1 Minute Gesture #62, 17"x135"

3 Minute Gesture #62, 17"x13.5"

3 Minute Gesture #63, 17"x13.5"

5 Minute Gesture #66, 17"x13.5"

Dana I (Nude #91), 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper

Under the cool north light from the Palette and Chisel studio's skylight, Dana's rosy cheek appeared more accentuated than usual. I felt compelled to go after it with a touch of sanguine conté. I think I exaggerated it a bit, though. It also left me with less time to work on the rest of the figure beyond the block-in stage within the time frame of the 15-minute pose.

Dana II (Nude #92), 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper

Nude #93, 12.5"x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper

Nude #94, 12.5"x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper

2 Minute Gesture #56, 17"x13.5"

2 Minute Gesture #57, 17"x13.5"

5 Minute Gesture #65, 17"x13.5"

Heather (Nude #88), 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

When Heather resumed the pose after a break, for some reason she decided to keep her boots on. (It wasn't cold; she didn't use a heater that was available.) And no one in the group objected to it. So I drew her while she wore her boots.

Nude #89, 12.5"x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #90, 18"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

5 Minute Gesture #63, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #64, 17"x13.5", available

A few drawings from Palette and Chisel New Year's Day Drawing Marathon

Trina I (Nude #85), 12.5"x19.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Kat and Vincent (Nude #86), 12.5"x19.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

As soon as another model is added, there are a number of elements that come into a picture: compositional relation, perspective, scale, and of course, time management in drawing 2 figures in 20-25 minutes.

Jamie and her partner (Nude #87), 12.5"x19.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

It's a simple line drawing of a pair of models. But what was interesting was that while I was drawing them, I sensed a certain sweetness in both the pose and their expressions. Later, after the pose, I overheard them say that they will soon be married.

Trina II (5 Minute Gesture #62), 17"x13.5", available

2 Minute Gesture #51, 17"x13.5", available

2 Minute Gesture #52, 17"x13.5", available

2 Minute Gesture #53, 17"x13.5", available

Trina III (2 Minute Gesture #54), 17"x13.5", available

Trina IV (2 Minute Gesture #55), 17"x13.5", available

This is a case where, had it been a longer pose and had I had a few seconds to spare at the beginning of the pose to think about the composition, I would have turned the paper to landscape orientation. But in a 2-minute pose, there is no thinking twice about anything except to react and draw.
Also, she wouldn't have been able to hold a pose like this for more than 2 minutes anyway.
That's what is so exciting (and difficult) about quick drawing; you just have to run with whatever the model gives you. That makes me both so excited about and appreciative of the excellent models who could provide such dynamic poses.

Natanya is another excellent model who left modeling for a "permanent day job".

Natanya IV (Nude #85), 18" x11.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Natanya III (Nude #84), 18" x11.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Natanya II (Nude #83), 18" x11.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

5 Minute Gesture #61, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #60, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #61, 17"x13.5", available

A few head studies of April I did some time ago at the Palette and Chisel open studio sessions. She was an excellent model. Too bad she moved away to California.

April III, 19"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

April IV, 19"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

April V, 19"x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Head Study #12, 18"x12"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #82, 18" x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #81, 12.5" x18"
pastel pencil on toned paper, sold

Candice (Nude #80), 18" x12.5"
pastel pencil on toned paper, available

About half way through during the Friday evening quick drawing session at the Palette and Chisel, Candice couldn't quite come up with her next pose(model's block?). After thinking about for a few seconds how she would pose next, she decided to settle with the universal gesture of indecision and predicament that she was in then and there—her toe tapping and her finger in the mouth. It must be quite awkward, if not embarrassing, for a model not to be able to come up with a pose while standing on an elevated platform, surrounded by a room full of expectant crowd 360° around.

"Create the illusion of reality by implying, not supplying details."

—F. R. Gruger

Nude #79, 18"x12"
pastel pencil on paper, available

Nude #78, 18"x12", pastel pencil on paper, sold

5 Minute Gesture #59, 17"x13.5", available

5 Minute Gesture #58, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #60, 17"x13.5", available

1 Minute Gesture #59, 17"x13.5", available

Some time ago, I came across a discontinued stock of toned paper on sale at a local art supply store. Only two colors were available—
light blue and pink. It had an interesting texture that was slightly different from usual laid paper that I use for pastel or conté drawing; heavier weight, less cushy but crispier on the surface. I thought it would be interesting to try it, so I bought a bulk of it.

I drew Robin I, II and III on that paper(also Nude#64, 65, 66, 72,
and a few others). They were done during a Drawing Marathon at the Palette and Chisel a few years ago. They have been misplaced for some time deep in one of my portfolio cases(I am sure there are other drawings scattered around here and there that need to be organized).

As for the paper, I liked the crispy surface of it(like clean sheet of linen) which allowed slightly more "drag" of the pencil and less "sink" into the surface. Robin was an excellent model for quick gesture drawing(I never got to paint her). She seemed to be very comfortable with and well aware of the dynamics and flexibility of of her body.
And she was able to endure difficult poses for full 10 to 25 minutes.

Robin I (Nude #75), 18" x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Robin II (Nude #76), 12.5" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Robin III (Nude #77), 12.5" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

"The art student should strive to have endless patience and be doggedly persistent."

–Jack Hamm

Natanya I (Nude #74), 11.5" x18", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Nude #73, 19" x12.5", pastel pencil on toned paper, available

Lorena IV (Nude #72), 18" x12", pastel pencil on toned paper, available