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.

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!

Sketching at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

A few months ago I spent a day sketching at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I spent most of the day in the Greek and Roman Galleries and it was wonderful. I plan on going back to draw again next week and will post about my experiences. For now see photos of three sketches and a photo of the gallery.



Greek and Roman Rooms. Photo by Marie Dauenheimer



Pencil sketch by Marie Dauenheimer



Pencil sketch by Marie Dauenheimer



Pencil sketch by Marie Dauenheimer