Figure Drawing

Another round of Tuesday's figure drawing at the Santa Monica YWCA.

Judging from this blog all I do is draw naked people but I swear its not true! One of the reasons I like the figure drawing sessions, though, is that it is like a physical workout. I don't get all sweaty or tired after it but when I am drawing from a model my mind clears up. Its exercise in the way it is pure practice in order to improve, like pushups or running a couple of miles. I know that I am getting better even if its hard to see immediately. Like pushups, there is little thought needed to complete the tasks. It allows my mind to wind down and respond purely to what I see.

figure drawing is a nice thing to do artistically. The objective is simple, draw what you see, (or not!) there is no pressure for it to be good. If it doesn't look good it doesn't matter, there is no supervisor to tell you you're doing it wrong and no clients to please. There is no responsibility for the drawings. If it looks bad I just turn the page and draw another one.

I like the figure drawing sessions because I like the community built around them. Its nice to be in a room with a group of people that have all chosen to be there to do something they all enjoy doing. It gives me an opportunity to socialize with people that I wouldn't normally talk to. Most are older than I am with more than half 50+ and it makes me wonder if I will still be going when I reach that age. I hope so.

Figure Drawing

This blog should probably be called, "Nate draws so many naked people." This is from Tuesday's figure drawing at the Santa Monica YWCA. I am really excited about the Copic marker and watercolor combo. I start with pencil to get the basic shape, composition, proportions, and size right. Then I go over with the pointy end of the Copic to solidify my lines. From there I slop on some pretty transparent watercolor, letting the paint bleed all around the figure. In the last couple minutes I go over the lines again with the thick end of the marker, pushing the variation of the line thickness to bring out the form.

Figure Drawing

Some drawings from last week's figure drawing session at the YWCA. I've been really liking the effects I get from using wet into wet water color. The colored poses are usually between 10 and 20 minute poses so I don't have a lot of time to get things perfect. I just go, go, go!


I got some Copic art markers and I've been using figure drawing as a test bed for new techniques and materials.

nyssa's visit

My sister, Nyssa.

Figure Drawing

Tuesday night figure drawing at the Santa Monica YWCA. This time with an easel and easels make my life better.