Stone Carving Marble

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Several people from different parts of Texas will be joining me at my home studio on Labor Day weekend Aug. 30, 31, + Sept 1. They will all be learning to carve stone for the first time. Stone is my drug of choice, so I cannot wait to share it with them!

I miss stone carving the most when I am working in bella Italia, but I was able to get back to it these last two days here in central Texas. I hope to make a lot of progress on a stone carving that has a real title already, but has affectionately been nicknamed ‘George Washington.’ She is a figure in Canadian marble – but no, she does not look anything like George.

I am a direct carver. This means that my technique is to draw directly on the stone and cut away what I do not want to remain. Another method to carving is to create your sculpture in a more forgiving medium, such as clay, wax, or plaster, and then transfer or copy the original into the stone, usually by measuring. For more complicated compositions, the latter method can save a lot of disappointments and time.

However, I am stubborn and I want to push myself to see more into the stone and improve my skills and vision. I also like the ability to change and “play” that the direct stone carving method offers.

Now my day is over and tomorrow my aide and I head into Austin, Texas, to start our series of anatomy and drawing workshops. It is not too late to join some of them:
www.borsheimarts.com/artclass.htm

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Art News Art Classes

Cari Amici,

I just published my art newsletter (to the list generated via my site and shows). If you are not on that list, but would like to read it, as well as see the updated listing for the art classes that I am teaching this summer, please click here:
www.borsheimarts.com/news/2008_07.htm
What I forgot to share is a little tidbit about the charcoal drawing “A World Away” (Sara, jazz). It was not until mid-June, after she made her debut in an exhibit in Florence, Italy, that I realized that I accidentally signed her with the incorrect date “2006-2007.” She should have “2007-2008” Doh!

Read past newsletters before signing up to my artlist:
borsheimarts.com/newsletter.htm
Or just subscribe: Contact Me – Thanks!

I have rearranged my classes into a schedule falling in mid-August and I have a great line-up of models to work with. Won’t you join us?
www.borsheimarts.com/artclass.htm

PS Happy Birthday, Frederick Bentley!

Charcoal Drawing of Nude Female Figure Florence Italy

Cari Amici,

It is difficult to prepare for a long trip and finish several drawings and also look for a place to live once I return to Italia in September, but that is what I have been doing. Not to add how much time I am spending visiting with old and new friends before I go.

But this morning, I had time to photograph a couple of my latest projects. Here I show you “Ilaria”. She is a carboncino (charcoal) drawing of a beautiful woman from north Italia. She is approximately 67 x 46 cm and was drawn on the paper called Umbria. Naturally, this drawing of a nude feminine figure is available. Please inquire.

Often I like high contrast and want to place the most dramatic lighting where I want your eye to go first. So, for example, a bright shoulder might have a dark, dark background against it. This project was different as I tried to play with the effect of light emerging from dark and thus, the background behind the figure in shadow is closer in tone to the actual female figure. I think that the photo is too light probably when seen on your screen. I would enjoy having feedback on this.

Anyway, the real Ilaria was such a sport to endure this pose for five weeks, three hours per afternoon. Knees being bent in this way make for bad circulation. We got into a little routine of sorts in which I would bring her a small gift, such as a chocolate bar or an apple, or one day, her favorite torta “La Cubana” from my trip to northeast Italia, so that she could have a sugar energy boost. “La Cubana” is a specialty of this region and Ilaria told me it is often served with grappa (although I photographed it here with a dark beer that I tried and liked).


And she surprised me one day by bringing me some fresh picked lavender from her yard in Tuscany, outside of Florence. I was delighted and shared some with my friend Hélène, who has a charming way of leaning forward as her eyes widen and her smile brightens when she wants a little of something you have before her. Afterwards, I taped the lavender to my easel and enjoyed its distinctive fragrance while Ilaria and I worked on this artwork. I hope you enjoy this figurative charcoal drawing.

PS Do not forget the art classes that I am teaching in Texas this summer. I hope to see you!

Teaching Art in Texas and a Florence Sunset

Cari Amici,

Ciao, come stai? I am currently planning my teaching schedule for this summer’s return to central Texas. The locations and class subjects have yet to be determined, but if you are interested in something specific and/or new topics, please send me an e-mail. Past classes have included: Sculptural Anatomy, Figure Sculpture, Sculpting Hands and Feet, Stone Carving, and Web Site Creation for Artists. I can also add to this: Drawing the Human Figure

And by all means, forward this item to anyone you think might be interested in learning some art. If you do write to tell me what classes interest you, please also include your preferred (or perhaps “CANNOT MAKE IT”) dates and let me know if you prefer weekends, weekdays, morning, afternoon, or evening time slots. I will try to accommodate as many students as I can.

Thank you for all of your interest and I hope you enjoy this sunset image over the famous Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, that I took tonight.

A dopo,
Kelly