the face of the circus - 100 drawings in 100 days

yes, it's that time of the year - the fair is in town!! or, as it's known here in australia, the "ekka", which is short for "exhibition". aussie's are well-known for their fascination with and ability to shorten almost any name (whether it's a person's name, eg. "sharon" is known as "shazza", the name of a meal-time, eg. "breakfast" is known here as "brekkie", or an event, such as the above-mentioned). so, i have been sent this photo from a friend, and drawn the clown-face down whose throat you are supposed to throw copious amounts of ping-pong balls.

i will be attending the fair next week, at which time i will be taking plenty of clowny pics as well as (hopefully) wierd and strange-looking things. this drawing is titled "the face of the circus", mainly because i didn't think a lot of people who read this would know what an "ekka" was...

also, i just added the "100 drawings in 100 days" to my facebook page for studio de Shan. please go check it out, and soon i will have all of my art added to the site. http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Studio-de-Shan/29601673141?ref=nf

the feather and corset, and vertigo still - 100 drawings in 100 days

so, i was surfing the net, and found this trailer for the movie "vertigo" and had to pause the movie, when all of a sudden i realized that i had paused at an amazing shot! how cool is this image? i'm not trying to brag on my drawing, but the composition is amazing, and the rich blacks, the lighting, etc. it's just so exciting when i see things everywhere that i could draw...

and i am very excited to announce that i have already been asked to reserve 2 of them for a friend of mine who wants to buy them. i will be having an exhibition of these drawings on or around day 101, and they will all be for sale for $100, and the selling time will be open for 100 minutes - that's an hour and 40 minutes, so plenty of time to buy the ones you want! i will be donating a portion of the proceeds to a charity yet to be announced. so, happy browsing - 77 days left!!

well, i'm off tomorrow, so the two drawings here are today's and tomorrow's - "the feather and corset", and "vertigo still".

walking on water - 100 drawings in 100 days

i went to see the Picasso exhibition on monday, at the Gallery of Modern Art in brisbane. this is the second big-name exhibition they've had since i've been here. the last one was Andy Warhol - both of which were spectacular!! and although i do so enjoy going to see them by myself, taking it all in at my own pace, i would so dearly love to be one of the "lucky people" who get invited to the actual opening reception. i want to dress up and go to an evening with the art, hear the speakers and talk to the other art-lovers about their thoughts on the paintings/sculptures. maybe when i get to know more people here...

anyway, i took the city ferry to the gallery and while i was sitting in the sun, i was fooling around with my iphone, when i saw this composition in the view finder - wow!!! i loved it, so here is just a man's legs, nicely polished leather shoes, great pin-striped trousers and a briefcase. simple as that! and yet, when i started drawing it, i hated it. how funny, because now i love it! the title of this drawing is "walking on water". and if you haven't seen the Picasso and His Collection exhibition, it is well worth it! now i can say i've been inches from a Picasso, a Matisse, and a Miro, to name but a few.

all caught up - 100 drawings in 100 days

ok, i'm actually all caught up on my drawings from the weekend. i have realized several things about this endeavour - it is not going to do itself; i can't quit because i told all of you that i would do it; i can't quit because i said it out loud to myself; i can't quit because i don't want to; and i have to start a routine!! so today, it was the first thing i did, after coffee.

here we have "cinema eye", "a brand new bra", and "hail mary, patron saint of artists". they're all pretty goofy, but i find myself looking at everything differently - instead of just "looking" at my surroundings, i find myself "seeing" it, and i observe it as if i were placing it on the paper in my mind - would it work? would it make a good composition? how could i add or subtract to make it more interesting? all of these questions and more are now popping into my mind as i walk along the river, drive to work, or look at a magazine, etc.

i took a photo of a man's briefcase, shoe and leg while i was on the ferry yesterday - it's a great composition, and more interesting than you would think, so i will be drawing that, no doubt, in the not-too-distant future!

playing catch-up - 100 drawings in 100 days

 ok, these two were started before the radar dog, but i finished them today. today's and yesterday's drawings are still in the works... this is hard to do... it's hard remembering to do the drawing, especially because i have 2 different jobs, and therefore, no real routine. so, i am trying to play catch-up!! so here is "chasing summer", and "carnie face".

i went to the picasso and his collection exhibit today - i had an art date with myself. it was wonderful to be in the presence of such magnificence. but, not only in the presence, but 6" away from it!!! i just wish that i could really take in the art with other people around me, but i can't soak it up unless i'm alone with it. sigh. oh well, it was still amazing!