Spirit of Drawing

At the Carnival...

2011-07-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Filene's Basement - New Look

2011-06-26T22:35:00.001-07:00

Kojo Sleeping, Bika nearby

2011-06-26T22:28:00.001-07:00

Kojo is a sweet sweet 11 year old German Shorthair Pointer. He's a beautiful liver color, with a six pointed white star on his chest. He loves to run but alas is getting old and has been on chemo for lymphoma. He sleeps a lot now, but is always game for a romp with is younger sidekick, Jabu. Bika is sleeping nearby. Great pack!

University of Iowa Hospital

2011-06-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

On July 27th, 1991 I received a life saving

double organ transplant here.

Kidney and pancreas -

cured my diabetes and

saved me from renal failure

and a short life on dialysis.

Gina was my organ donor

- she was killed in a car

accident in Colorado.

The surgeons flew off this

building in a helicopter

and returned with my gift of life.

(Please consider checking YES

on your driver's license for

Organ Donor!

God forbid you should

ever be one though -

unless you are a LIVING donor.

Cheers!)

Bluebird Café, Iowa City, Iowa

2011-06-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

2010-12-30T18:40:00.001-08:00

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The Fops!

2010-10-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Another trip to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival this year to draw my favorite people, the Fops.

Portraits: Morocco Series

2010-10-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Portraits of Morocco

2010-09-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

From an upcoming show at Modela in Iowa City. Moroccan portraits inspired by my trip to Marrakech.

Siren Poses by Jenny

2010-06-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Portrait Party Online Pt. 2

2010-06-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

More Jenny from Drawing Group

2010-05-12T07:26:00.001-07:00

Portrait Party Online

2010-05-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

These drawings are part of a growing group of online artists who draw each other. Photos are posted and about 150 artists pick whomever they want to draw, and then post in the Flickr group. It's great fun! It's ongoing and ongoing.... I love looking for interesting faces to draw and then once you do, you become online pals.

Drawing Sharri in NYC

2010-04-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

New York City • April 2010

2010-04-20T18:31:00.001-07:00

From my agent's apartment on 38th Street and 3rd Avenue, looking east and north.

My agent of 25 years and dear friend, Anita (aka Nini) reading the Sunday NY Times at her dining table.

Another view from Anita's apartment in NYC - this time looking east and south. The morning sun was blocking out the light on some buildings creating great shapes.

More Drawings from Morocco - March 2010

2010-04-11T21:48:00.000-07:00

People of Marrakech, Morocco (new friends!)

2010-04-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Toria

Khadija

Said (SAH-eed)

Souad

Aissam aka "Jerry Lewis" - despite the serious expression, Aissam was all about slapstick and laughing.

March 2010: Drawings from Marrakech, Morocco

2010-04-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

Jenny from Drawing Group

2010-02-22T20:32:00.001-08:00

These drawings were all from 2 to 5 minutes long.... love the short expressive poses!

For Shön! Magazine in the UK

2010-02-09T19:00:00.001-08:00

Eileen from Drawing Group

2010-02-06T11:54:00.001-08:00

Jenny from Drawing Group

2010-02-06T11:15:00.001-08:00

Fabulous Megan

2010-01-03T14:42:00.001-08:00

First week of December - 2 events

2009-12-05T18:17:00.000-08:00

Infections should not visit on Saturdays, because then you have to go to the ER for treatment and wait, wait, wait.
Friday night reading at the bookstore Prairie Lights in Iowa City. The author was Stephen Bloom. His book was "Tears of Mermaids" about pearls and the pearl trade. He likened pearos to cocaine in their cost, scarcity, levels of purity and secretive distribution channels. That seemed like a stretch. The lecture was actually pretty boring - I felt like I was in class listening to the prof drone on.
Author droning and people listening - at least early on.

Thursday Night's model 12.3.09

2009-12-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

Signage Part 2 - Ced-Rel Motel & Fine Food

2009-11-14T14:20:00.001-08:00

I have always loved this sign - it's so graphically bad, and the name suggests an unimaginative business name (Cedric and Mariel?) A mystery. Had to draw it. The Motel is long and unassuming, typical roadside motel on a minor highway, and then this restaurant out of the 60's next door. Fine food: crab claws on Friday. Who would even stop there? To eat or stay? It's in the middle of nowhere. My husband's employee tells him it's a place that registered sex-offenders live. Motel, fine food and sex offenders?

Iowa Signage Part 1

2009-11-14T14:17:00.001-08:00

Kalona, Iowa

2009-11-14T14:14:00.001-08:00

More Urban Sketches Around Iowa City

2009-11-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

Leisha - our model on thursday night

2009-11-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

Methodist Church, Iowa City

2009-11-04T18:22:00.001-08:00

I cannot get enough of Gothic architecture, even if it's only Gothic Revival and not the real thing.

The Black Angel, Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City

2009-11-04T18:18:00.000-08:00

This is the Black Angel at the Oakdale Cemetery off of Governor Street in Iowa City, Iowa. She is almost 9 feet tall and is on top of a stone that is 4 feet tall. It’s an exquisitely crafted sculpture of Victorian Classicism and the angel, instead of looking up as typical in cemeteries, looks down. Supposedly the angel was bronze at one time and turned black due to a number of theories – evil, lightning, melancholy. She becomes very popular around Halloween and indeed, as I drew her, a carload of young Goths came by to see her. Lots of myths, legends, and stories about this one and why the angel turned black.

As I drew, I could not make out her face. The angel is so black that shadows completely obscure the features as she is looking down. I got out of the car to go up close and draw, but I only got the outside contour line as it got really cold and she is huge – very hard to get up close. She has a type of shroud over her head and a long gown with spaghetti straps that hug her form. Her left knee is bent and protrudes slightly giving the gown folds that show the form underneath. She is holding her wings as if the shield herself from a wind in a very graceful arc.

It’s the grave of Theresa Feldevertova, her husband and their son. Her husband Nicholas Feldevert (I have no idea why this is abbreviated) has the dates: 1825 – 1911, but Theresa only has the birth year and a dash: 1836 – with no year of death.

She is a real presence in the cemetery which is fairly big. She must be beautiful in the snow. I’ll have to go back in winter.

Minneapolis Downtown View

2009-10-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

View from the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Overlooking The Ivy, the skywalks, and the Convention Center.

Ollinger Heights, Iowa

2009-10-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny - I didn't want to post this drawing since it seemed so tight to me and a little constipated. Then thinking it over ... I thought about how drawing really reflects our (or my) innermost beingness - I realized it's my reaction to the way suburbs are being developed these days - variations on one theme of architecture and how much I love old and ancient and classical forms. The very view here tightened me up, as the aesthetic of these kinds of neighborhoods make me feel constricted somehow, though some have very beautiful modern homes as well as providing families a place to live.

African Mask in my living room

2009-10-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

Couldn't sleep one night so I parked myself out in the living room and drew this Chokwe mask I got from an African Art dealer. The hair are these hollow wooden beads - the face scared me at first and I thought about sending it back. I told the dealer that it may not work. Then the next day I looked again and it felt like he was happy in my house and we have gotten along ever since.

Buzz Salon, Iowa City

2009-10-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

I have lived in San Francisco and NYC and never have I found someone to cut my short hair nearly as well as Jodi who owns Buzz Salon in Iowa City. Buzz was written up in Elle Magazine this summer as one of the top salons in the U. S. - and it really is! I was waiting for a trim and decided to pass the time drawing the antique chest of drawers with all the SMASHBOX products on it.

Coralville, Iowa - Oakdale Blvd Bridge Lights

2009-10-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

I love these lights which line a small bridge through a semi-rural area towards a golf course. Sometimes, on a foggy day, they look like they are on the bridge over the river Styx.

The Englert Theater, Iowa City, Iowa

2009-10-18T14:59:00.001-07:00

Nadia at Thursday's Drawing Group

2009-10-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

New Urban Sketches

2009-10-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

From Inside the Art Studio

2009-10-11T17:08:00.002-07:00

Waiting for the model to arrive (and other artists) for a drawing session at the studio. That's St. Peters out the window next door.

Drawings of model Ben

2009-10-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Ben posed for the drawing group on Thursday - he was great!

Deluxe Bakery, Iowa City

2009-09-20T18:08:00.001-07:00

130 Jefferson Street

2009-09-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

Drawings from the Studio

2009-09-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

Megan Modeled at the Studio

2009-09-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

Deluxe Bakery, Iowa City

2009-09-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately no one was at the bakery when I arrived to sketch, but the setting alone called to be drawn. Taylor, was gracious and kind to let me order a diet coke and make myself at home. Nothing nonfat at this joint. I hope to go back soon and draw the outside and the case with all the goodies in it. A fabulous place if you don't worry about cardiac disease!

Khalilah

2009-09-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

Khalilah was the most amazing model and I only got to draw her once. Sigh. Since she was modeling for my class that day (in San Francisco at the Academy of Art University) and I was busy teaching, I only got to draw her, literally, once.

Diana

2009-09-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

Diana was from Berkeley and sang in a group called "Odor of Pears." She was a great model.

Receiving a Blessing/ Expressing Gratitude

2009-09-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

I always felt like the dancing I did in "Sweat Your Prayers" was a contemplative movement showing gratitude for life. This drawing was inspired by that feeling.

Sweat Your Prayers

2009-09-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Gabrielle Roth has created a practice of dancing that incorporates what she calls the "five rhythms" in the universe. These drawings are from observing people at the weekly dance sessions I attended (and danced at for several years) in Sausalito, California. I was blessed to have taken a workshop directly from Gabrielle. http://www.gabrielleroth.com/

Anjali Dancing

2009-09-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Anjali danced in a most beautiful way, prayerful, like she was saying "Namaste" to the universe. I tried to capture the spirit of her flowing movements in quick brush lines, the line of her pregnant belly allowed a beautiful swoop of the brush.

Anjali

2009-09-10T10:08:00.001-07:00

I met Anjali at a 5 Rhythms "Sweat Your Prayers" dance practice in Marin County. She had the most beautiful round belly, perfectly round like a planet in the universe, which in a way it was.

Drawing Renaissance Festival Revelers

2009-09-08T22:49:00.000-07:00

Beaumonde the demi monde...
Adam - what an amazing outfit he was wearing. Check out the wings on his armor.

My friend Annie took these shots without me knowing it, I was so engrossed in drawing Adam.

Beaumonde! What a perfect model! I longed to paint him full size, blue tights and all.

Iowa City, Iowa

2009-09-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

The first capitol building for the state of Iowa - now called "Old Cap," it sits in the center of the University of Iowa's pentacrest. It has a gold dome on top which I didn't have room for, but I mostly remember the day it caught on fire - the painters were not being very smart up there.

St Peters in Cosgrove, IA - home of Pork Days and Polka Mass

2009-09-08T21:58:00.000-07:00

St Peter's Catholic Church - Cosgrove, Iowa. It sits in between my art studio and a former house that was part meth lab and part brothel. It was busted a year ago. Found all that out during Pork Days, a festival that included a Polka mass, on the day that I moved into the studio. Not being Catholic, I have no idea what a Polka mass is. Oh, but the views! The views of the Iowa countryside!

Eric, Tei, Lute player, Lucky, & Signy

2009-09-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Eric had a leather patch for a badge that said "Concierge" and his job was to shoo you out the right door from the Renaissance Festival. I drew him at the request of a lass - I won't say who - who wanted me to send her my drawing of him, but not tell him that. "Are you still feeling creative?" she asked.
Tei was simply talking to friends but I loved the black sleeves and the shape they made with her black hair and dainty parasol.
The guitar player didn't really want to be drawn, even though I asked permission. He dipped his head out of view. Some guy behind me was all excited and kept saying, "Wow, that's really good!" - "Fantastic!" - "Wonderful, wonderful!" As I was about to turn and take my bows, he rushed over to the musician and had a long conversation about how much he loved his music. Oh, well. I went ahead and bought his CD.
Lucky was a patient Labrador, and his little scribble of a friend next to him on the leash was a tired little Yorkie.

Signy goes to Kansas State and was scheduled, nervously, for her first job modeling nude for an art class the following week. I told her not to worry, everyone will be very professional after the first few gasps.

Catherine

2009-09-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

Catherine was beading at a table against a mirror, and is a third generation Ren Festie. Her grandmother was running the shop and her mom and aunt had shops on both sides of hers. Her costume was red and white - she was elegant and had the most striking profile.

Adam

2009-09-08T14:01:00.001-07:00

Adam - and his friends - were in a class by themselves. Adam had on this amazing leather coat, and chain mail with metal warrior plates on his neck and shoulders. He was so gallant about posing, such a gentleman, truly living out the life of a nobleman. He looked like a knight and acted like one too. I bought the whole package.

2009-09-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

The Bakery Stage at the Renaissance Festival in Minneapolis - where we saw a friend juggle fire, knives, and bowling pins. Someone got a little nick from the knife throwing stunt.

Ann had a shop inside of the front entrance. Lovely lass!

Ren Festies in Lydia's Shop

2009-09-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

This is Chad. He had his hand in his doublet Napoleon-style the whole time. Then he showed me what he had in his hand: a little baby squirrel. He found it under his car and had since bought a little cage, eye dropper and bonded with the little guy. The baby squirrel fit neatly in his hand and held on to his finger like he wanted to suckle it.

This is Brandon and Lauren. Lauren looked like a pouty Katie Holmes.
Here's Tyler - very game to pose. Hard to see details of his great outfit, the sun was going down.

Lydia, Minneapolis Ren Fest

2009-09-08T13:27:00.001-07:00

Lydia's shop was awesome. She and her friends were some of the first people I drew and they were so nice to let me draw them while they were greeting customers. I said I would come back and buy from them, which I did - a beautiful plaid Highland Lass kind of ensemble to wear next year. But here's the real story: Lydia is fascinated with Anne Boleyn and is an English history major. On May 19, 2036, it will be Anne Boleyn's 500th anniversary of her execution (Thanks to Henry VIII) - and it will also be Lydia's 50th birthday. What are the odds?

Renaissance Festival, Minneapolis

2009-09-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

André and Evian, the pages.
ZzaZza - has been going to the Minneapolis Renaissance Festival for 30 years!
Marcello too, 30 years at the Ren Fest. I saw them and my hand instinctively reached out as I followed them behind the scenes to their trailer, begging to let me draw them. Marcello got ready for his close up.
Beaumonde was a great model - I told him: "Look bored." He did this so well!
These were favorites at the Ren Fest - unbelievable costumes and outsize, fabulous personalities. My favorite Divas of all time and I've lived in San Francisco for 16 years total so I've seen myself some Divas. Love you Marcello, Beaumonde, ZzaZza, André, and Evian!