New Lizard Painting

Over the last three studio sessions, I've gotten the underpainting blocked in for the next lizard painting. I've put in a very warm layer for the skull. The next layer will be much cooler, but will let bits of warmth come through.

Also got the mid tones in on the lizards.

Life drawing

Had a great day yesterday (excluding my encounter with MUNI)

Painted from 8 in the morning till 3:30 working on a commission (Barbie mermaids - putting in highlights on the fish scales).

Went to get a passport photo taken and had my MUNI encounter at the wonderful skanky intersection of 6th and Mission. A well deserved soy latte at Muddy's on Valencia street, sketched a little bit there. Then headed to Mission Cultural Center for life drawing. My friend Marianna was there, and met her friend Yve. We had a wonderful model. Then went to dinner, where for the first time in my life I tried Nicaraguan food (it was yummy!)

Above: 1 minute sketches, 20 minute sketch, and a 10 minute sketch of last week's model.

Good day at the studio

Made some headway today on four paintings. Friday, I got the acrylic lines painted in over the preliminary drawing and toned the panel/canvas. Today, got the background in on the skeleton, and got the sky and base colors for the clouds in on the anatomical chimps. Once the paint dries, I'll put in more highlights on the clouds.

Anatomical Chimps, after Vesalius

The more I look at the anatomy of chimpanzees, the more I see the similarities between them and humans. It reflects the fact that we share 98% or more of our DNA with them. When I draw their arms and legs, I can literally look at a human anatomy book for reference, and just make adjustments for proportions. The big areas of difference are in the cranium and the pelvis. Yet, behaviorally, humans are a big improvement, though I think we humans can lapse easily into chimp-like violence.

I'm doing a series of three small paintings, after the manner of Vesalius, the Renaissance anatomical master. Though these flayed chimps are bold legged, and somewhat stooped over, I want to emphasize their similarities to human anatomy.

I just finished three small preliminary drawings, and will transfer them to canvas this week. By the way, the side view chimp is actually a take off on an anatomical study by Albinus.