cracking the egg: Update!

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, yet. It's just that life is pretty hectic right now, what with the countdown to the final week and the exhibition, finishing up paintings, trying to squeeze everything out of three hours of printmaking a week, and all this tiresome self-exploration. I thought, though, that as a reward for waiting so patiently, I'd post some more art. As yooosooal. I am, however, including a few charcoal drawings (photographed as they hung/hang on the wall of my studio), and I'll throw in more drawings (from my sketchbook) when I figure out what the heck is wrong with this dumb scanner.

1) Portrait assignment - in two 40-minute sessions, get enough of a baseline face to finish the portrait sans model. I actually mostly finished it in the sessions, but had a lot of small tweaking to do afterwards. Thank you, Charlie Umhau!

1.5) Portrait of Charlie - detail. I actually changed a couple of things after I took the pictures, but they're pretty subtle.

2) Portrait, not assignment - from a picture (see below) of Gramma Yvette from May 1978. NOTE TO ALL: THIS PAINTING IS NOT UP FOR GRABS. Sorry, but I had all along known that the painting was created, and thus reserved, for Grampa Dan. It's currently at the frame shop - I'll pick it up on Thursday, and ship it off to Houston. But DON'T TELL! I don't think he knows. Dad might have told him, though.

2.5) Portrait detail. I love the tiny cutout of baby Daddy's Daddy pointing at his mom (actually out over the water, but this is better).

2.667) Portrait - this is the picture I painted from. Yes, it doesn't look like her, and yes, that's okay. I may have to try again, though.

3) First posted drawing! Sketch with charcoal (shadows) and chalk (highlights) on gray paper, for figure drawing. Emphasis on maintaining the midtones.