Day three hundred and fifty-three: One thing I’ve learned this year is that I love making lots of vertical lines with a pencil. It’s especially satisfying for me at the end of a long day because it doesn’t really require much thought. My hand seems to naturally make the gesture, and I enjoy watching the […]
Also tagged abstract, faceDay three hundred and forty-eight: Today’s sketch of an eagle is based on a detail from an early 16th-century etching by Daniel Hopfer. I’d write more, but I got a late start because I attended my first book arts class after work! 2011 has been the year of the sketch, and it’s looking like 2012 […]
Also tagged animalDay three hundred and forty-four: I am repeatedly amazed when I make sketches after old masters. Their technique and skill is unbelievable. This detail is based on an etching by an unknown artist who was copying a print by Daniel Hopfer. I like the way my drawing ended up, with its peculiar, modern patterns and […]
Also tagged faceDay three hundred and forty-one: I spent some time this afternoon browsing through boxes of prints by anonymous artists from the 15th and 16th centuries. There were many interesting sheets, both peculiar and lovely, and largely forgotten. My sketch this evening is based on a detail from one striking 16th-century Italian engraving of Christ healing […]
Also tagged art on artDay three hundred and forty: This evening I attended a dinner party with fellow fellows from the museum, during which I was asked if I had plans for my last drawing of the year. I replied that I did not, but expected to select a subject that day just as I have every other day […]
Also taggedDay three hundred and thirty-nine: I so thoroughly enjoyed sketching Ganesha yesterday, that I quickly turned to another ancient sculpture for today’s sketch. This study is based on a 1st-century Roman puteale, or round well-head, decorated with twelve deities. The original stone well can be seen today at the archeological museum in Naples, Italy.
Also tagged ancient, art on artDay three hundred and thirty-eight: A visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Asian galleries this afternoon led to my encounter with “Dancing Ganesha,” a sandstone sculpture made circa 750 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. Today’s sketch focuses on a detail of the Hindu deity’s elephant head. I was quite pleased to find myself able […]
Also tagged art on artDay three hundred and thirty-five: Here’s a silly sketch. I began with no idea, but started trying to draw a woman’s face. Then I had extra space above, so I gave her a crown, which reminded me of fairy tale princesses. Adding a little goofy frog seemed like the perfect thing to do. She was […]
Also taggedDay three hundred and thirty-four: A discussion among students visiting the study room this afternoon about self-portraiture in prints reminded me that I haven’t sketched a proper self-portrait yet this year. At least not that I remember being any sort of serious attempt at a realistic representation of myself. This self-portrait was made in brown […]
Also tagged self portraitDay three hundred and thirty-three: For the last few days leading up to this seemingly momentous number, I’ve been thinking that I would create some special picture to commemorate the 333rd drawing this year. But I forgot all about it until I logged in to post this quick sketch of an Athenian vase. It’s based […]
Also tagged ancient, oil, pastel