Dana I (Nude #91), 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Under the cool north light from the Palette and Chisel studio's skylight, Dana's rosy cheek appeared more accentuated than usual. I felt compelled to go after it with a touch of sanguine conté. I think I exaggerated it a bit, though. It also left me with less time to work on the rest of the figure beyond the block-in stage within the time frame of the 15-minute pose.

Dana II (Nude #92), 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #93, 12.5"x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #94, 12.5"x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

2 Minute Gesture #57, 17"x13.5", available

2 Minute Gesture #57, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #65, 17"x13.5", available

Heather (Nude #88), 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

When Heather resumed the pose after a break, for some reason she decided to keep her boots on. (It wasn't cold; she didn't use a heater that was available.) And no one in the group objected to it. So I drew her while she wore her boots.

Nude #89, 12.5"x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #90, 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

5 Minute Gesture #63, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #64, 17"x13.5", available

A few drawings from Palette and Chisel New Year's Day Drawing Marathon

Trina I (Nude #85), 12.5"x19.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Kat and Vincent (Nude #86), 12.5"x19.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

As soon as another model is added, there are a number of elements that come into a picture: compositional relation, perspective, scale, and of course, time management in drawing 2 figures in 20-25 minutes.

Jamie and her partner (Nude #87), 12.5"x19.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

It's a simple line drawing of a pair of models. But what was interesting was that while I was drawing them, I sensed a certain sweetness in both the pose and their expressions. Later, after the pose, I overheard them say that they will soon be married.

Trina II (5 Minute Gesture #62), 17"x13.5", available

2 Minute Gesture #51, 17"x13.5", available

2 Minute Gesture #52, 17"x13.5", available

2 Minute Gesture #53, 17"x13.5", available

Trina III (2 Minute Gesture #54), 17"x13.5", available

Trina IV (2 Minute Gesture #55), 17"x13.5", available

This is a case where, had it been a longer pose and had I had a few seconds to spare at the beginning of the pose to think about the composition, I would have turned the paper to landscape orientation. But in a 2-minute pose, there is no thinking twice about anything except to react and draw. Also, she wouldn't have been able to hold a pose like this for more than 2 minutes anyway.
That's what is so exciting (and difficult) about quick drawing; you just have to run with whatever the model gives you. That makes me both so excited about and appreciative of the excellent models who could provide such dynamic poses.

Natanya is another excellent model who left modeling for a "permanent day job".

Natanya IV (Nude #85), 18" x11.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Natanya III (Nude #84), 18" x11.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Natanya II (Nude #83), 18" x11.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

5 Minute Gesture #61, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #60, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #61, 17"x13.5", available

A few head studies of April I did some time ago at the Palette and Chisel open studio sessions. She was an excellent model. Too bad she moved away to California.

April III, 19"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

April IV, 19"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

April V, 19"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Head Study #12, 18"x12"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #82, 18" x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #81, 12.5" x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

Candice (Nude #80), 18" x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

About half way through during the Friday evening quick drawing session at the Palette and Chisel, Candice couldn't quite come up with her next pose(model's block?). After thinking about for a few seconds how she would pose next, she decided to settle with the universal gesture of indecision and predicament that she was in then and there—her toe tapping and her finger in the mouth. It must be quite awkward, if not embarrassing, for a model not to be able to come up with a pose while standing on an elevated platform, surrounded by a room full of expectant crowd 360° around.

"Create the illusion of reality by implying, not supplying details."

—F. R. Gruger

Nude #79, 18"x12"
pastel pencil on paper, available

Nude #78, 18"x12", pastel pencil on paper, sold

5 Minute Gesture #59, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #58, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #60, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #59, 17"x13.5", available

Some time ago, I came across a discontinued stock of toned paper on sale at a local art supply store. Only two colors were available—
light blue and pink. It had an interesting texture that was slightly different from usual laid paper that I use for pastel or conté drawing; heavier weight, less cushy but crispier on the surface. I thought it would be interesting to try it, so I bought a bulk of it.

I drew Robin I, II and III on that paper(also Nude#64, 65, 66, 72,
and a few others). They were done during a Drawing Marathon at the Palette and Chisel a few years ago. They have been misplaced for some time deep in one of my portfolio cases(I am sure there are other drawings scattered around here and there that need to be organized).

As for the paper, I liked the crispy surface of it(like clean sheet of linen) which allowed slightly more "drag" of the pencil and less "sink" into the surface. Robin was an excellent model for quick gesture drawing(I never got to paint her). She seemed to be very comfortable with and well aware of the dynamics and flexibility of of her body.
And she was able to endure difficult poses for full 10 to 25 minutes.

Robin I (Nude #75), 18" x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Robin II (Nude #76), 12.5" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Robin III (Nude #77), 12.5" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

"The art student should strive to have endless patience and be doggedly persistent."

–Jack Hamm

Natanya I (Nude #74), 11.5" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #73, 19" x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Lorena IV (Nude #72), 18" x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Paul I (Nude #71), 12" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

"An artist is just a darn good student who no longer needs a teacher."

–William Mosby

Nude #70, 12" x18", pastel pencil on paper, available

Corrin II (Nude #69), 12"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

Corrin I (Nude #68), 12"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

Cara (Nude #67), 18"x12", pastel pencil on paper, available

Nude #66, 12.5"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #65, 12.5"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nazra II (Nude #64), 12.5"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

"Always be drawing, and do not waste time."

("Disegna sempre, e non perder tempo.")

–Michelangelo

(written in his own handwriting on a sheet of his drawings now in the British Museum)

Head Study #11, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nazra I (Nude #63), 12"x17.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #62, 18"x12", pastel pencil on paper, available

Nude #61, 12"x18", pastel pencil on paper, available

Nude #60, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #59, 17.5"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

5 Minute Gesture #57, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #56, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #55, 17"x13.5", available

"I learned to draw the hard way. I worked at it."

–F.R. Gruger

Head Study #10, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Head Study #9, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #58, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #57, 12"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Lorena III (Nude #56), 12"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

5 Minute Gesture #54, 17"x13.5", available

3 Minute Gesture #61, 17"x14", available

3 Minute Gesture #60, 17"x13.5", available

Here are a few more head studies, and quick gestures...

Head Study #8, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Natanya I, 18"x11.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

I made this head study drawing of Natanya during a Saturday quick drawing session at the Palette and Chisel. Given only 20 minutes to complete the drawing, I focused on the main essence of her and left the rest to a mere suggestion. I like the way this drawing turned out to suggest a sense of time lapse — as if she is slowly emerging from a fog or a wall.

April II, 19"x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

3 Minute Gesture #59, 17"x13.5", available

3 Minute Gesture #58, 17"x14", available

3 Minute Gesture #57, 17"x14", available

3 Minute Gesture #56, 17"x14", available

1 Minute Gesture #58, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #57, 17"x13.5", available

Here are a few 'head studies'. They are not formal portraiture, per se. Rather they are a brief but intense study of character, impression and form of a head. They are done in one setting of 1 to 2 hour period.

Rex I, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Galina I, 18"x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

April I, 19"x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

John Mclean, 19"x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, NFS

John Mclean was a guest to my sister Dana's wedding. He is a long time family friend of Dave's(the groom). He has such an irresistible face to a painter; full of character but not overtly, and brilliant silver hair and twinkling blue eyes – someone you'd expect to see on the Shakespearean theater stage. Unfortunately, since he had to return to Wales quickly after the wedding, I had to use a snap shot photo I have taken at the wedding reception to make this drawing of him.

Tao, 19"x12.5", conté on toned paper, sold

3 Minute Gesture #55, 17"x13.5", available

3 Minute Gesture #54, 17"x14", available

3 Minute Gesture #53, 17"x14", available

3 Minute Gesture #52, 17"x14", sold

The drawings below were done in 10–25 minutes using pastel or conté pencil of sanguine, sienna or umber colors on tones papers, though some, like Nude51(Gaze Away), were done on white paper. They are essentially a combination of gesture and precision contour drawings.

In life drawing class with my teacher Dr. Trapp during my student years, he would have us do gesture drawing and contour drawing at the beginning of the class every day, 30 minutes each. Pretty soon, I realized that if I am going to invest that much time in gesture and contour drawing day in and day out, I'd better come up with something that are more than just what they were basically intended for.

So, while I was attending quick-drawing sessions in the evening at Palette and Chisel, I continued to practice gesture and contour drawings in a slightly different manner than in classroom, and pretty soon developed something that is unique to my personality. Dr. Trapp seemed to have seen whatever was in me and encouraged me to continue to develop sensitive line quality.

Quicker drawings (1–5 minutes) are more gesture oriented, though I still treat my lines with light-handed approach. In longer pose drawings(10–25 minutes), I shift my emphasis more on delicate contours (its variation in weight and subtlety) to suggest the form.

Lorena II (Nude #55), 19"x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

Nude #54, 12"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #53, 12.5" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Lorena I (Nude #52), 12"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Gaze Away (Nude #51), 18"x12", pastel pencil on paper, available

5 Minute Gesture #53, 17"x14", available

5 Minute Gesture #52, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #56, 17"x14", available

1 Minute Gesture #55, 17"x14", available

5 Minute Gesture #51, 12"x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

3 Minute Gesture #51, 17"x14", available

During the quick-drawing session last night at Palette and Chisel, it occurred to me that my 1, 2, 3-minute gesture drawing is much like dancing. Now, I am not a dancer, by even in a casual standard. But while feverishly gliding my pencil on the surface of the paper to capture the beauty and energy of human figure in that fleeing moment, I came to visualize a dancer gracefully move on the dancing floor.
My pencil, which is an extension of my hand, eyes, and my artistic training and sensitivity, becomes a dancer. Wide open paper on the drawing board is a dancing floor where my creativity is limitless.

What a co-incidence, considering the fact that the very room where we were drawing used to function as a ballroom dancing floor for social events of this mansion that is now Palette and Chisel. Perhaps the spirits of those dancers who have once graced this floor over a hundred years ago evoked the idea in me.

1 Minute Gesture #54, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #53, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #52, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #51, 17"x13.5", available

Drawings posted in this blog are my quick figure drawings— drawings done from live model in the duration of anywhere from 1 minute to 25 minutes. Many of them were done at Palette and Chisel's quick-drawing sessions (more on Palette and Chisel later), but some were done in my private studio. Except for the ones described otherwise, I use Derwent drawing pencil (either venetian red or terra cotta) on white paper for 1 minute to 5 minute quick drawings. I use conté or pastel pencil for longer poses.

In addition to these quick figure drawings, I plan to post other types of drawings as well—head study, sketches, pastel works etc.

As I continue to explore and enjoy the beauty and dynamics of human figure on paper, I would like to share the result of my experience with others—artists, hobbyists, art enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates the thrilling beauty of human figure and draftsmanship in art. So, enjoy them, and feel free to share your thoughts on them with me if so inclined.