It's been a while but I'm back.  Teaching at Seneca and Humber Colleges as well as a new picture book for the fall have kept me busy, but it's time to share again.

This week I was at the Royal Ontario Museum with my Seneca students enjoying an end of the semester drawing for the pure fun of it day.  After two  semesters of studying the figure from skeleton to all the muscles we were drawn to the Greek sculptures, fascinated by the ability of the artists to make stone come alive.

It's given me the idea to one day, some day, and hopefully soon do a drawing course at the ROM based on the Greek and Roman sculptures.  I'll call it "Learning from the Gods". 

Makes me wish I was in Rome again and studying Bernini.

studies of Greek sculpture and students on iPad Pro 

Reminds me of Don Quixote

I did this study yesterday; conte on newsprint as usual.  I have to admit I was disappointed by my handling of the armpit of the raised arm, but when I was finished, it reminded me of Don Quixote.

Ever since reading Cervantes' work, I've wanted to do a series on the story.

Along with work on armpits, I need to make him older and scrawnier. Perhaps I'll just call this young Quixote.

Day in the studio

6B peincil on Mat board 

Conte on toned paper.  Studies of arms

Conte on grey paper.  Arm and hand study

Great to spend another day in the studio with model.

Studies of a dead Junko. Conte pencil.  8.5 x 10 in

Unfortunately I have a cat who is a hunter.  I guess that is to be expected given he was a stray, but then all cats are, and therefore more the reason to be kept inside.  He hates it and when he can escapes only to bring a gift of carrion back to me.   Over the years it's been birds, chipmunks and mice, and each time I try to honour the victim with a drawing.  I know this is hardly an excuse for the killing, but it is the least I can do.

I've been drawing but not posting

I've been busy drawing but just not posting.  Hope to add more soon.  This is from last Thursday session with my favorite model.  Conte and pastel on grey paper.  Just trying something new and more colourful,

Anatomy Master Class Is Back!

This year two sessions to chose from: July* and August.

For a full week we explore and study what gives the human figure its structure and form.

"A workshop NOT to be missed, great Master Instructor, great models, great studio setting, make great friends and bask in hours of great stories, incredible drawings and a highly effective system to build your knowledge, method and overall confidence in drawing the complexities of the figure. One of the finest teachers and draftsmen in Canada. Your move."   

Geordie Millar, 2015 participant

*(Please Note: dates for Session 1 are  July 18 - 22)

With the best model in the GTA every day*    

Only 7 students,  guaranteeing assistance, consultation and demonstration on a personal level unattainable in larger classes. 

One full day at the University of Guelph Gross Human Anatomy Lab where we have the opportunity to study and draw the excellent range of specimens up close and unencumbered by display cabinets or glass jars.  There is no place like it.

In Downtown Guelph 

Close to art store, restaurants, and accommodations of every price range:  Airbnb, hotels and U of Guelph residence rentals.

GO bus from Toronto

45min from Pearson International Airport.

25min from Kitchener. 

$675.   (Book July Session  before July 1 and get $130 off )

Student Discount available.

To Register  or more info:  drawing@wernerzimmermann.ca    

Creature Class Workshop this June.

Join me at the 'Bone Rooms' for an exciting three days of Creature drawing.

We'll be studying the wide array of skeletons in the excellent collection at the Vet College at the University of Guelph over three days to make the most of effective creature drawing.

Skeletons ranging from full size horses, lions and bears to two headed calves, reptiles and birds: they will all be there to chose from for creating the creature of your choice,

Day 1:  we study comparative skeletal anatomy - what is different and what remains the same in all of them.  We will look at joints as well as bone forms to understand what movement is possible.

Day 2: we will chose from 3 or 4 different skeletons to create a skeletal structure for our creature

Day 3:  Pulling muscles and giving them form.

sequence based on composite ROM skeleton  sketch

Price $265 + HST

Early Bird before June 10th $225 + HST

To register email:  Drawing@wernerzimmermann.ca

plus $75. deposit   (balance  due day 1 June 21)

Pay Pal button below

for more info  drawing@wernerzimmermann.ca

Come join us for some great drawing!

June 21 - 23

Creature Class June 21 - 23

January start in the studio - A day of figure drawing to myself.

Something I haven't done lately but must do more often is to have a model in for a day. Pure pleasure to just push conte around for hours and let the time pass.

Happy New Year!

all work conte on 18x24 newsprint.

January 6th Cat Studies

Starting the year with some #sketches of my #cat as he lay beside me on the couch.  I was supposed to be working on the storyboards for a new book book but he was just too tempting to ignore.

8B on 8.5 x 11" printer paper

Summer Sketching - water colour at Rush Cove

Nice to get outside and throw colour around.  One of my favorite spots - Rush Cove on the Bruce Peninsula. 

Monday Morning Pet Sketching

It's Monday and with every Monday comes a long list of what has to get done. 

I decided it could all wait and instead sat outside sketching my cat and dog as they enjoyed the summer shade. 

Best start to a Monday I'd say.

Very Long Concert

A number of years ago I was at a very long concert.  I did this sketch when I got home.

 

I like my concerts just a bit shorter.

Long ago watercolour

 

I just came across this photo of a watercolour I did many years ago after University.  

It was an old gnarled apple tree I would pass in a field near a highway I often traveled.  One winter day I stopped, sketched and this came about.  I was sad when years later it finally died.  

I think my fascination with both trees and anatomy that holds me to this day is quite evident in this painting.

The painting is appox 24 x 30 inches and ended up hanging on some office wall at Imperial Oil in Toronto.  I'd love to think it part of the 'Collection' but in reality it was no doubt considered just a part of the office furniture.  Perhaps I should try to get it back one day.

Arm Studies

In preparation for a new Master Class at my studio I  had  my favorite model Ed Cz in for two days of what I call blowing the dust out of the elbows.  Here's one of the the many arm studies I did getting ready.

conte pencil on newsprint.

Rudy and a Tiny Dancing Mouse

It's sometimes surprising what you find when you're cleaning up piles of old drawings.  I found these two from long ago but clearly remembered moments. 

Rudy was the Dachshund belonging to the family of a friend of ours.  Rudy had a unique 'what do I care what you want?' atitude which suited everyone just fine.  Except when they asked me to do his portrait he was a bit hard to pin down to a pose. Being that I liked to draw from life, I tried sketching him but he would give me the cold shoulder and move on.  That was until his owner revealed a family secret that Rudy had a liking for scotch.  It was hardly a half a teaspoon but it was enough to have him settle in for  sketching session, but as you can see, he remained skeptical.


 

The little dancing mouse wasn't really dancing but sure could hop.  We caught a small family of mice while staying at a friends cottage.  Before we let them go in the woods outside I got a few sketches of them trying to hop out of the container they were in.  This one definitely was a dancer.

Arctic Studies

 

caribou head study pencil crayon c.1979

 

caribou skull study pencil 1977

 

study of wing  pencil 1977

 

bear skull study 1981

 

Anatomy Tune Up June 6 & 7 Toronto

The anatomy Tune Up at Studio West was held June 6 & 7 to great success.  Two day overview of the skeleton and muscles of the human as well as comparative to animals.