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.