MASTER STUDIES | FORAY INTO PORTRAITURE

 Over the past several weeks I have been aggressively tackling portraiture, beginning with master studies. A master study is an acknowledged copying of a painting done by a master (van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet would all be masters, as well as more modern names like Anders Zorn or CW Mundy). The purpose of a master study is to learn from the masters' technique and execution. I used them to learn facial measuring (to get a likeness) and the colors generally involved in a portrait.

With all this in mind I have spent many hours on such master studies, and will share several with you today. These are both copies of paintings by Susan Lyon.

Since completing these, I have moved on to painting from photographs of people and now from live models (and will share those pieces in the near future!).

S. Lyon Master Study 2015

Oil on Canvas

9 x 12 inch

S. Lyon Master Study 2015 II

Oil on Canvas

9 x 12 inch

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"Every portrait that is painted with feeling is the portrait of the artist, not of the sitter."

- Oscar Wilde

BEACH SKETCHES | PT. II

When at the beach with our cousins, there is always a recurrent pile of flip flops that soon creates itself. This subject intrigued me because of the arrangement and shadows, but also the fact that the center flip flops belong to my boy cousin, Sam, and are called "man flops" by my other cousin, Grace. That just cracks me up. Both factors combined made for an interesting drawing.

"Flops on the Deck"

May 24, 2015

Pencil on Paper

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"Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse."

Winston Churchill

BEACH SKETCHES | PT. I

Following this first installment will follow several recurring chapters, all recounting the recent beach vacation my family took, in the form of the drawings I brought home. First up, the beach path. To the right one can see some slight sketches of birds. Above: the hunting ospreys that I watched all week, climbing into the sky and plummeting down to their next meal. Below: a morning dove that visited the deck handrail for a couple minutes.

Morning Shadows on the Beach Path

May 24, 2015

Pencil on Paper

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"You can't do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh."

- John Singer Sargent

FIGURE STUDY | OIL

Recently I've run across the concept of "daily painting." It has been defined by one as the following: “Daily painting is the practice wherein an artist produces a piece of art every day, or every weekday, or almost every weekday – or just periodically. As that rambling sentence shows, there are no steadfast rules. Heck, a daily painter does not even have to be a painter, just an artist dedicated to their art.” It is more precisely, attempting to paint one painting every day for a set period of time. 

With upcoming trips, such a feat may be impossible the next week or two, but will not stop me from painting when I can. Today's model came from a magazine clipping, and allowed me to entertain my desire to accurately translate the human figure into the language of paint. I completed this study in a number of hours, no more than four, and am excited to get to it again tomorrow.

Woman in Red

S. Thomson

Oil on 5 x 7 " canvas

June 6, 2015

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"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing."

- Camille Pissarro

FIGURE PAINTING | THE DANCER

The Dancer

S. Thomson

April, 2015

Oil on Canvas

Last month I painted this dancer to accompany the piece which my younger sister played in her most recent recital. As well as playing her piece (Sonatina, Opus 88, Frederich Kuhlau), the piano instructor requires a painting to go along, in a way to explain the piece, or how it makes the pianist feel. For my younger sister, she imagined a dancer, and asked me to paint this for her. 

As I continue to study art, I am more aggressively attempting to understand the complexities of the human figure, in both drawing and painting. I am also attempting to be more purposeful in adhering to certain rules of painting, such as composition, color harmony, edge variation, and value. There's a lot out there to learn! 

In the coming weeks I will be more actively posting different pieces: complete and incomplete alike. I've learned a lot in the past two months: mainly how much I didn't know, and now am aiming myself to learn and understand more deeply the complexities of the science of painting and drawing.

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"Continuous effort -- not strength or intelligence -- is the key to unlocking our true potential."

- Winston Churchill

HAND-LETTERING | ISAIAH 40:8

Last week I shared a simply drawn quote, and today I'm back with the same. Completing small projects like this in busier weeks is an easy way to do at least some art everyday, while not feeling behind or in an art rut. 

Isaiah 40:8 reads "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever," and is one verse that stuck out to me while reading last week. So of course I decided to draw it because who am I really but someone who loves handwriting. 

This was drawn on 11 x 14 inch, white paper. My goal in drawing on large white paper is to enable a clear scan that can be blown up or shrunk and printed on any size, style, and color of paper. This drawing differs somewhat from past drawings in the use of a "frame" (the wreath), and is an effect I rather enjoy.

Isaiah 40:8 | Hand-Lettering

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pen & Ink on Paper

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"The worst bankrupt is the person who has lost his enthusiasm."

- A. W. Arnold

HAND-LETTERING | PEN & INK QUOTE

Over the past couple of days, I have been working on trying new fonts and styles with different quotes and verses. Today I am sharing a quote from Anne Frank that reads "Whoever is happy will make others happy too." 

This was a quick and easy project, on crisp white paper. My intention is to draw several designs on white paper, enabling them to then be taken and printed to whatever color or texture of paper desired. This is the first of several drawings to be shared over the next weeks.

Happiness | Hand-Lettering

S. Thomson

Pen on White Paper

8 x 11.5 inches

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"The only talent is perseverance."

- Jesse Raphael

PORTRAIT PT. II | PENCIL ON PAPER

Last week, I shared the portrait of my sister, Maggie, and today, I am back with another! Here is a portrait drawing in pencil that I completed about a week ago. I was sent a photo...

...and drew this:

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pencil on 11 x 14 " Paper

I will be redrawing this photo in a more stylized manner (similar to this woman), but am glad I drew them somewhat realistically first. Now I know the face shapes and can be more creative with stylizing.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."

- Aristotle

PORTRAIT | PENCIL ON PAPER

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to delve into portrait drawing (and will be sharing more photos soon). However, I took a moment (okay, several hours) to play around and do a little extra. I decided to draw my older sister, Maggie. For the first time I tried out actual artist's drawing pencils. I usually end up drawing every picture with my loyal friend, the mechanical Paper-mate pencil. I definitely saw the benefit of higher grade tools.

Now I need to practice a bunch more and understand how to utilize their benefits on a much higher level.

Maggie Jo

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pencil on Paper

This paper is actually beige pastel paper, but due to poor lighting, the color has faded.

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"No sky is heavy if the heart is light."

-Anonymous

JOSHUA 1:8-9 | HAND-LETTERED PASSAGE

After posting last Monday about my hand-lettered verse, I was contacted by a friend about doing another similar drawing, but with a different passage. He chose Joshua 1:8-9, which is a great comfort as well as a challenge to believers...

" This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Of course I said yes because I am always up for a new challenge, and quickly set to work. First I had to lay everything out in pencil to make sure that everything would fit and would be straight (as well as pleasing to the eye). After that I spelled a word wrong (in pen), and then began again, using my original sketch as a stencil, and drew the sketch again, spelling everything correctly.

After several hours, this is the end result:

Joshua 1: 8-9 | Pen & Ink Lettering

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pen & Ink on 11 x 14" Drawing Paper

If you too have a favorite quote, Bible verse, or saying that you would like to have as a permanent fixture in your house, please contact me! I would love to collaborate with you.

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"Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake." 

— Martin Luther

HAND-LETTERING | PEN & INK

Hand-lettering is something quite popular right now. In a world where everything is online and/or mass produced, the hand-written or hand-made note is becoming more and more desirable. Creative fonts, designs, and shapes make a certain quote more interesting or meaningful, and even though I used very few of those tools in the following photos, I still decided to share my attempts at hand-lettering.

I wish desperately I had the foresight to photograph all the hand-made/written/designed thank you notes, envelopes, and sketches I have made over the past year, since there are many more impressive drawings I could be sharing. However, I did not, so I will be sharing this drawing I made a couple months ago. 

After listening to a sermon regarding I John 5:4-5, I drew this sketch.

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"Now and then, when I am writing, I have begun some little drawings. It is nothing special but I see it all so vividly before me."

-Vincent van Gogh

COPY | WASSILY KANDINSKY

The thing with commissions is that they always challenge me to try new avenues. And it is the same with my most recent painting: a copy of Wassily Kandinsky's "Black Circle." 

A lifelong friend requested a copy of a Kandinsky painting after she discovered he is part of her bloodline. So I researched and spent many hours drawing and measuring. This is also the biggest canvas I have yet attempted to paint (3 feet by 3 feet!), making it that much more of a challenge.

Black Circle | Kandinsky Copy

S. Thomson

February 2015

Oil on 36 x 36 inch Canvas

This painting did not require much technical work, but mostly measuring and color mixing. These are not areas I usually practice (though I should focus more on color mixing: it is something I'm working on), so I enjoyed working in them.

The original differs in some areas, mostly caused by the circles not being placed exactly the same as the original, causing the lines not to e exactly correct, but the differences are so minute I probably shouldn't even have mentioned it.

Though this type of abstract art is not an area I will most likely pursue, testing the waters with this project was both a good learning experience and enjoyable exercise.

For once I was focused enough to take "in progress" photos, and will be sharing those here as well. First you will see the original pencil sketch, which took several hours to lay out.

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"Art lives upon discussion, upon experiment, upon curiosity, upon variety of attempt, upon exchange of views, and the comparison of viewpoints."

-Henry James

PEN TO PAINT | THE BARN

In 2012 I drew this simple pen & ink sketch of a barn from my imagination. 

Quick Study | Barn Sketch

S. Thomson

2012

Pen on Paper

That same year I decided I liked it enough to try and paint it. I began, completed the sky and barn, and was stumped as to how to paint the other half of the picture: the grass. It then sat for three years, patiently waiting completion. I pulled it out a couple weeks ago and have been slowly painting it in between other projects. Today I finished it up and signed it. 

This project was unique in that it had no real life counterpart, as in no photo to follow. It therefore had no "rules." So I painted what I imagined: and quite like the result.

Quick Study | Barn Sketch | Oil Painting

S. Thomson

2015

Oil on 11 x 14 inch Canvas

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"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt it."

- Henry J. Kaiser

KID'S ART | POSTERS

The little boys down the street have accumulated quite a collection of paintings and drawings in their rooms over the past couple years, and today I will be sharing them. Since 2012 I have given either a drawing or a painting to them, usually in sync with their recent interests.

Today I will be posting the past three years of presents that one of the boys has received, beginning in 2012. At 5 he adored Angry Birds...

Angry Birds

S. Thomson

2012

Acrylic on Canvas

16 x 20 inches

...at six it was all things Mario, especially Yoshi...

MarioKart

S. Thomson

2013

Pencil and Colored Pencil on Paper

8 x 11 inches

...and at the very advanced age of seven years old, Minecraft is the hottest thing going.

Minecraft

S. Thomson

2014

Acrylic on Canvas

16 x 20 inches

Painting for the two cuties is always different, always challenging (what if he changes his interest before I get the painting done?), and always rewarding. It's a chance to step outside of my normal style and try something new. Here's to many more birthday paintings and drawings!

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"Every picture shows a spot in which the artist has fallen in love."

-Sisley

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Know a little boy or girl who likes similar games as these? If you're interested check out my contact information here.

SKETCHES | MIXING STYLES

When I feel stumped for ideas I usually hop on some handy site and research artists with styles I am attracted to and recreate my favorites of their work.

Andrew Loomis (1892-1959) was one of those artists. I specifically enjoyed his portraits and sketches, and copied his drawing of this woman...

Andrew Loomis Copy

S. Thomson

2013

Pencil on Paper

When I copy, I usually am not trying to copy the original artist's drawing exactly. I take it and change it somewhat. The reason for this is either a) I don't like how they did it originally, or b) I cannot seem to make it look exact. For this sketch, it was the former. I simply did not care for the (realistic) face structure and decided to go more whimsical.

Orignal Drawing by Andrew Loomis

Come back next week for more paintings and commissions! Most of my time has been spent on a bigger engagement that has taken precedent over all pleasure painting and drawing. However, I will be sharing more details on both that project and photos from upcoming paintings and commissions in the coming weeks.

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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

-Leonardo da Vinci

OLD AND NEW | A COMPARISON

I recently found some old gems (that I desperately wish I had dated), and will be sharing them here today as a comparison to show how far I've come in a few years, thanks to much practice and time spent (after all, there is no talent, only perseverance).

Let's begin....

THEN...

Est. 2007 | Marker on Paper

Est. 2009 | Acrylic on Canvas

2011 | Acrylic on Canvas Board

NOW...

Chickadee

S. Thomson

2014

Oil on 5 x 7 Canvas Board

It appears I've been obsessed with birds from a very young age and only recently have I taken it to an extreme level.

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THEN...

Est. 2007 | Marker on Paper

NOW...

Claude Monet's "Poppy Field"

S. Thomson

2011

Oil on Canvas

Seems I had a thing for women in hats walking in fields. Even my copy of Monet's painting, done four years ago now, could be improved upon greatly. However, the contrast is evident.

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For this next drawing I have no comparison, because I see no need for improvement. I had no recollection of this drawing until I discovered it late last week. It's a scene showing us playing House on the swing set, accurate right down to the dress up clothes (Left to Right: Stephanie, Caroline (above), Rachel (below), Maggie).

Est. 2007 | Marker on Paper

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It's interesting to see the difference between (estimated) nine year old me and seventeen year old me. If that much improvement can happen in roughly ten years, I'm excited to see what can happen in the next ten. I can see a difference in just a few years, looking back at old paintings I was once so proud of but now can see so many flaws. After all...

"Art is longing. You never arrive, but you keep going in the hope that you will."

-Anselm Kiefer

THE SPORT OF FALCONRY | DREA

Ever since my sister Caroline and I began the sport of falconry and trapped our birds September 5, 2013, I've wanted to somehow paint them. However, their initial care and training took so much time that no painting or drawing was possible, and the following hunting season also took a toll on my free time. However in September of 2014 I buckled down and painted one.

2015 | Drea hunting

2015 | Criere sitting on a catch

As a thank you to my dad for his support with falconry, I painted a picture of Drea, Caroline's Female, Red-Tailed hawk. It now hangs in his office, a constant reminder that though he may be working, the field is always waiting.

Female Red-Tailed Hawk | Drea
S. Thomson
2014
Oil on Canvas

Incidentally, Caroline and I were recently featured in the Indy Star. Check it out here.

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"Come forth into the light of things; let nature be your teacher."

-William Wordsworth