Dr. Sketchy 4-19-09

Wow! The model was an aerial acrobat. The sixty second poses were done on a hoop suspended from the ceiling. The hoop rotated slowly, so really, they were split-second poses that changed continually while brain and hand scrambled to keep up. It took until the seventh or eight pose to get into the groove and then they were over after the tenth pose. I would have loved to continue with quick gesture drawings all night. During the first break I did a "real drawing" from the best gesture. I've never done that before and it felt good.

The adorable puppy, Riley, and the model's hands shifted several times during the thirty minute reclining pose, all the more challenge. I finally "grabbed" a pose from the puppy and left it at that. I regret that I did not capture the delicacy of her face. I can draw portrait, but haven't been able to pull it off during these sessions.

Granny on the road...: Papui ...et le reste !

Granny on the road...: Papui ...et le reste !

Raku . . . not for sissies!

Saturday morning found me at the KC Clay Guild raku-firing pieces for the DIFFA Dining By Design table that the Guild is designing. There is still a lot of carbon to scrub off of these pieces, but I got enough off to show how great the crackle looks. Click on the image above to see the details.

I wound up with eight of the holey votive candle holders and nine torsos. I will do another firing next weekend when more pieces have been bisqued. I used stripped Romex to make the torso stand up. The photograph does not do that feature justice; it looks cooler "in person".

The poor man-in-the-moon did not crackle, but I love his expresion. I'm toying with the idea of taking a torch to him to coax the glaze along. Risky, but it has worked before. While waiting for the kiln to get up to temperature, I sketched a few passing dogs and did gestures of a fellow raking his lawn. Note the sooty thumb print in the lower left corner. Raku is a dirty business!

An observer noted, while watching the crew transfering glowing pieces from kiln to can, that the process certainly was not for sissies. I am taking his comment as a new slogan. We'll be sporting "Raku. . . not for sissies!" buttons on Raku night, May 9, 2009 at the KC Clay Guild.

Once again, I am most happy with the gesture drawings done with a big brush and the cool Chinese ink that is prepared by grinding with water on a piece of slate.

This was the sketch that was most closely resembled the model's pose, although my drawing would suggest facial hair, of which the lovely young woman had none. I would like to do more work on this one.