Dark Mirrors

For centuries artist have used darkened mirrors and smoked lenses to help them view a real landscape in simplified tonal values. More on S...

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Dark Mirrors

For centuries artist have used darkened mirrors and smoked lenses to help them view a real landscape in simplified tonal values. More on S...

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Drawing Moving Objects

Drawing moving objects is a whole different challenge compared to drawing things that hold still.  Sometimes I like to analyze a common moti...

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Drawing Moving Objects

Drawing moving objects is a whole different challenge compared to drawing things that hold still.  Sometimes I like to analyze a common moti...

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Special Delivery

Hope everyone is enjoying the new book .  I'm curious: What are you working on in your own sketching practice? 

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Crash of the Florist Van

This florist van crashed into something jagged, which sliced through it from under the headlight to the side door panel. (Ballpoint pen and...

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The Color Black

Art: Coles Phillips Your questions about the color black. More on Substack

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Crash of the Florist Van

This florist van crashed into something jagged, which sliced through it from under the headlight to the side door panel. (Ballpoint pen and...

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The Color Black

Art: Coles Phillips Your questions about the color black. More on Substack

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Freeway Overpass

FREEWAY OVERPASS, markers and charcoal, 11” x 17”. Why do thumbnails? It's a low-risk way of thinking visually. My goal here is to ...

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Sketching at a Police Helipad. What Could Go Wrong?

PATROL HELICOPTER, 1981, gouache on illustration board, 9½” x 13”. Here's the story : A field in Glendale, California, contains what...

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Step-by-Step of the Underdrawing

The Artist's Guide to Sketching isn't really a "how-to" book, but we do have a chapter with a with a step-by-step sequenc...

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Gang Members as Models

Gang members may look intimidating, but if you catch them in public places, they make great models. Two Young Gang Members, published in...

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Carmel Event March 15

Join me in Carmel, CA on Saturday, March 15 from 12:00-2:00 for a presentation and book signing. I'll be talking about my friendship...

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Meanwhile in the Shipping Department

The new edition of The Artist's Guide to Sketching  releases today, and I want to thank everyone for your enthusiasm and kind words. W...

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WAMC Radio Interview

Northeast Public Radio's Joe Donahue wanted to know this about sketching: "Do you do it to relax?" "What do you see th...

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Hopping Freight Trains

 New post about riding the rails.

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Sargent Wanted his Models to Talk to Him

John S. Sargent, like most portrait artists of his time, insisted that models moved and spoke while they posed, unlike the contemporary pr...

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Sketch Carpet

Nathalia says: "I wish you could have captured a quick, cheap digital image of all of the drawing you made and SOLD. Just to have a rec...

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Sketching Book Reviewed

I’m grateful to Zoungy Kligge for the insightful review of The Artist’s Guide to Sketching by me and Thomas Kinkade. Zoungy’s coverag...

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