All nine muscles

I just finished sculpting the homework assignment.  I guess I'm living up to the name of the blog since its almost 2 am and Im still in the life drawing studio.  The all-nighter is an old habit that will die hard.  I'm learning to front-load the all-nighter instead of waiting until the night before.  This way I have the whole weekend without any obligations.  I better get home and get to bed though.  I get up at 5 am for work 5 days a week so my body's alarm clock is set pretty early.  What good is a homework free weekend if your dragging you feet without enough sleep?!  Catch 22.

I'll take pictures of the muscles tomorrow.

Lateral

Dorsal

Dorsolateral

Here are the photos as promised.  I messed with the contrast and such in iPhoto for didactic purposes.  I've never taken university level sculpture so I'm not sure my rendering with the clay will pass.  I hope it does, since Im getting the heck out of Dodge for the rest of the weekend.  Its my littlest brother's birthday party in the T.C.

Homework - Cross Contour Line Drawing

Untitled, 2009, charcoal and conte on paper

This one was close to catastrophe a couple times, and it did need one emergency alteration.  All mostly because of my rusty techniques.  I am becoming more and more comfortable with the end result.  This is dramatically different than what I had planned but it may be better this way.  It is more yellow in this photo than in natural light due to the lighting I set up.  iPhoto can only go so far to fix it.  Anyway, blah, blah, blah.  I'm probably being too critical since my first critique in 2.5 years is tomorrow afternoon.  Regardless, I'm pretty sure that I'll eventually forget the struggle I had with this piece and simply enjoy it for what it is.  It'll grow on me.  I'm glad that I don't indulge on the impulse to tear into shreds artwork that isn't going well.  I just wouldn't let myself give up on this thing.  Things went better once I put the Tool CD in.  I'll just start with that next time.

Life Drawing fall 09 post 1

Almost There, 2005, charcoal on paper

Untitled, 2007, charcoal on newsprint

Humpty George, 2005, mixed media

Not My Boots, 2007, mixed media on paper

I have always had a painterly style of drawing, and I knew I am in for a challenge when Prof. Fichter told the class that she is looking for the exact opposite style for her class.  I think it will be good for me though, and I must admit that I have felt the need for more structure and better line quality in my work.  Sometimes my drawing is bland because all of the marks have the same size and weight.

The art that I have posted is a good sampling of my curiosities.  I enjoy collage and experimenting with unusual media.  Honestly, my favorite art supply store is Home Depot (Menards closes too early for artists).  I think its because I am process oriented and I am always thinking of a new material to manipulate.  The brownish “painting” has the subjects made by lemon juice.  It’s a fun process and I love the tone of the end product.

I am taking life drawing this semester because I felt it would be a good place to pick up again.  It has been a couple years since I attended college in Duluth at UMD, and I’m afraid my drawing skills are rusty.  I’m hoping that this class will give me a good foundation as I transfer to a new school and a new major.  I was in Art Education until an urban middle school broke me.  You have to be in it for teaching the kids, and not just to be an artist with a weekly paycheck.