"Fume'e d'Amber Gris"

Well its been awhile. Life has been getting in the way of drawing lately, but I finally finished this study based on a large oil painting by Sargent that he did in 1880 while he was in North Africa. The study is about 9x12, charcoal and white pastel on Canson toned paper. Unfortunately, I'm still limited to my cell phone camera, so its a tad blurry. 

The King in his Court

Today we were in our local shopping mall and I saw this group of older gentlemen playing cards.  They are there every week so it was time to draw them. 

Schmid study

This is a sketchbook study of a study by painter Richard Schmid.  Thanks for the encouragement, Sandra!

Augustus Caesar

From the Augustus of Prima Porta statue, 1st century A.D.  Vine and compressed charcoal in my sketch book.  Augustus is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.  Born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius Julius Caesar in 44 BC via his last will and testament, and between then and 27 BC was officially named Gaius Julius Caesar. In 27 BC the Senate awarded him the honorific Augustus ("the revered one"), and thus consequently he was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus.

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Nike of Samothrace, discovered in 1863, is estimated to have been created around 190 BC.  It was created to not only honor the goddess, Nike, but to honor a sea battle. It conveys a sense of action and triumph as well as portraying artful flowing drapery through its features which the Greeks considered ideal beauty.

9x12 chalk and charcoal on toned illustration board.

Circa 1929

This is a chalk and charcoal sketch I did based on a vintage photograph from 1929.

Anniballe Carracci sketch

Well, I think its a Carracci and I think its a Madonna. There were three Carraccis, I think this is Annibale. But I don't know because I can't find the link for the reference. 

"Neither clean nor well-dressed, with his collar askew, his hat jammed on any old way and his unkempt beard, Annibale Carracci seemed to be like an ancient philosopher, absent-minded and alone," wrote an early biographer. A tailor's son, Carracci considered himself a craftsman, not a courtier, but the Romans buried him in the Pantheon beside Raphael. 

About 9x12 black and white charcoal on green tinted paper.