Tag Archives: life drawing

Sneek a Peek into my Sketchy Life – last ditch efforts

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Last day of life drawing for this semester.  I’ve missed several classes, something I would have been loathe to do in my high school and college years when I never ditched nor dropped a class.

I distinctly remember the first time I stopped attending a class simply because I no longer enjoyed it.   Wish I could say it was a daring and rebellious move . . .  it was a community college class that I was taking  just for enjoyment.  I was in my 40’s and high time for a bit of rebellion . . . don’t you think?

But I digress . . .  here’s the best of the last sketches . . . in my opinion

Starting with my favorite

Caught the likeness of both his front and his back . . . 

All these sketches were 20 minutes or less.  I’ve discovered that my attention span is smack dab in the national average of 20 minutes.  Ah . . . the things you learn in drawing class.

My Sketchy Life – hatch, hatched, hatching

Creative Expressions, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, MCS, Health & Healing, Life Altering Conditions, Painting, puttering & drawing, Personal Reflection, Workshops, Seminars & Groups, , , , ,

Ai yi yiii – ever look up a word in the on-line “Urban Dictionary”?

I looked up “hatch” and was “blown away” by the uses . . . many of which I can not put in print on a G-rated blog . . . most of which I had never heard of nor heard spoken.

Why look up “hatch”, you wonder (or not)?  In art class the focus was on hatching – an art technique where lines are drawn in various forms & intensities to create shapes & shadow.

These two quick sketches were done prior to Easter.   Eureka! I thought: Hatching and eggs were perfect for an Easter blog post.

Then I got “hatched” – another fibromyalgia flare-up and I missed a week’s worth of art classes.

I’m still not feeling good and not pleased health issues keep hatching . . . but this chick got off her fibro-inflated rear and went to class this week.  

Hatch, Verb – To lose it; to get wound up over something; to be upset.

I’ve been hatching . . .

P.S.  Thanks Peggy A. for doing all the scheduled posting on CATNIPblog!  

Sneak a Peek into my Sketchy life . . . my favorite model

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She is almost more attractive nude than clothed . . . which none of us students can say about ourselves!

A few 10 minute and 20 minute poses

 She is Rubenesque and fun to sketch.  I think she has the most sensual body of all the models we’ve had.

 

Sneek a Peek into my Sketchy Life – Life imitates Art

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Not too very long ago, I thought that really good artists (writers included) got it exactly right the moment they laid pencil to paper.  When I write posts I spend exponentially more time editing than on the first draft.  When I draw I correct and correct and correct some more. 

Not too very long ago, I learned that this is what 90% of artists, writers, dancers, singers etc. do . . .  adjust, correct, redo, undo . . . and it never will be perfect.  It’s knowing when to stop and move on.

It’s a great metaphor for life.  We keep adjusting, correcting and practicing, knowing we can’t get it perfect . . . just better.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this model.  She has curves.  

Much more fun to draw than muscle & bone.

Warm-up poses, 5 minutes

Sneek a Peek into my Sketchy Life – Suburban Sketches

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There’s a phenomena going on in the sketching world called Urban Sketching.  People, from all over the world, gather in public places and sketch whatever is in front of them .  

You sketch fast, just trying to get an impression rather than an exact likeness.  Coffee shops are a favorite place for Urban Sketchers because the people aren’t moving quite as quickly as on the street or a football field.

I live in the suburbs where life is a bit slower and so is the sketching. Here’s a few of my

suburban sketches.

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Students in my drawing class

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Woman waiting and waiting and waiting . . .

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Whoops, wrong suburb

Sneak a Peek – getting in the mood for Valentine’s Day

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No further explanation needed . . .

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20 minute pose, Water-color pencil
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20 minute pose, water-color pencil
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15 minute pose, water-color pencil
"She's got to be kidding"
“Getting into the mood! She’s got to be kidding . . . an explanation is definitely needed . . .”

Sneak Peek into my sketchy life – not the best . . . not the worst

Creative Expressions, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, MCS, Painting, puttering & drawing, Workshops, Seminars & Groups,

Had a hard time concentrating and my arms were hurting when I tried to draw.  I’m blaming it on the rain . . .  a convenient fall-guy (pun intended).  When my drawings don’t turn out as well as I would like I usually blame it on the model.  

You can see some of the structure lines & corrections in these 2 minute sketches.

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The model held onto a rope in the poses.  We were suppose to concentrate on the angles.dscn6842

These below were 20 minute poses but I could only draw for about 10 minutes.

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Usually, I use large drawing paper and stand at an easel.  This session I drew on a smaller sketch pad and sat down.  I figured if the model could sit

so could I . . . 

"Excuses, excuses . . . "
“Excuses, excuses . . . “

 

Sneek Peek into my sketchy life – from sea to shining SEE

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I am enjoying sketching the human form much more than inanimate objects or landscapes.  It stands to reason that I chose to be a psychotherapist rather than a landscape architect.

Here’s my latest sea-scape

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Pen & Ink

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and here’s my latest See !

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Charcoal sketch

He kept moving his right arm . . . 

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Charcoal sketch

Sneeeeek Peeeek – Back to the drawing boards

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First week of art classes.  It’s amazing how “rusty” I felt after just 4 weeks of not drawing.  The model had not ONE ounce of fat anywhere on his body.

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Charcoal, warm-up sketches

I decided to push myself a bit and drew a few quickies using pen & ink.  Ink is a bit intimidating since I can’t ERASE.

Pen & Ink sketch
Pen & Ink sketch
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Pen & Ink Sketch
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Charcoal sketch

I drew him to look like an old man!  . . .  in my defense his head was shaved . . .

Not only didn’t the model have an ounce of fat anywhere on his body  he didn’t have an ounce of hair anywhere  . . . at least not in the places I saw . . .

Sneek a Peek into my sketchy life – Heads UP!

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The last class for this semester –  I continued to play with water-color pencil.  

Water-color
Water-color

I tend to draw the heads too small . . . or . . . another way of “looking at it” . . . I make the bodies too big.  Then again, he is a big guy.

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The uneven jaw line is reflective of his beard and mustache.dscn6801

Bob Blobfish sez: ". . . I p"
Bob Blobfish sez: ” Until art classes start again she can practice drawing larger heads by drawing me in the  nude”

My Sketchy Life – porn it ain’t

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During the break in the life-drawing class a few of us talked  to the model.  She said most people had no idea what life drawing was and believed that nude modeling was akin to porn!   When  asked what she did for a living her answer was “posing for people who were learning anatomy”.

First, It never occurred to me that most people weren’t familiar with life drawing.  Second,  her answer made sense.  When drawing a nude model students are intensely focused  on the anatomy, the line & shading that emphasizes or de-emphasizes the muscle structure, the curve of the spine and the “personality” of the pose – not on nudity.

It’s a bit like reading an engrossing story.  Your focus is on the plot line, the images created, the messages conveyed, not whether the” book” is hard-covered, paperback or on a tablet.

I was pleased with this sketch as it catches the likeness of the model.

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Water-color pencil

Wasn’t so pleased with this sketch so I took out colored crayons and just scribbled.  Still not pleased but it was fun!

Water-soluable crayon
Water-soluable crayon

 

My Sketchy Life – inky dinky, dilly Dali

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New model – not an ounce of body fat on the boy.  The majority of students are well into their 60’s.  I made note of how many of the women asked him to return to model ! . .  I myself prefer the models with a bit of ballast around their belly.  Gives me more room for error.

This class I ventured out of my comfort zone,  put away eraser and went for it with  permanent ink and no preliminary sketch in pencil.  

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Sharpie Pen, 20 minute pose
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Water-color pencil, 20 minute pose

Notice the box?  I keep trying to draw within the box so the figure doesn’t run off the page.  Here’s my result!

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Ink with splash of water-color, 20 minute pose
Salvador Dali
Dali sez: “She obviously needs a bigger box . . . obviously.”

 

My Sketchy Life – why the nude still shocks

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If you are an art buff or interested in the psychology of nudes read this article Why The Nude Still Shocks.  Not only is it interesting it underscores my past reluctance to put up the sketches of men as opposed to women. (see Equal Opportunity Nudes)

The model this week was male but he was wearing this warrior “get-up” that the men in the class seemed to enjoy drawing , . .  must be a testosterone “thing”.  I say “TAKE IT OFF!”

Water-color pencil
Water-color pencil

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My Sketchy Life – no mo nude

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Clothed!  The model was clothed!  I actually found it easier sketching nude people with no distractions . . . like folds of fabric and print patterns and color.  

The model had on an elaborate costume with intricate patterns and gold threads. I tried to eliminate all the “distractions”.  Here’s my first attempts at using water-color pencil.

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Water-color pencil, 20 minute pose
Water-color pencil, 20 minute pose
Water-color pencil, 20 minute pose

Jokingly, I asked the model if she would take her clothes off.  She replied, “Will you?”    tumblr_mdzmtrd5du1qargfho1_500

 

Irreversibly Front & Back

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My friend Peggy and I are working on a new project to share our stash of  therapeutic strategies, tips and tricks on the internet.  In my exuberance,  “playing” with  settings for the new web-site, I mistakenly changed the theme setting for this blog  . . . and  can’t figure out how to change it back again .  So Curious to the Max has a new look, in case you didn’t notice.

And in case you didn’t notice we had a new model in class.  All these sketches were 15 minutes done with water-color pencil.

There are two “fronts” and two “backs” (She was sitting on a poofy cushion).

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Water-color pencil 15 minute sketches

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AND in case you don’t see the connection between my blog change and my sketches: Clicking a button on the computer and irreversibly changing the blog template is like drawing with water-color pencil.  I can’t erase or correct either of them.

"Excuses, excuses . . ."
“Excuses, excuses . .”

My Sketchy Life – from start to finish

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Take a peek at the entire class from the beginning 2 minute sketches to the 20 minute poses.  

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Charcoal, 2 minute poses

Tried water-color pencil for the first time.  Discovered it doesn’t ERASE so the first go over needs to be very light. 

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Water-color pencil

This model was great.  She was more voluptuous than most and I didn’t have to draw muscles!  

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Water-color pencil. Ended up with 4 breast because I couldn’t erase!

In the sketch below I used an old piece of cardboard backing.   If you look you can see the water stains from years past.

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Water-color pencil on cardboard

For the last pose the model put clothes on . . . probably because I couldn’t get her breasts symmetrical!  

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Water-color pencil on water-color paper

I may take these drawings and experiment some more with the water-color.

"Food for thought . . . "
“I think she’s experimented enough already . . .”

 

A Peak into my Sketchy Life – Bigger and Worser

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(Well, not actually “worser” but I try to avoid trite phrases like “bigger and better”.)

 In case you’ve not noticed . . .  my drawings all go off the page.  I don’t mind the aesthetics of that but I want to be able to do it “by design”.  I try framing, measuring, planning . . . as the drawing progresses the limbs or head (or both) end up off of the paper.

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17″ x 13″ – Charcoal sketch on painters paper from Home Depot.

The life drawing teacher suggested I get a BIG board to work on a BIG piece of paper  to get the entire torso on the page.  So much for bigger . . .

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36″ x 36″ Charcoal sketches (Model was wearing a weird hat with a huge veil that trailed down his back. And he has a beard and mustache . . .)

(Showing my hand on the paper to give you a sense of the scale).

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36″ x 36″ paper
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17″ x 13′ paper
"She'll do almost anything to avoid drawing hands and feet . . ."
“She will do almost anything to avoid drawing feet . . . or beards & mustaches”

Happy Halloween! Duds to Dudes

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Since my “vertigo episode” I’ve been in a fibromyalgia flare-up, complete with exhaustion.  Today I peeled myself out of bed, put on my best duds and went to class to draw a dude.  Can you guess which one is me?

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After spending 3 hours drawing a nude dude this is what I looked like . . .

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My Sketchy life – dinosaurs and dames

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Many, if not most, of my posts over the years have regaled you, my loyal readers, with bits of  what I find interesting and curious.  (ex. Two of my all time most viewed and informative posts were about Butterfly fish and the Singles Scene  and Stoned Fish.)

Since I’ve been taking life drawing classes there are not many articles that  go along with drawings of nudes that meet the G-rating of my blog.  

In class the teacher has been talking about the skeleton of the body and today I found a very interesting article about a discovery of a new species of dinosaur in Australia that is in keeping with this instructional focus!!!!

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“Paleontologists have discovered a new species of dinosaur in Australia. The wide-hipped, long-necked, four-legged plant-eater was about half the length of a basketball court, and its shoulders stood as high as the hoop.” 

This model was a slim-hipped, long-necked, two-legged vegetarian who was the full length of my paper and her shoulders alternately drooped and stood high, depending on the pose.

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Charcoal, 2 minutes sketch
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Charcoal, one minute sketches

Check it out (the dinosaur, not the model): http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/20/13351870/new-dinosaur-species-savannasaurus-australia-discovery-titanosaur-sauropod

“Savannasaurus skeleton is one of the most complete sauropods to be discovered in Australia. Based on its skeleton, it was probably about 50 feet long, with a long neck and a wide, round body — weighing in at 40,000 pounds, as much as three African elephants combined. Dinosaur fossils in Australia are exceedingly rare, and this discovery could help scientists understand how these massive creatures spread across the planet millions of years ago.“

 . . . that would take one humongous piece of paper to draw it . . .

My Sketchy Life – wonky, wacky & wobbly

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Ten days into walking like a drunken sailor without the drink or the sailing.  My husband drove me to art class.  It was nice to get out of the house.  The vertigo is much better but I’m still a bit wobbly.

At first, looking back and forth from the model to the drawing pad was a bit disorienting and I was very tired after class – probably because my brain was working hard to compensate.

The focus for this session was using brown wrapping paper, black and white charcoal.

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"Food for thought . . . "
“Wobbly is the least of her worries . . . She’s always been wonky & wacky . . . “

 

My Sketchy Life . . . Albee it

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Edward Albee died the other day at 88.  He was a Pulitzer prize-winning playwright.  He intensely disliked it when asked what his plays were about but finally explained:

“If anybody wants me to say it, in one sentence, what my plays are about: They’re about the nature of identity. Who we are, how we permit ourselves to be viewed, how we permit ourselves to view ourselves, how we practice identity or lack of identity.”  Edward Albee

Most of the models in the life drawing classes have been posing for a long time.  They come equipped with props and pillows and strike dramatic poses that I defy anyone in “real” life to take . . . unless you’re an exotic dancer.

Graphite pencil sketch
Graphite pencil sketch

The young man, VERY young man, who was the model in the last two life drawing classes had never modeled before.  He appeared to be shy and very unsure of himself.  The first session he posed stiffly.  

This second session he began to soften, wrapping his arms around himself as if to create a bit of comfort or perhaps protection.  It may also have been that it was cold in the room . . . even for those of us wearing clothes.

"quickies"
“quickies”
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Charcoal sketch

Art teachers explain that drawing isn’t about what the hand is doing it’s about training our eye to see what it actually sees rather than the internal image of what we THINK we see.

Right now my drawings are about trying to learn to view shapes and shadows, lines and limbs . . . and hopefully have my hands follow.  Someday, it would be nice to say the same thing Edward Albee said . . . that my drawings are about the nature of identity.

My sketchy life – failing my way to success

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Sara Blakely’s embrace of failure has helped make her the youngest self-made female billionaire in America.  She invented Spanx (body-shaping undergarments – the modern version of the corset and girdle).

When she was growing up, her father would often ask her the same question at dinnertime.

“What have you failed at this week?”

I was AGHAST – failure!? What a horrible father.  Everyone knows we are supposed to focus on and revel in success.  She went on to say:

“My dad growing up encouraged me and my brother to fail. The gift he was giving me is that failure is (when you are) not trying versus the outcome. It’s really allowed me to be much freer in trying things and spreading my wings in life.”

What a novel idea! Embrace failure as a sign of taking risks, learning and growing. Failure is a victory not a defeat.

“The fact that I had never taken a business class, had no training, didn’t know how retail worked,” she said. “I wasn’t as intimidated as I should have been.”

I read her interview just before my life drawing class.  It was liberating!!  I gave myself permission to fail at trying to draw perfect likeness, perfect proportions, perfect shading.  

Graphite Pencil Sketch
Graphite Pencil Sketches

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My new motto:  Fail Away! 

 . . . it’s never too late to become the oldest self-made billionaire in the United States.

I fail to understand her conclusions . . . that must make me a success . . .
She never fails to confound me . . .

 

My Sketchy Life – Back to school

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New semester for art classes just started.  Here are my best sketches (you didn’t think I’d post my worst, did you?).  I particularly am pleased with the first as I managed to catch the likeness of the model.

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Charcoal drawing
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Charcoal, scribble drawing
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Charcoal warm-up drawing
"Obviously she hasn't learned to draw hands or feet . . ."
“Obviously she hasn’t learned to draw hands . . .  or feet . . .”

Sneek a peek into my sketchy life – peanut butter and landscapes

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The last life drawing class for this semester.  Everyone brought food for a potluck – dips & chips, chocolate, cookies, cake, fruit – it was quite a spread.  We’ve had this model before.  

After staring at her flat abs for 3 hours I disciplined myself and only ate the fruit.  

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One of the students saw the above drawing laying on the floor on its side and said it looked like a landscape.

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I came home feeling out of shape and deprived.  So I ate 3 peanut butter and honey sandwiches (needed protein after all that fruit).

Sneek a peek into my sketchy life – jugs and jugs and . . .

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Been doing and redoing drawings to amuse myself.  These were originally quick sketches from life drawing.  I “colorized” them trying to teach myself how to use pastel.  It’s easier to practice on sketches I was going to throw away because there’s nothing to lose!!

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Sneek a Peek into my sketchy life – nudes and buts

Celebrations & Events, Creative Expressions, Pain and Pleasure, Painting, puttering & drawing, Personal Reflection, Workshops, Seminars & Groups, , , ,

Sorry, I’ve been blogged-out for so long.  I know, I know, yet another sorry-I’ve-been-gone-for-so-long-post.  

BUT I decided today is a brand new beginning.  “BUT” literally and figuratively.  (For those of you who are squeamish scroll down to the nude part because I begin with the BUTT . . .  mine to be exact.)  

Just had a colonoscopy. The bad news – I didn’t have a very good day yesterday.  The good news – I lost 4 pounds.  The bad news – I have wasted today sleeping.  The good news – I don’t remember a thing.  

Now that I’m squeaky clean it’s time for a new start – Going to go back to cutting out (maybe down) on refined sugar & carbs and cutting up on the internet.

Here’s my latest sketches.  I start with my favorite:

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10 minute charcoal sketch
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20 minute charcoal sketch
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10 minute charcoal sketch

Sneek Peek at my sketchy life – 2 bares and a nude . . .

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 . . . or 2 nudes and a bare . . .  or 3 nudes . . . or 2 bares and a bear . . .

at any rate, none of them wore clothes.

Bare 1
Bare 1, charcoal 10 min sketch
Bare 2
Bare 2, charcoal 15 min sketch

Ink Flare Pome By Shari Bonin-Pratt

You bared your soul.
The woman bared her bottom.
The monkey bared his soles.
Your sketches really got ’em

Bare 3
Bare 3, charcoal 3 hours & 15 min sketch . . . (he wouldn’t sit still)