Using Red Chalk on Toned Paper Continued

On Friday in figure drawing class I worked on a long study using terra cotta pencil, white pastel on toned paper. I like the warm quality of the terra cotta on the buff colored paper. The pose was wonderful with a strong contrapposto.



Drawing by Marie Dauenheimer.

Figure Drawing Class with Robert Liberace, Watercolor Wash

In figure drawing class on Friday Robert Liberace demonstrated his watercolor technique. Starting with a quick graphite sketch he switched to burnt sienna watercolor and laid down fluid rapid brush strokes. He established the form and used ultramarine blue washes to darken the shadows and add accents.



Studies using watercolor washes by Robert Liberace.



Detail of watercolor study by Robert Liberace.



Watercolor demo by Robert Liberace showing technique on paper prepared with layer of Chinese white. This stabilizes the color and leads to less bleeding.

All photos by Karen Coughlan. Thanks Karen!

Illustrators Club "Sketch Day" at National Museum of Natural History

On Sunday February 13, 2011 ten artists, illustrators and students meet at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History for another Illustrators Club "Sketch Day". We broke up and drew in the many beautiful exhibit halls, attracted to gems, minerals, dinosaurs, skeletons and underwater creatures. The mediums used varied from Lucinda Levine's fluid watercolor to Kristy Orr's energetic pen and ink to Samantha Bryant's colored pencil and watercolor technique.

After sketching for two hours we meet for lunch at the National Gallery of Art for refreshments and critique. It was great fun to share the drawings and techniques and discuss the next "Sketch Day". Another artist, sketching cherubs at the National Gallery of Art (in celebration of St. Valentine's Day) joined us when she saw us sharing our work.

Thanks to Sayeh Behnam for planning another successful "Sketch Day"! Please consider joining us for the next "Sketch Day", the date is Sunday March 13, 2011 at 11:00AM location TBD.



Kevynn Joseph shares his sketch of a dinosaur skeleton.



Kevynn Joseph and Kristy Orr enjoy discussion of sketches.



Sketches of cherubs from the National Gallery of Art.



Lucinda Levine's watercolor of a bear skull.



Kristy Orr's pen and ink of a modern African dress.



Samantha Bryant's watercolor colored pencil painting of the mineral azurite.



Web Bryant's charcoal study of a skeleton.



Web Bryant's oil painting based on sketches from "Sketch Day' to US Botanic Gardens.

Open Life Drawing Sessions at the Art Institute of Washington

Our open life drawing session on Thursday evening was wonderful with many artists drawing together. Our sessions are attended by local artists and illustrators, AiW faculty, staff and students. Please consider joining us this Thursday for drawing and inspiration.



Pen and ink studies by painter Liz Floyd.



Pen and ink study by AiW faculty and illustrator Lucinda Levine.



Pencil study by Marie Dauenheimer.

Using Red Chalk on Tinted Paper Continued

In figure drawing class we continued a long pose. I continued to work using terra cotta pencis on hand tinted Twinrocker paper. I started deepening the shadows and added a few highlights with a white pastel pencil. I plan on finishing this study on Friday.



Red chalk study by Marie Dauenheimer.

Figure Drawing Class with Robert Liberace, Watercolor Wash

On Friday in the Figure Drawing class Robert Liberace demonstrated his technique for using watercolor wash. Drawing from a life model, who's pose was reminiscent of John Singer Sargent's "Madame X" portrait, Liberace did a beautiful study using black watercolor on Calligraphy Cream Twinrocker handmade paper. Beginning with a quick graphite sketch, he built up washes of watercolor, focusing on the primary and secondary shadows. He added dark accents to complete the drawing. A razor blade or white paint can be used to heighten the highlights.



Robert Liberace demonstrating his watercolor wash technique.



The finished watercolor wash drawing. Photo by Karen Coughlan.



Pen, ink and brush drawing using sepia ink.



Pen, ink and brush study by Robert Liberace.

During class Rob showed us two of his sketchbooks. They were truly amazing! Handmade with leather bindings and filled with stunning wash, ink and watercolor drawings they were inspiring works of art.



Pen, ink and brush sketches from Robert Liberace's sketchbook.



Another sketchbook page.

All photos by Marie Dauenheimer, except for watercolor wash study by Karen Coughlan.
Thanks Karen!

Illustrators Club Members Exhibition at Gallery 1820

On January 13, 2011 the Illustrators Club (IC) Members Exhibition opened at Gallery 1820, Art Institute of Washington (AiW). This is the ninth members exhibition at AiW. The exhibition was the joint effort of many IC members and AiW staff.

The exhibition features the illustrations of 25 IC members, and represents fields as diverse as anatomical illustration, game design, advertising, editorial and park display. The media used is also very diverse and includes works created digitally, with oil, acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, brush markers and mixed media.

The show comes down this Saturday, February 12, 2011. Please stop by if you have a chance.



Oil painting by David Labrozzi, "Hollywood Boulevard".



Acrylic painting by Sayeh Behnam, "Flower, Mask 2".



"Girl in Red", oil painting by Web Bryant.



"Various Creatures" by John Yanson, using color markers.



Oil Painting "Bull Rider" by David Labrozzi.

Open Life Drawing Sessions at the Art Institute of Washington

On Thursday evening thirteen artists gathered at the Art Institute of Washington to draw the figure. Each Thursday evening from 6:00-9:00PM students, faculty, staff, alumni, local artists, illustrators and designers join together to draw the figure. Using charcoal, graphite, chalks, pen and ink and various materials the artists create unique and exciting images. Please take a look at some of the drawings from last week and consider joining us for drawing.



Graphite drawing by Lucinda Levine.



Graphite drawing by AiW alumus Kevynn Joseph.



Terra cotta drawing by Marie Dauenheimer.

Figure Drawing Class with Robert Liberace , Pen, Ink and Brush

In figure drawing class with Robert Liberace we experimented with using pen, ink and brush to create spontaneous studies of the figure. Rob did a demo using sepia ink (made from the ink from cuttlefish) with pen and brush. Starting with a quick pencil sketch to block in the figure, he moves to pen and ink . Using a nib that responds to pressure Rob scribbles and hatches in the figure. His lines are calligraphic and spontaneous. Using a brush and ink he draws the shadows and adds accents. This technique is best done on a small scale and using paper such as Fabriano Ingres (which has a good amount of sizing).



Robert Liberace demonstrates using brush and ink to draw the figure.
Photo by Marie Dauenheimer.



Finished figure study. Photo by Marie Dauenheimer.



Woman Sleeping by Rembrandt, ink and brush.



Another Rembrandt sketch using pen, ink and brush.

Using Red Chalk on Tinted Paper Continued

In figure drawing class, with instructor Robert Liberace, we started a new pose. I have been experimenting with using terra cotta pencils on hand tinted paper. The paper is prepared with a mixture of watercolor and shellac, which allows for highlights to be erased out and gives a nice surface for layering the terra cotta. White highlights can also be added with a white pastel.

This technique is similar to the red chalk drawings created by Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael. The red chalk and tinted paper give the drawings a warm quality.

Last week I finished a long study with this technique and today I started a new study.



Red chalk study by Marie Dauenheimer.



Red chalk drawing, early phase, by Marie Dauenheimer.

Creating Marbleized Paper

This past Sunday my family and I went to painter Liz Floyd's home and studio to experiment with making marbleized paper. Liz is an accomplished painter and had created marbleized paper before.

Marbling paper is an ancient art form involving aqueous surface design. Using oil paint, linseed oil, mineral spirits, water and paper you can create the illusion of marble. Below is a step by step of how we created marbleized paper



Oil paints are put in individual bowls for mixing with mineral spirits.



Paints are mixed with mineral spirits using a palette knife.



Oil paints are dripped onto water (prepared with linseed oil). The paints
float on the surface of the water.



The oil paints are dripped into the water, creating a pattern.



Bond paper, cut to the size of the enamel tray, is carefully
laid on top of the paints.



Another design of oil paints dripped into the linseed oil
treated water.



Some of the finished marbleized paper.
All photos by Marie Dauenheimer.