Still life Apple and Pear 7.5x 5.5 Graphite on paper

Still working on technique and style.  Fruit is a great way to work on both.  Tonight is an apple and a pear.   This is the second time I’ve thought I was actually getting somewhere with this drawing.  It’s a slow process, but it’s coming along.

Cup of Brushes 9x12" Graphite on paper

I received a message the other week asking… “Any still lifes yet?”  Well it has been a while.  So tonight I have drawn a cup of brushes.  After finishing it I realized one big mistake.  The biggest Brush is tilted incorrectly and can’t possibly continue in the cup correctly.  Well, nice to know these still lifes can only improve : )  At least it adds a little charm.  I love this work.  Looks like more still lifes are coming.

Note to Self - Pastel and Graphite on paper

I left this one blank so that I could mentally fill it in.  It’s a nice way for me to start my new list this week of all things I should be doing, hopefully by the end of the week my list will all be done or at least started.  Feel free to fill in your message.  Doesn’t even have to be a list!

Tea and Brushes 8 x 10" graphite and pastel on paper

The week before I launched this drawing a day blog, I did a test run to see how long it would take me to do each evenings drawing.  The answer?  Between and one and three hours.  During the pre-blog testing, I drew various items around my studio, including brushes in a variety of containers.  Now that I’m nearing the end of the first week and all ready at the point of running out of things to draw, I thought tonight I would love to do a full color pastel of those brushes.  I love pastels,  however, after the past four days of the comparative cleanliness of pencil, I am not sure I want to continue down this path.  Well will have to see.  

In about eight hours I’ll  be at an easel at the Corcoran continuing with a charcoal nude study which will post on Sunday.    Tomorrow afternoon I will be in Woodbridge, house painting – one last closet.  Not quite the painting I would like to be doing but it’s for a great cause – the renting of my sister’s house.  That said, I am looking forward to getting my weekends back and just in time for a four day portraiture extravaganza next weekend.  More on that to come!

I wanted to thank everyone for the comments and messages.  For those who have been asking, yes, I will be putting up a painting page.  I am hoping that will be this weekend as well.  Well see how long it takes : )  I have to go pack up my supplies, or as we say in the Conley home, get them “packaged and ready for transport.”   My guess is were a bit more nerdy than we acknowledge.

Apples - 8x10" graphite on paper

One of the things I hope to accomplish with this blog is the opportunity to work on my technical skills.  Aside from getting great practice with the human figure on weekends, I’ve noticed the need for more proficiency with simple still lifes.   Tonight, it’s apples.