Faces

Karin Jurick and her "100 Faces BUST-ED" project are huge inspiration source for me. Her work gave me the courage to draw and paint my first faces at the times of "Different Strokes". And she inspires me two years later.
I was cherishing an idea of portraits for several months, started today and would report about the results here.

My uncle's huge photo-journalist archive provides a lot of faces material. And there is no fear that the models will recognize themselves, at least for the nearest projects)).
 
I did this piece on craft paper with oil pastels in 3 hours from photo reference. Tell me what you think about it.

Did not draw anything in 2 weeks (business got all the time) and it felt so wrong. Please do not think that I forgot your talented blogs, I will be back soon. I promise.

Fun-meter

Two attempts to draw the bird helped me to survive difficult work project this week-end. One bird was drawn when the wishful result seemed very doubtful. The other bird happened when I realized that in spite of all "symptoms" the work will be done in time and in good quality.
I wonder if you see the difference as I see it. The first posted image is more relaxing and free (it was done later in time, turned better and I post it as marketing lead))), the second posted image - when I was tension and nerve.
Drawing is great antidepressant. When mixed with watercolors.

Learning from Masters

This sketch is my attempt to repeat the composition and values of the photo of my Mexican friend Carraol (his photo blog is here, every photo is a treasure, plus the music choice is fantastic).

This sketch is also the copy of watercolor sketch I saved to my desktop year ago. That time the drawing and the color choices of the original seemed perfect (and still are!) and unreachable. Now (one year later) I have courage to try to repeat it. Please visit the blog of the author of the original, Yann Lesacher, French painter and illustrator.

And two London views today.

Greenwich, November 2010 

Regent's Canal, London, November 2010

Sketching Moscow

A5, PITT ink-pen, watercolors

The traffic jams have some positive points. My favorite one is the ability to look around and see the city details. And then, when time allows, to return and sketch, trying to catch the composition arranged by the city itself.
I also post the photo of the original scene. Please do not compare))). The truth is in the painter's eyes!