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| Finally! The perfect weather for urban sketching and plein air painting has arrived! |
Showing posts with label Atomic Rooster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atomic Rooster. Show all posts
Sunday, June 25, 2017
June 2017 Report
Saturday, May 27, 2017
May 2017 Report
May was an incredibly busy month and I am only just now realizing that I have not blogged. I have been doing a LOT of life drawing and I organized two urban sketching events (see my tweets below).
I also finished another sketch for The Wrench (Ottawas only street newspaper for the homeless) and continued with my sketchbook experiments.
June, July and August are all busy too but I will put more effort into regular blog post updates.
Below, I have added some of my tweets and sketches from the month of May 2017.
I have been absolutely loving the multiple opportunities for life drawing in Ottawa this spring: The Atomic Rooster , Atelier Denu (Thursday evenings) and the Art House Cafe (Tuesday Evenings)
I organized two more urban sketching events in May. The Experimental Farm (May 13) and the Great Glebe Garage Sale (May 27)
And, as usual, there has been plenty of practice work and studies in my various sketchbooks. I do hope to complete some final pieces this summer for my new website launch. Stay tuned!
I also finished another sketch for The Wrench (Ottawas only street newspaper for the homeless) and continued with my sketchbook experiments.
June, July and August are all busy too but I will put more effort into regular blog post updates.
Below, I have added some of my tweets and sketches from the month of May 2017.
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| My watercolour sketch for The Wrench |
Life Drawing
I have been absolutely loving the multiple opportunities for life drawing in Ottawa this spring: The Atomic Rooster , Atelier Denu (Thursday evenings) and the Art House Cafe (Tuesday Evenings)
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| Atomic Rooster - May 2, 2017 - My tweet |
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| Atelier Denu - First Session - May 12, 2017 - My tweet of one of my sketches |
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| Atelier Denu - May 19, 2017 - My tweet |
Urban Sketching
I organized two more urban sketching events in May. The Experimental Farm (May 13) and the Great Glebe Garage Sale (May 27)
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| Experimental Farm - May 13, 2017 - My tweet |
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| I did this sketch outside in the rain. Worth it though because the silos have changed. |
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| Experimental Farm - May 13, 2017 - My tweet |
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| Great Glebe Garage Sale - Urban Sketching - May 27, 2017 - My tweet |
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| My Ottawa Urban Sketchers Bike mobile - Great Glebe Garage Sale |
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| Urban Sketch - Great Glebe Garage Sale |
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| Outline - Great Glebe Garage Sale sketch |
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| Finished urban sketch - Great Glebe Garage Sale |
And, as usual, there has been plenty of practice work and studies in my various sketchbooks. I do hope to complete some final pieces this summer for my new website launch. Stay tuned!
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| Colour Studies - gouache |
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| Facebook Group - Different Strokes Art Challenge |
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Another Night Drawing At The Rooster (#25)
It has been quite a few months since I was able to attend a "Drawing At The Rooster" (DATR) session hosted by Ottawa artists Peter Purdy and Rebecca Gilman. The last monthly session that I attended was in October 2015 Drawing at the Rooster #20 - Heroes and Villains.
There was a winter storm warning issued for the evening and some folks 'facebooked' their regrets not wanting to chance a potentially hazardous and dangerous drive home.
Still, around twenty artists showed up to sketch while the snow continued to fall outside.
There were three models for the evening: Linda, Jessica and Ringo and they held poses for two, three, five, ten and twenty minutes in duration.
I always find the first model a challenge because I'm not warmed up enough and the two, three and five minute poses finish much too quickly for me.
By the time we got to the ten minute and twenty minute poses with Linda, I felt I was beginning to loosen up with my sketches.
Sketching in a bar is tricky. The tables are always too small for drinks AND art supplies and sketchbooks. By the time we made it to the second model, I had eliminated a lot of equipment and decided on a pencil, my pens and my watercolour palette.
I start with my HB pencil and scribble in what I am focussing on quick and loosely and then I use ink and finish off with watercolour.
I like to do full body sketches but found myself mostly doing portraits the whole night. I am not sure why but in Jessica's case it was the beautiful red hair that I wanted to capture most.
Ringo was our last model and we were pressed for time so Peter thought it best to skip the two, three and five minute sketches and go directly to a ten minute and a twenty minute pose to end the night. Peter was worried about the weather and driving and didn't want to keep anyone out past 10 for safety sake.
And it was too bad because Ringo was so beautiful and so much fun to sketch. Her hair and face and her clothes were lovely and interesting to sketch. I hope she comes back again to a future session.
All of the pictures posted here were not touched up before I scanned them although this is quite a temptation. You always see faults in your sketches when you arrive home but to correct the sketches after I get home defeats my purpose.
I love these life drawing sessions for the practice that they give me to sketch people fast and loose and "in the moment" so that I see how closely I can come to capturing their essence.
I love sketching from photos as well because you can get your subject as close to perfect as your skills will take you but at these monthly sessions, you learn to be okay with "imperfect". That's a good thing.
And that's why I am eternally grateful to Peter Purdy and Rebecca Gilman for generously volunteering their time to organize these monthly sessions and I look forward to the next one in April!
Previous DATR Blog Posts
"Drawing at the Rooster is a monthly life drawing event. There are multiple live models (clothed/costumed) that will do a variety of short and long poses.
Each event has a different theme! Drawing at the Rooster is a no cover event, and is a creative, non-judgmental environment where artists of all skill levels will have an opportunity to practice their life drawing skills. (Source: DATR facebook)
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| Drawing At The Rooster #25 Poster |
There was a winter storm warning issued for the evening and some folks 'facebooked' their regrets not wanting to chance a potentially hazardous and dangerous drive home.
Still, around twenty artists showed up to sketch while the snow continued to fall outside.
There were three models for the evening: Linda, Jessica and Ringo and they held poses for two, three, five, ten and twenty minutes in duration.
Model #1 Linda
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| Model #1-Linda |
By the time we got to the ten minute and twenty minute poses with Linda, I felt I was beginning to loosen up with my sketches.
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| My ten minute and twenty minute sketches |
Model #2 Jessica
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| Model #2 - Jessica |
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| Loved Jessica's beautiful red hair! |
I start with my HB pencil and scribble in what I am focussing on quick and loosely and then I use ink and finish off with watercolour.
I like to do full body sketches but found myself mostly doing portraits the whole night. I am not sure why but in Jessica's case it was the beautiful red hair that I wanted to capture most.
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| My three, five, ten and twenty minute sketches of Jessica |
Model # 3 Ringo
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| Model #3 - Ringo |
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| The final pose - my favourite of the night! |
Ringo was our last model and we were pressed for time so Peter thought it best to skip the two, three and five minute sketches and go directly to a ten minute and a twenty minute pose to end the night. Peter was worried about the weather and driving and didn't want to keep anyone out past 10 for safety sake.
And it was too bad because Ringo was so beautiful and so much fun to sketch. Her hair and face and her clothes were lovely and interesting to sketch. I hope she comes back again to a future session.
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| My twenty minute sketch of Ringo |
All of the pictures posted here were not touched up before I scanned them although this is quite a temptation. You always see faults in your sketches when you arrive home but to correct the sketches after I get home defeats my purpose.
I love these life drawing sessions for the practice that they give me to sketch people fast and loose and "in the moment" so that I see how closely I can come to capturing their essence.
I love sketching from photos as well because you can get your subject as close to perfect as your skills will take you but at these monthly sessions, you learn to be okay with "imperfect". That's a good thing.
And that's why I am eternally grateful to Peter Purdy and Rebecca Gilman for generously volunteering their time to organize these monthly sessions and I look forward to the next one in April!
Previous DATR Blog Posts
- Drawing At The Rooster #18 http://moynahanstudio.blogspot.ca/2015/08/drawing-at-rooster-datr.html
- Drawing At The Rooster #19 - Sailor's Delight http://moynahanstudio.blogspot.ca/2015/09/life-drawing-19-sailors-delight.html
- Drawing At The Rooster #20 - Heroes and Villains http://moynahanstudio.blogspot.ca/2015/10/life-drawing-20-villains-and-heroes.html
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Life Drawing 20 - Villains and Heroes
It was another really fun night and the three models were excellent! Thanks again to Peter Purdy and Rebecca Gilman for all their work organizing these great events
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| The three models posed together for one 10-mnute sketch |
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| My 10-minute sketch (I plan to finish it with some watercolour from the photograph) |
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| My 10-minute sketch of the Joker |
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| Model Sarah |
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| My 20-minute sketch |
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| 2 minute and 3-minute sketches (coloured in later) |
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| Superwoman! |
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| Some of the other artist's sketches at the end of the night |
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| Pages 7 & 8 (of my 8 pages of sketches from the night) |
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Life Drawing 19 - Sailor's Delight
On September 22, 2015 from 7-10 pm The Atomic Rooster hosted
"Life Drawing 19 - Sailor's Delight"
The live "sailor models" for this week's sketching session included
the artist who won "best sketch" at "Life Drawing 18: Portraits 2"
(blogged about previously here:
and her partner.
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| "The couple" |
The three models posed together making it quite a challenge to finish in 20 minutes!
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| Great models and a great group of sketchers |
Looking forward to Life Drawing # 19 in October!
Atomic Rooster - The Annual Cock Show
The Atomic Rooster hosts many interesting events including art events and the "Rooster" bar and restaurant is conveniently located on Bank St at Somerset St West in Ottawa.
Most recently they hosted the "Cock Show" vernissage which I attended. It was a full house with over fifty creative versions and interpretations of the proud rooster (also known as a cockerel or cock, Gallus gallus).
You can look at the rooster art on the Atomic Rooster Facbook page (see below) https://www.facebook.com/Atomic-Rooster-267649179945257/timeline/
The Cock Show runs from Sept 13 - Oct 18 and is a must-see exhibit. It is the Atomic Rooster's biggest and brightest show yet!
VOTE for your favorites by 'liking' the photo of the piece on the Atomic Rooster's facebook page The piece with the most online votes will be given a spot among the finalists from the Atomic Rooster's in-house voting.
The overall winning artist will be given a cash prize of $200, plus the image will reproduced on a limited run of custom house coasters.
Congrats to all this artists this year, together you've assembled a spectacular flock!!!!!
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| September calendar |
You can look at the rooster art on the Atomic Rooster Facbook page (see below) https://www.facebook.com/Atomic-Rooster-267649179945257/timeline/
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| It was a full house for the "Cock Show" vernissage at the Atomic Rooster in Ottawa on September 15, 2015 |
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| Sample of the 62 coque-y interpretations of the mighty rooster upon our walls (Please note, the photos do not do justice to the real deal.) |
VOTE for your favorites by 'liking' the photo of the piece on the Atomic Rooster's facebook page The piece with the most online votes will be given a spot among the finalists from the Atomic Rooster's in-house voting.
The overall winning artist will be given a cash prize of $200, plus the image will reproduced on a limited run of custom house coasters.
Congrats to all this artists this year, together you've assembled a spectacular flock!!!!!
My Previous Posts
- Painting with BIG Brushes
- Atomic Rooster artist call for their annual Cock Show 2015
- Calls For Artists
My Rooster Art
(maybe next year?)
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| Art Journal July 26, 2015 |
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| Unfinished acrylic on canvas |
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| Art Journal July 26 |
Monday, September 7, 2015
Painting with BIG Brushes
I have been a big fan of Patti Mollica's art for a long time (especially her NYC urban landscape paintings). I recently watched two of her four free Strathmore online classes from a Workshop Series called "Expressive Acrylic Painting".
What struck me most about one of the videos that I watched was that she used a 2" flat nylon brush for the entire painting and she did not mix her colours but used them direct from her palette. (Patti used different echniques using many brushes and mixing her own colours in other videos.)
I love this approach and wanted to try it in studio in advance of some fall plein air painting that I am planning for late September and early October. I plan to purchase some big nylon brushes and some of the colours she uses that I did not have (see list below).
(Note: I looked for nylon and/or hog's hair brushes in the Royal & Langnickel 180 page brush catalog which I highly recommend for downloading here: http://www.royalbrush.com/art/catalogs/brushes.pdf)
I decided to give the big brush approach to my rooster that was due at the Atomic Rooster in two days.
I worked from a photograph posted by Mr T. in DC on flickr. Mr T wrote, "Rooster (Gallus gallus) at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park, in Prince George's County, MD. The out-of-place male chicken was running free around the park, mainly along the waterfront and by the playground. There weren't any rangers or other park officials around, otherwise I would have mentioned and inquired about the welfare of the chicken. Not sure if he is an escapee from a farm, a released pet, or whatnot. I hope he's OK. Should I call some sort of farm animal rescue organization?"
I did not have any large brushes and it was Labour Day Monday so all the stores were closed but I thought I could practice the technique and get started with my 1" brush.
I think I managed to create Patti Mollica's bold and loose feel in my 'two hour rooster' and I'll buy a 2" and 3" nylon flat tomorrow at Wallack's and finish it off.
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| Strathmore Free Online Workshops |
What struck me most about one of the videos that I watched was that she used a 2" flat nylon brush for the entire painting and she did not mix her colours but used them direct from her palette. (Patti used different echniques using many brushes and mixing her own colours in other videos.)
I love this approach and wanted to try it in studio in advance of some fall plein air painting that I am planning for late September and early October. I plan to purchase some big nylon brushes and some of the colours she uses that I did not have (see list below).
(Note: I looked for nylon and/or hog's hair brushes in the Royal & Langnickel 180 page brush catalog which I highly recommend for downloading here: http://www.royalbrush.com/art/catalogs/brushes.pdf)
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| Patti Mollica's supplies for acrylic painting Source: Strathmore Workshop pdf |
I worked from a photograph posted by Mr T. in DC on flickr. Mr T wrote, "Rooster (Gallus gallus) at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park, in Prince George's County, MD. The out-of-place male chicken was running free around the park, mainly along the waterfront and by the playground. There weren't any rangers or other park officials around, otherwise I would have mentioned and inquired about the welfare of the chicken. Not sure if he is an escapee from a farm, a released pet, or whatnot. I hope he's OK. Should I call some sort of farm animal rescue organization?"
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| Rooster at Bladensburg Waterfront Park by Mr. T in DC on Flickr Creative Commons |
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| After two hours with a 1" brush |
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| Patti Mollica's Rooster Strathmore Free Online Workshop |
Strathmore Links
- Patti's "Expressive Acrylic Painting"course http://www.strathmoreartist.com/blog-reader/items/workshop-2-expressive-acrylic-painting-supply-list-available.html
Patti Mollica Links
- Patti's Gallery: http://www.mollicastudio.com/htmlpages/gallery.html
- Patti's blog http://newyorkpainter.blogspot.ca/
- Patti's website http://www.mollicastudio.com/
- Patti's books http://www.mollicastudio.com/htmlpages/books.html
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