July 26th, 2017

July 26th, 2017

July 26th, 2017
Lake of the Woods, Ontario
Pencil sketch

I’m not sure who he is but he asked to be drawn and when I saw him, I felt I have or will know him forever.

Red Auerbach

October, 2014

Red Auerbach
October, 2014
Pencil, 16 x 20 in

This is just one of the sketches I’ve done as practice for a portrait I’ll be doing soon. It’s not plein air and it’s not from life, obviously – but because I’ve been sick I’ve been stuck inside and would like to show I’ve not been totally idle.

Emily

April 20th, 2014

Emily
April 20th, 2014
Pencil, 8 x 10 in approx.

My niece is a remarkable artist, and one morning while we were both visiting her grandparents for Easter we decided to draw each other’s portraits. She was working very hard, hence the serious expression and downcast eyes. When not looking so studious, she’s bright eyed and full of spunk.

January 22nd, 2014

January 22nd, 2014

January 22nd, 2014

This was just a sketch I did this week. I had Robert Frost’s “Come In” running through my head, and also a parable a friend’s mother once told me. I may type out the parable later, but the poem is this:

As I came to the edge of the woods,
Thrush music — hark-
Now if it was dusk outside,
Inside it was dark.

Too dark in the woods for a bird
By sleight of wing
To better its perch for the night,
Though it still could sing.

The last of the light of the sun
That faded in the west
Still lived for one song more
In a thrush’s breast.

Far along the pillared dark
Thrush music went —
Almost like a call to come in
To the dark and lament.

But no, I was out for stars;
I would not come in.
I meant not even if asked;
And I hadn’t been.

April 20th, 2013

April 20th, 2013

April 20th, 2013
Cox Reservation, Essex MA
Pencil Sketch, 16 x 20 in

Though I carried all my painting gear around the Greenbelt for at least an hour in search of something to paint, nothing “spoke to me.” Whatever’s been dogging me these past months, Lyme or otherwise, flared up again this weekend. I almost went home in defeat – but instead remembered I had a pad of paper in the car. I sat myself down in front of this tree and started drawing. What was nice about this was that with a pencil I can get all those tiny details that my knife is too clumsy for. I really needed to focus on something outside of myself and this was a very good way for me to do that. I stopped when the light had changed too much – I am undecided as to whether to try and finish it or leave it as is.