Male Nude Art Drawing

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Perhaps you remember some of the copies I have created of famous artworks. Today I want to share with you a copy I made of one of my own figure drawings. I had done a pencil sketch in Florence, Italy, of a model named Gianni (Johnny) on 20 February 2009. It was only a 40-minute sketch (two 20-minutes poses), but I rather liked him.



So recently I decided to redraw the art onto some crème Italian Umbria paper using charcoal and white pastel. These materials give me a greater range of tone to play with than pencil and I was happy that I was able to improve upon my original drawing.



“Gianni 2009”
18” x 8”
Charcoal and Pastel
Umbria paper


If interested in the figure drawing “Gianni 2009” please contact:

The Franklin Barry Gallery in Indianapolis.
617 Massachusetts Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Tel. 317.822.8455

Contact: Don Elliott

Pastel Art Workshop Rae Andrews

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I started my Halloween Saturday by attending a workshop on using pastels by colorist Rae Andrews. The workshop was held in Austin, Texas, at Jerry’s Artarama. I still consider myself a novice when it comes to color and the medium of pastel and one can always learn something from another artist.


It is always fun to watch the creative process and interesting when the creator is able to share the thoughts that go along with that process. Rae is more adept than I at being able to speak while drawing. I took these images (with permission) to give you some idea of the atmosphere of the demonstration. In this first image, Rae is reminding us that one must step back and look at our work from a distance. If you move far enough back, you no longer see the details, but simply the design of shapes. I was always taught that if, from across a room, an artwork does not intrigue the viewer enough to pull him towards the piece, what is the point of having details with which to engage him further?


I include this next image because it shows a pastel painting of horses in its frame (my apology for the glare from the fluorescent light above). Rae said that this pastel painting of the horses was sprayed with fixative and then framed very carefully with the pastel art on a board pushed right up against the glass - no mat! It must be secured well for this to work, but she has shipped this work successfully and carried it around for many years now. I was surprised that one could ship glass successfully and had no idea that pastel could be against the glass. She had a name for this time of framing (French something?), but I forgot to record it.



In this close-up shot, you can see how the sandpaper-like Sennelier pastel paper not only offers ‘tooth’ for holding pastel, but also allows for lots of texture. Although Rae’s style is not as tight as mine, one can still clearly recognize the subject matter. Realism is really just a specific arrangement of abstract shapes.

I thought I would include this image of the work of the parrots almost completed - at least for the demonstration. It is a quite colorful and fun composition and I also enjoyed the colorful papers hanging on racks behind the artist at Jerry’s Artarama. I daydreamed about what I could do with those . . .

Rae also spoke about two products that I had never heard of before: an electronic eraser (which Jerry’s did not currently have on hand) and pastel pencils! The electronic eraser is supposed to be a more exact and efficient way to remove the pastel without affecting other areas. The pastel pencils are truly pastels and with the ability to sharpen them, they are great for refining small details. Based on my current projects, I can see that they would be ever so useful for doing portraits, especially around the eyes. So, now I know what I want for Christmas!

Rae Andrews also did a demonstration of ocean waves crashing against some boulders on a shore. It had a very lively energy to it. Check out more of her work by clicking on her name in bold.

Another helpful link: Austin Pastel Society

Towards Siena Oil Painting

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

"Towards Siena"
oil on board
24" x 16"
copyright 2009 by Kelly Borsheim


As you can see, I ended up making different choices than what I shared with your on my last post about brainstorming. However, you may observe that the basic design as far as where the light goes is still there.

While I was creating a landscape inspired by Siena, Italy, it occurred to me that I was probably subliminally influenced by a lot of traditional Italian portraits, including the "Mona Lisa." Except that in this case, I have the subject of the portrait looking away from the viewer and towards the landscape. I wondered if some day after I am long gone, some critic will dig up this painting somewhere and claim that I was making some sort of statement or something. Maybe I should just proclaim right now that I had this very intent and be done with it!

“Towards Siena” will debut in Indianapolis after I arrive for my presentation about my life as an Italian street painter and the next night, for an art reception. Both events occur at the Franklin Barry Gallery on Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave, the locals call her).

Feel free to add your honest comments or crits. Creation is always a process and there are many other choices that could have been made. (But I am quite happy with this effort.) Thank you.

More resources:
Italian Portrait Painting In The Sixteenth Century

Florentine School, mid Sixteenth Century: Portrait of a Young Man

If you like what you read, enjoy the photos, and would like to help support this blog(ger) / artist, click here . . .

BrainStorming Ideas for a Painting

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Is it worth it to keep old sketches? I have been reviewing old works that I have kept in my studio over the years to see if any still speak to me. The image below is of a large piece of grey-primed masonite on which I painted (in oil) several sketches from life many years ago -- perhaps 1997? I always liked parts of it, but these were short poses and I did not have time to finish. I also realize that it is almost impossible to recreate a model sitting -- the lighting, the pose -- Still, does my studio need the cleaning that badly? Hint: I am not at all impressed with the job I did on the woman's face in the upper left . . .



Once I made my decision, I cut the board along a pencil line (perhaps you noticed in the image before this one). The board was then sanded and re-gessoed, pretty much leaving the figure alone. (The other part of the board was completely redone and a new composition now exists on it.) I cannot explain why I have liked this sketch of the back of a man’s head all of these years, but I do. So, I took a photo and went into Photoshop to brainstorm ideas for the rest of the composition. My first step was to decide the direction of the light that would compliment my sketch. Then I would be more able to figure out what shapes I wanted to enhance the basic design.

I often spend time admiring the skies and taking images when so moved. I have been dying to paint clouds for years and return to them often. This next was one layered image with a silhouetted tree from my yard added to give me the contrast that I was seeking. I like this ok, but was not wow'd. But I just wanted to show you that for all of the paintings that you see, there is generally a lot of "behind the scene" thinking going on to brainstorm ideas for paintings, and in some cases, many drawings or collages in one medium or another that you may never see.


I will post the finished painting here soon. He will debut in Indianapolis after I arrive at the Franklin Barry Gallery for my presentation about “My Life as a ‘Madonnara’ (street painter) in Italy” on November 5th (small admission fee). The next night is an art reception for some of my new works, as part of the IDADA First Friday Art Tour, Friday, Nov. 6th, 6-9:00 pm.

Franklin Barry Gallery, 617 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis. Information: 317/822-8455.

October is National Arts and Humanities Month

Male Nude Study Prudhon Art

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

While I spend most of my day painting and sculpting, I also try to squeeze in some drawing time. There are naturally several reasons for this, but mostly, I love the feel of pencil or charcoal on paper. And I love the quality look of a good drawing.

In order to keep up my skills and hopefully put great art techniques into at least my subconscious, I have been creating copies of great drawings. This time I present to you my second copy of a male nude figure by Paul Pierre Prud’hon.

Like my first Prudhon copy, “Male Study for an Allegory of the Rhine River,” this untitled male figure (I call him simply “# 2”) was drawn with charcoal and white pastel. He is on Umbria-brand paper that I brought back to Texas with me from Italy. The black and white drawing on a crème-colored paper measures 17” x 12” and will sell for $600 + $20 shipping (Texas sales tax of 6.75% applies to some).

If interested in acquiring this drawing of a beautiful male figure, either click on the PayPal button below or contact the studio.

And thank you for your interest in classical figurative art.

# 2
“Male Figure Leaning Over”
charcoal and white chalk drawing
(Italian) Umbria paper
17” x 12”
by Kelly Borsheim, after P.P. Prud’hon

If you would like to see some of my current original drawings, please visit this link:
Luce dall'oscurità

October is National Arts and Humanities Month

Bronze Sculpture Florence Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Something amazing has happened in Florence, Italy, and I am surprised at how few of my friends there, knowing that I am a sculptor, have commented to me about it. So, I asked several of them about it. Most seemed a bit reluctant to give me their impressions, although one of my Florentine friends told me that, “Sono due fiumi senza testa e contemporaneamente con molte teste, la cosa però è temporanea e se ne andrà presto” which translates to: “They are two rivers without a head, but simultaneously with many heads. But it is temporarily here and will go away soon.” I tried to get more information from him, but he was more interested in telling me about his latest girl troubles.

What others have pointed out, though, is that historic and rather traditional Florence has for the first time in about 500 years exhibited a monumental work of art in Piazza della Signoria - and it is the work created in our time AND by a non-Italian artist!

59-year old American sculptor Greg Wyatt has his contemporary bronze sculpture titled “Two Rivers” on exhibit near the Palazzo Vecchio, behind the “Biancone” (‘the big white one’, how many fiorentini refer to the stone statue of Neptune).


According to the story in Bloomberg.com, the city of Florence commissioned this work with a $350,000 grant and the usual political red tape. The artist, a native New Yorker, used Tuscany’s Arno River and New York’s Hudson River as inspiration to symbolize the creative energies shared by the people in these places.

Bloomberg stated that the bronze is 18-feet tall, while The Florentine said 16-feet. “Two Rivers” is a reported 22,000 pounds of a “crusty bronze,” which no doubt was a nod to the great sculptor Giambologna. I would have loved to have been in Florence to witness her installation as she was transported across the Arno and lifted into place with two cranes. And I was amused by architect Pierpaolo Rapana’s observation that if the foundation of Piazza della Signoria can handle Mussolini’s tanks without buckling, then this bronze sculpture should pose no problem.
----

When Dayna Peterson Mason was planning her trip to Florence, she was given my name by a model that I know. Dayna is an Associate Professor of Art in Riverside, California, and I helped connect her with Italian models for her art pursuits in Florence. Since she is there now, I asked Dayna if she would do me a favor and take some images of Greg Wyatt’s bronze in the piazza for me to post here.

She mentioned how difficult it was to get good images with the diffused light outside that day. In general, Florence can be difficult to photograph because the sun does not see all or for very long. Still, these images can give you an idea of what the “Two Rivers” bronze looks like. For my taste, I like some of the parts better than the whole. But I leave you to decide for yourself. Thank you, Dayna, for sharing this with us!

According to the artist’s site, “The Two Rivers” exhibition will be at the Palazzo Vecchio's Sala d'Armi until November 24, 2009.



&&&&&&&&

Like most things, the concept of yin yang is alive and well in Florence. Some of her locals have told me (not unlike my long-time friend Jamshid had told me about Iran) that there seems to be a constant struggle between maintaining the culture’s great heritage, yet wanting to move into the future.

Now, Florence makes another change, and again, not without some trepidation and controversy. The Florentine just announced that Piazza Duomo is going pedestrian! So, if you have visited the Renaissance City and been annoyed by buses, taxis, or even electric cars in the city’s center, your time has come.

I also understand that the beautiful, historical church of Orsan Michele is open on Mondays now. Free, too. This is great news since too many times that I have tried to go in, she was closed. I love this place, not far from where the madonnari do their street paintings. If you get the chance, go check out this remodelled mercato.

Thanks to Fabio for helping me with my Italian spelling (but no, he is not the friend with the girl troubles!)

October is National Arts and Humanities Month

If you find this blog interesting, please pass it on to a friend. Thank you!

If you like what you read, enjoy the photos, and would like to help support this blog(ger) / artist, click here . . .

Trip Highlights

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Ten days on the road. It was a whirlwind trip, fitting visits into short time frames with family and old friends that I had not seen in years. I also met many new friends. Here are some of the highlights since I last wrote:

1) This is an image of the oil painting I created for Amber and Alex Babcock’s wedding portrait. My sister Amber’s favorite artist is Alphonse Mucha, so I painted an 18” x 24” composition in a style similar to Mucha’s. They exhibited the portrait during their wedding reception this month. I hope that you enjoy it as much as they did.



2) In the midst of the wedding festivities, I was elated to receive an e-mail that my pastel painting ”Il Mimo - Firenze, Italia” became a finalist an the online competition for paintings. See all of the FineArtViews Painting Competition Winners (September 2009)

3) After Florida, I went to North Carolina and was totally charmed by my new friends in Raleigh. The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild and long-time Internet friend and artist Jeanne Rhea invited me to speak about my life as a madonnari (Italian street painter) and do they all know how to make an artist feel welcome! I toured the gallery at Artspace, enjoying a variety of styles and media, and even recognizing one artist, Linda Ruth Dickinson, whose paintings I had first seen from my visit to a gallery in Houston, Texas, a couple of years ago. Here is an image taken with the audience that remained after my talk for a bit of mingling and munching. After my presentation, Penny (the tall woman in the center) gave me a lovely gift bag full of exotic chocolates. How yummy is that?




4) Jeanne and her husband Vince offered their home for the night, which was great. I want to share images of her studio with you. Seriously, this is THE most organized studio I have ever seen. No way that this was a “clean up for guests” kind of organized. I am still impressed. Jeanne said that she works with too many materials to NOT be organized. I must admit that I was a bit envious of her antique drawers. I have been hoping to find something like this for my Italian drawing papers. This would be much safer and cleaner than keeping the papers on the futon in my office!

Another image here depicts Jeanne while she showed me some test samples of her latest experiments with pigments. Visit her Web site or blog for updates - Jeanne is always exploring. The colors in her artworks are so much richer than anything you will see in photographs. Enjoy. Next time, I report on Florence, Italy . . .

October is National Arts and Humanities Month