Recent Figure Modeling Sessions

I’ve been modeling quite a bit over this summer and it’s always such a treat for me to see how I’m portrayed by other artists so I figured it’s about time to share another round with my wonderful readers.

Plus I recently updated the ‘Art Model’ page on my website with a number of my favorite drawings from my sessions over the last two years. Having a number of artists attend my sessions repeatedly definitely helps me stay on my toes by keeping my poses fresh and dynamic:)

8.21.2019

July Figure Modeling

Hi friends! If you remember from a few months ago I have started figure modeling for the weekly drawing session I attend and I'm always tickled pink to see other artists' renditions of myself so here's the latest batch. Enjoy!

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originally published August 6, 2018

My Photoshoot in the Forest

Hello friends! I have something super special to share today, a marvelous photoshoot in the woods by the Edisto River in SC during a stay at my parents' treehouses! One of my dearest friends and artsy soul sisters, Stephanie Stein, took these fabulous photos of me the next morning after our campout escapades and I could not be more delighted with the results! 

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Stephanie is a super awesome artist who specializes in fashion photography, but not like the plain old hum-drum boring "perfectly thin" fashion models that we're all so used to and tired of. She loves to appreciate the underappreciated and feature everyday weirdos just like you and me, but in the most exceptional ways (just like me with my Bohemian Goddesses series!).

I feel so fortunate to be a muse for fellow artists and to help them realize their own artistic visions. Every part of the creative process is such a special experience. I've worked with a least 6-8 incredibly talented photographers over the last ten years so I'll have to share a few more of my art modelling collections on the blog. 

See more of Stephanie Stein's fantastic photography here! 

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originally published September 9, 2017

Always Room for Improvement!

[Please Note: I am out of the studio on vacation for a few weeks so I am resharing some useful posts that I think merit fresh eyes] 

'You don't have to be better than anyone else, just be better than yourself.'

I'm trying to turn that old saying into truth once again, as I'm sure most artists do from time to time. I've been challenging myself to have more of a tender touch in my drawings lately, especially with the white chalk on my figure studies, and I'm already noticing progress. It's amazing what mindfulness can do for you and your art!

I already practice mindfulness in my day-to-day life, mostly focusing on nutrition and mental clarity, but I have noticed that a little intention can go a long way in many more aspects of one's artistic and professional life as well. Once you decide to practice mindfulness it easily becomes like second nature, and just deciding where to channel your new power first will be the hardest part! 

A mindful smoothie-in-the-sunshine moment

What is 'being mindful'?

When I use the term 'mindfulness' I am referring to performing an action or having a thought with intention. So much of our daily routine happens automatically, and even though we are conscious of what we are doing, we are not being conscientious about each specific task at hand. To bring mindfulness into our routine, one must only pick one aspect of your day and ask 'why?' Why do I do this in this way? What prevents me doing it another way? Or perhaps, Is this the way I want to act or think about this action? Is this daily decision going to help me or harm me in the future? 

By taking the time to ask ourselves these questions occasionally, we can help ourselves maintain a healthy and productive life that is always improving. I cannot emphasize this enough, there is always, always room for improvement in one's life. I am constantly evaluating my health, happiness, productivity, and outside relationships to find small ways to clean house or spruce up my own mind and body. In no way am I trying to gloat, but I am currently in the best physical shape of my life, in the healthiest relationship in my life, am making the most strides as a career artist, and am living the dream in Hawai'i... and I can truthfully credit it all to mindfulness and self-critique. 

If you don't like something about your life, change it.         Progress needs a proactive attitude.   

One should never stagnate or be content with the status quo. Every day you can be a slightly better version of the you you were the day before. I'm not trying to sound like some dental office motivational poster, but take a page out of the old Tony Robbins handbook and look at what you're doing and ask yourself if you like it.

Now as I was saying in the beginning, whenever I take that same daily mindfulness and apply it to my art, I absolutely notice improvements, and usually much faster than naturally occurs. Of course if you practice anything long enough you will get better at it regardless of how consciously in-tune you are trying to be, but why not practice with intention and get better by leaps and bounds?! 

The best way I have found to improve with intention is to be very specific where I am channelling that energy. I don't just tell myself, 'get better at drawing'. I would tell myself, 'get better at drawing hair', or more specifically, 'get better at drawing dreadlocks', then 'get better at drawing straight hair', and so on. Practicing your focal point is crucial of course, but practicing with intention by really concentrating on each line and referencing other artists' techniques or photos and doing it over and again until you get it right on every piece you work on will give you dramatically better results than just repeating steps alone or copying other artists.  I find that trying to envision my desired effect before beginning each piece really helps to train your hand to create what's in your brain.

So for my most recent drawing-with-intention exercise, I have been trying to have a lighter touch with my charcoals and especially with the white chalk I use on the toned paper during the weekly figure drawing sessions I attend. When a subject is bathed in bright light, it's easy to record it as all the same value, however, fine-tuning and slight adjustments is what makes a good drawing into a great one. Usually I am a very careful drawer, but, alas, I am human and can get lazy from time to time so my intention is to be more sensitive all of the time because.....

One should never waste an opportunity to create beautiful art! 

Above and below are examples; the drawings on the left are perfectly fine figure studies showing showing correct proportion and volume, but the drawings on the right depict specific musculature and slight bone protrusion and are all-in-all much stronger pieces. With just a little forethought and clarity of intended result, my figures gained a new level of realism. And these drawings were done only about a month apart and in the same amount of time, so this was not a result of great leaps in learning. This difference is all credit of my decision to be more conscientious about how hard or soft I press with my charcoal pencil which goes hand-in-hand with paying closer attention to slight variations in the model rather than blanketing him or her in the same even lighting. 

To sum up, basically I looked at my past work and decided it could better. Then I figured out specifically how, and made a mindful decision each time I worked in charcoal. The results are already notable and very pleasing. This is actually an ongoing focal point of my mindfulness so I will be concentrating on this aspect for a few months until it becomes second nature. Once I am satisfied in my advances, I'll probably find some other little thing to nitpick and so on and so forth. I have spoken with professional artists two and three times my age who say they still make advances in their art so I greatly look forward to forever improving:)

---

Words to Live By: Always make sure you are being an active participant in your own life.

I would love to hear about your current or next art-with-intention focus! Leave me a note in the comment section. 

--

originally posted: December 29, 2016

Nude Drawing Session Etiquette

Since I brought you all into my usual figure drawing space last week, I figured perhaps some of my fellow artists might want a little intro or brush-up on how to follow polite protocol when drawing from a nude model. (I also have links at the end for those of you who think you may want to try nude art modelling yourself!)

For the most part, this entire summation points back to respect for the model. Basic rule of thumb: be polite and don't be a creeper. Not too hard, right? 

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So here's your handy lil nude model session guide, and make sure to check out the vid for more detailed explanations behind everything and to see me make some pretty goobery faces while discussing creepers!

Nude Modeling Etiquette Rules:

During Figure Session:

1. Give the model their personal space 
2. DON'T BE A CREEP 
3. No talking to the model - ask the moderator if you see a pose adjustment, etc
4. No talking to anyone else
5. No cell phones or cameras out ever

During the Break:

1. Allow model to robe themselves privately
2. Don't discuss that session's or previous sessions' models with fellow artists
3. Only talk to the model if they make themselves part of the group and welcome conversation
4. Do not ask the model personal questions or out on a date, nor talk about any aspect of their body 

End of Figure Session:

1. Help tidy the studio
2. If you think you may want to hire the muse for your own work - definitely watch the video where I share my experiences with that and best advice on how you can do so without being a creeper;) 

So hear me out on this week's vlog for details about each rule so you (and your gracious model) can feel great about drawing the figure from life! Yay!

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Here's a great resource for well-explained etiquette rules:

http://terrystricklandart.blogspot.com/2015/01/etiquette-for-aritists-and-their-nude.html

And a very reassuring blog for students who are nude-session-newbies:  

https://www.cassart.co.uk/blog/the_art_students_survival_guide_to_life_drawing.htm

Plus the most comprehensive guide for models you could ask for:

http://www.berkshire.net/~brenaud/MiscFiles/modeling/modeling4.htm 

--

originally posted: June 6, 2017

Pencil Pastel Breakthrough!

Ok, wow, just had a breakthrough with my art..... So I've been drawing on this toned paper for well over two years now but have always used just my black and white charcoals with all of it no matter what the tone of the paper.

At this week's figure session however, I pulled out a sepia chalk pastel pencil to use with my white chalk for this pale yellow paper and BAM! All of a sudden this figure and its environment are one completely cohesive entity. The black was always so harsh and cold on this tone of paper - so much so that I was not going to include these particular lighter papers when making my next round of sketchbooks, but now I'm thrilled to experiment more!

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The difference between these drawings is not all that incredibly stark, however the brown tone really seems to take the edge off and makes the figure appear more like a warm body, rather than a cool rendering. You feel it?

This is the main reason why I like keeping a variety art supplies in my studio that may not be in my current forte, yet can be something that just comes to me or that I see another artist use and want to try myself. For example, I've been to an art gallery before and became really inspired to replicate the watercolor or colored pencil techniques that I had just seen as soon as I got home. Even though I use those materials incredibly rarely these days, I'm still so grateful to have them whenever the mood to branch out strikes.

I highly recommend for other artists, especially ones who are still discovering their own style, to go to their neighborhood locally owned art store and just have fun picking out a few random drawing instruments or inks or even clay to bring home for a rainy day or as a cure for artist's block. Trust me, before too long you will be glad you did!

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My trusty soft charcoal pencil and white chalk on the bottom along with my new experimental chalk pastels in dark and light sepia and deep moss green

Anyway, back to these fabulous new variations of my charcoal figure sketches.... I am so ecstatic and surprised by what a difference softening the tone has made! Now I feel like I've got a whole new world to look forward to as far as creative color matching during the figure drawing session. 

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I can't wait to switch some color combinations up!

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You can see the harshness of the shadows in the drawing on the left, yet even though the values get just as deep in the drawing on the right, the figure feels more a part of his environment. Subtlety is the name of this game for sure.  

I have spoken to many other artists and creatives and many discuss having breakthroughs during times of experimentation with new materials. To be clear, when I say 'breakthroughs' I am referring to personal times of rapid growth or advancement; it's basically an epiphany within one's own artwork that can seem to happen all of a sudden. Varying your materials can be a great way to get out of a rut when experiencing a recurring issue within your artwork, or as a way to advance or push your limits by encompassing something new with familiar materials. One thing is true for all artists: developing artistic technique is a journey, not a destination.

PS. I made this fabulous sketchbook! Learn how to make your own here!

Where to Buy:

(Of course right after advising everyone going to their local art store I post links to order pastel pencils online, but my local store does not have these, so I'm sharing in case yours doesn't either. You can still go to your local spot to find other fun materials though!!)

In the photo above the top two are a different brand than the Carbothello, but they are very similar texture so it will be easier just to order all in one spot. Happy exploring! Please feel free to share with me or tag me on social media for anything your new materials inspire:)

http://www.dickblick.com/products/stabilo-carbothello-pastel-pencils/

http://www.jerrysartarama.com/stabilo-carbothello-pastel-pencils 

--

originally posted: March 25, 2017

Always Room for Improvement!

'You don't have to be better than anyone else, just be better than yourself.'

I'm trying to turn that old saying into truth once again, as I'm sure most artists do from time to time. I've been challenging myself to have more of a tender touch in my drawings lately, especially with the white chalk on my figure studies, and I'm already noticing progress. It's amazing what mindfulness can do for you and your art!

I already practice mindfulness in my day-to-day life, mostly focusing on nutrition and mental clarity, but I have noticed that a little intention can go a long way in many more aspects of one's artistic and professional life as well. Once you decide to practice mindfulness it easily becomes like second nature, and just deciding where to channel your new power first will be the hardest part! 

A mindful smoothie-in-the-sunshine moment

What is 'being mindful'?

When I use the term 'mindfulness' I am referring to performing an action or having a thought with intention. So much of our daily routine happens automatically, and even though we are conscious of what we are doing, we are not being conscientious about each specific task at hand. To bring mindfulness into our routine, one must only pick one aspect of your day and ask 'why?' Why do I do this in this way? What prevents me doing it another way? Or perhaps, Is this the way I want to act or think about this action? Is this daily decision going to help me or harm me in the future? 

By taking the time to ask ourselves these questions occasionally, we can help ourselves maintain a healthy and productive life that is always improving. I cannot emphasize this enough, there is always, always room for improvement in one's life. I am constantly evaluating my health, happiness, productivity, and outside relationships to find small ways to clean house or spruce up my own mind and body. In no way am I trying to gloat, but I am currently in the best physical shape of my life, in the healthiest relationship in my life, am making the most strides as a career artist, and am living the dream in Hawai'i... and I can truthfully credit it all to mindfulness and self-critique. 

If you don't like something about your life, change it.         Progress needs a proactive attitude.   

One should never stagnate or be content with the status quo. Every day you can be a slightly better version of the you you were the day before. I'm not trying to sound like some dental office motivational poster, but take a page out of the old Tony Robbins handbook and look at what you're doing and ask yourself if you like it.

Now as I was saying in the beginning, whenever I take that same daily mindfulness and apply it to my art, I absolutely notice improvements, and usually much faster than naturally occurs. Of course if you practice anything long enough you will get better at it regardless of how consciously in-tune you are trying to be, but why not practice with intention and get better by leaps and bounds?! 

The best way I have found to improve with intention is to be very specific where I am channelling that energy. I don't just tell myself, 'get better at drawing'. I would tell myself, 'get better at drawing hair', or more specifically, 'get better at drawing dreadlocks', then 'get better at drawing straight hair', and so on. Practicing your focal point is crucial of course, but practicing with intention by really concentrating on each line and referencing other artists' techniques or photos and doing it over and again until you get it right on every piece you work on will give you dramatically better results than just repeating steps alone or copying other artists.  I find that trying to envision my desired effect before beginning each piece really helps to train your hand to create what's in your brain.

So for my most recent drawing-with-intention exercise, I have been trying to have a lighter touch with my charcoals and especially with the white chalk I use on the toned paper during the weekly figure drawing sessions I attend. When a subject is bathed in bright light, it's easy to record it as all the same value, however, fine-tuning and slight adjustments is what makes a good drawing into a great one. Usually I am a very careful drawer, but, alas, I am human and can get lazy from time to time so my intention is to be more sensitive all of the time because.....

One should never waste an opportunity to create beautiful art! 

Above and below are examples; the drawings on the left are perfectly fine figure studies showing showing correct proportion and volume, but the drawings on the right depict specific musculature and slight bone protrusion and are all-in-all much stronger pieces. With just a little forethought and clarity of intended result, my figures gained a new level of realism. And these drawings were done only about a month apart and in the same amount of time, so this was not a result of great leaps in learning. This difference is all credit of my decision to be more conscientious about how hard or soft I press with my charcoal pencil which goes hand-in-hand with paying closer attention to slight variations in the model rather than blanketing him or her in the same even lighting. 

To sum up, basically I looked at my past work and decided it could better. Then I figured out specifically how, and made a mindful decision each time I worked in charcoal. The results are already notable and very pleasing. This is actually an ongoing focal point of my mindfulness so I will be concentrating on this aspect for a few months until it becomes second nature. Once I am satisfied in my advances, I'll probably find some other little thing to nitpick and so on and so forth. I have spoken with professional artists two and three times my age who say they still make advances in their art so I greatly look forward to forever improving:)

---

Words to Live By: Always make sure you are being an active participant in your own life.

I would love to hear about your current or next art-with-intention focus! Leave me a note in the comment section. 

--

originally posted: December 29, 2016

Life Drawing

A few sketches from a weekly live figure drawing session I've been attending here in Honolulu. Unfortunately, none of the poses are as long as I'm used to, but it's fine for keeping my quick sketch skills sharp.

These are charcoal and white chalk, around 6x9 inches. You can see more here and learn how to make your own fabulous sketchbook here.

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originally posted: March 17, 2016