Latest Figure Drawings

(left) 3 minute study in graphite
(right) 10 minute study in charcoal and chalk
(below left) 15 minute study in charcoal/chalk
(below right) 20 minute study charcoal/chalk

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Our artists' salon models change from time to time and keep us on our toes. Although I have my favorites, each one offers unique opportunities to learn something new or see in a fresh light. Like the landscape out my window, it is always changing.



Please contact me if you would like more information about purchasing these and other life drawings. As mentioned in my last post, I'm offering free shipping for Valentine's.

"Red Kiss" Valentine Special Free Shipping

"Red Kiss" Original Miniature Oil 2"x3"
unframed, with free mini display easel
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Muchas smooches!

NOW SOLD

You can see more Valentine Specials with Free Shipping at my Etsy and also at my DailyPainters Gallery. I hope you have fun shopping for that special someone!

"Treat" Mini Still Life Daily Painting, Free Shipping

"Treat" Original Miniature Oil 2.5"x3.25"
in tiny frame
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Let me send this to you on my nickel for Valentine's!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $55 USD Free S&H!

Figure Studies, Longer Poses

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Life Drawings: Short Poses

Our most recent model for our life drawing sessions is fairly lean and muscular which makes it easier to see muscles and bones.

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Charcoal Life Studies, Longer Poses

Twenty minute poses by our patient model gives us enough time to be careful with form and develop the drawing.

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Charcoal Torso Studies, Shorter Poses

Five minutes is enough to get the form laid out with some shadows and lights to build a solid shape. Ten minutes gives a little more time to develop some detail and in fifteen minutes, some facial features can be added.

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Short Poses

These are three minute studies; the pick of the litter of my short studies from this year's drawings so far. After doing the 30 second studies, a few minutes to capture shapes, shadows and gesture seems like a long time!

These and others are for sale unframed for less than you'd pay for a dinner out. Let me know if you want them.

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Bare Necessities

Have you ever tried to draw the figure in thirty seconds?

It's not enough time to get much down on paper: just the very simplest shadows or lines of gesture.

I really enjoyed the challenge of these warm-up poses. You can see how I start the longer poses which begin with the thought process evident in these brief sketches. They almost look like nothing... but if you look closely, you can see the forms.

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Our January Challenge: Apple, Glass and Spoon!

Our January Challenge was chosen by member Vicki Ross, who asked us to incorporate a spoon, an apple and something glass in a still life.

I admit I probably would never have thought of putting these objects together. That is one of the fun aspects of doing this as a group; painting someone else's suggestion for subject matter makes us stretch a little!

I did have a lot of fun trying to figure out how to make some sense out of these things, and create a pleasing arrangement. Sorry to say the Legos were nowhere around when I set this up, so they missed out. But I guess they showed up for all my Challenge pieces in 2009, so I'm going to take them to the movies or cook them something special.

(left) "Kitchen Lovelies"
7"x5" Oil on hardboard
in gold frame
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $155 USD plus $12 S&H

Two of our Challenge Group members could not participate this month due to family responsibilities, but here are the rest of the very interesting and fun paintings. Our newest Challenge Group member, Jeanne Illenye, agreed to join us after my invitation to her only a couple of weeks ago.


(left above) "Aunt Bea's Morning Glories" 5"x5" Oil on panel ©2010 Jeanne Illenye
(middle above) "Wooden Spoon and Friends" 10"x10" Oil on canvas ©2010 Suzanne Berry
(right above) "Spoon Bridge" 6"x6" Oil on Board ©2010 Michael Naples


(left) 'Baked Apple Reflection'
8x10" Oil on panel
©2010 Vicki Ross

(right) "Apple, Spoon and Glass"
8x10 Oil on paper
©2010 Robin Cheers

Figure Drawings in Charcoal and Chalk: Longer Poses

During the past month I've been busy with family for Christmas preparations as well as day to day chores that happen when lots of people are at my house who want to eat regularly and sleep in clean beds.

I love having my family home, but it does change how much time I have for creating art and documenting it.

I'm just now getting around to photographing and inventorying some stacks of life drawings that were made in November and December at our model sessions.

These are my favorites from the group: charcoal and chalk sketches on 12x18" paper, drawn from longer poses. That first one may have been 15 minutes. I think the other two were 20 minutes.

Let me know if you'd like any of these or want more information. They're $75 each, plus S&H. Drawings are still a great bargain for original art. I usually ship works on paper unframed and rolled in a tube, as they are pretty safe that way. It's then fairly easy for you to take them to your local framer to get them matted and framed under glass to match your decor.

©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Recent Gesture Drawings

Three minutes is not long to capture a pose, but it's enough to block in shapes and gesture. This is how I start a drawing and for longer poses I use the time to develop definition and detail.

Actually three minutes seems like a long time to put something down if you've ever tried doing 30 second warm-ups!

These quick studies are drawn in charcoal on 18"x12" grey paper. Please contact me for more information or to purchase.

©2009 Diana Moses Botkin