some drawings

studies from yesterday in the studio. Not the greatest day, far too many scribbles and not enough hitting it right away. When I was drawing the hand on the thigh my thoughts went to a Bernini sculpture I saw at Villa Borghese in Rome, one in which Bernini managed to capture the pressure of the hand into the skin of a soft thigh, all the while in stone. I am always is awe of his work.

Royal Winter Fair Time

It's now officially fall and I'm thinking ahead to the Royal Winter Fair in November. I am so bound by calendars these days with deadlines and commitments that it doesn't seem there is time time breathe. So when I was looking at November and felt there was something missing, it finally occurred to me that it was the Royal that made it's mark felt at that time. If you live in the area definitely take advantage of it to get up close and draw everything from horses to Lamas. Unfortunately they no longer have the farm birds as they once did. In many ways they don't have a lot of what they once did. I do get mad at all the cars and SUV's instead of animals, but if you pick your day right, it can be spectacular. One of my favourites was the Belgian Blue cattle...the Schwarzenegger of cows with their double muscles. Regrettably they are no longer considered worthy of the show. Regardless, it's worth it.

As for the donkey drawing...it's from a Seneca school trip this summer to the Donkey Sanctuary just outside Guelph. Another must visit for your drawing list. At least it is for me.

Drawing workout

This week I had Ed Cz into the studio for some drawing that was a bit overdue. Over the next 5 hours Ed offered excellent poses and for me, over 150 studies and drawings later, a terrific feeling of exhilaration that one gets after a great work out.

For the first 3 hrs we had rapid pose after rapid pose, none more than over a minute. The floor was strewn with ripped off newsprint and dust and broken pieces of conte. I went through 4 pads before we broke for a bite.

The drawings started with studies of force dynamics. My only goal was to capture the force of life vs. gravity as well as the displacement of air as he pushed his body out from the central axis.

Next stage were linear studies done quickly with charcoal pencil. The evening ended with more sustained studies of form as well as stronger conte studies of the light over the form.

The last works above starting from the bottom are a continuation of the study of the back done earlier (posted below).

With the anatomy classes starting next week, and no afternoon class before, I intend to make the most of Ed's modeling every week now that I have him booked solid for the fall.

fun with skeletons

that sort of sounds strange, but I did have fun yesterday when with an hour to kill in the studio, I started drawing a skeleton for practice and ended up with this group of laughing bones. Because of the angle of the teeth in the skull, it always seems if skeletons are smiling. Odd to be happy to be dead. Something so ironic.

It's always fun to play with images in Painter or Photoshop and this resulted.

New Drawing Courses in Guelph - Anatomy for Artists & Figure Drawing

Well, here it is, the start of the Zimmermann School of Drawing. Not an official school of course, but based on my years drawing and teaching life drawing to animation students first at Sheridan in Oakville Ontario from 1986 to 2001 and most recently at Seneca@York, starting mid September I will be giving two figure drawing courses in my studio in Guelph.

Anatomy for Artists

Of interest to professionals, serious amateurs, comic book artist and illustrators.

A course in making a figure come to life through anatomy

This course will build weekly on an overview of the skeletal and muscular anatomy of the human figure. By examining the structure of the frame, moving from basic forms through an examination of the skeleton and finally to the muscles that move the the figure, students will gain valuable insight and knowledge of the anatomy of the human figure

Using a live model each week, we will do studies of the figure with conte and pencil.
.

Each student will receive a skeleton model on which studies using plasticine will be made as each muscle group is studied.

Both the valuable insights and practical understanding gained will aid in drawing human figures with movement, fluidity and confidence

10 weeks starting Sept 10 7 - 10 pm

Cost: $450.00

enrollment limited to 10

Weekly Outline:

September 10: Intro to the figure - the skeleton: complexity into simplicity / bones into boxes.

September 17: the skull, rib cage and pelvis:

September 24: muscles of the waist and neck: bending, twisting and turning

October 1: the scapula and the shoulders

October 8: muscles of the shoulders and upper arms

October 22: muscles off the pelvis onto the upper leg

October 29: Lower leg and foot

November 5: Lower arm and hand

November 12: head and face - muscles of expression

November 19: Review and summation.

Figure Drawing: from Gesture to Expression

10 weeks starting September 17 3hrs 2 - 5pm.

Cost: $300.

Limit: 10 students

Based on figure drawing for animation, students will be guided in the importance of the gesture in creating life drawings full of expression and dynamics. Anatomy, structure, form and balance will be examined.

To register or for more information email me at: werner@wernerzimmermann.ca

More

Eden Mills again. Couldn't help sketch the dog.

When I arrived the model was standing in the cast light of the setting sun. The shadow from the window played across her body so I toned my paper with charcoal and using my gum eraser painted in the light and then cut the lines of her body. It's a nice painterly way to draw.

Eden Mills

Out drawing the other night in Eden Mills again. Our model Sarah seemed so serene in her poses, seemingly angelic, that I couldn't help but add wings, thinking of all those cherubs from old paintings that must have gotten older at some time or other. Very enjoyable evening with pen and nib, and my trusty Lamy fountain pen.

Katie & Alex, studies for sculptures

I've been commissioned this summer to sculpt two children, life size, to be cast into bronze. It will be an interesting challenge given I haven't done any serious sculpting in a long while. Most of my work has been in clay for myself, never cast, always remushed and reworked. I've often worked out problems of form with clay, whether figures , horse commissions, or characters for books.

I recently was invited into the home and studio of Hanna Boos. As her website will tell you, Hanna first studied sculpting in Germany and later with Frances Gage, notable Canadian sculptor. Hann'a work is beautiful and she graciously shared her knowledge with me. No doubt if she is willing, Hanna will be a valuable resource as work progresses.

At this time I am beginning the first clay and wax studies of the children based on the sketches I have made in the first few visits to their home. Below are but two of the many scratches one makes as young children move and shift uncomfortably under the gaze of the artist. Slowly I think they will warm to the experience, or at least become more comfortable. I think I have begun to get through to Katie by way of a quick sketch of her dog. Alex is far more comfortable but no less restless. Time will tell.

NYC West Village Musician

Spent a weekend in NYC restoring my soul in the museums, galleries and streets of this incredible city. This guy was happily playing his cello sitting at the end of a street closed off for a neighbourhood yard sale. I only had the back of an envelope and a stub of a pencil but his pleasure was too much to pass up.

Bone Room Study

Past students of mine will remember the trips to the Bone Room(s) at the University of Guelph. It's probably no more than a few kilometers from my house and yet I just don't access it enough given the wealth of knowledge those bones can provide. The picture above is a small study of the hind legs of a young lion. I am forever amazed at the similarity most creatures have to each other; us included. I can wait to take my current class there this May or June. Possibly I may offer a summer course of drawing there if I can work out details.

We all gotta start somewhere

Hell, why not? This is my leopard from grade 5. I lived for drawing and it got me trouble at school all the time.

Thinking of the zoo lately and reminded me of the visits of Qadesh to life drawing classes at Sheridan and Seneca. For those who didn't know her, Qadesh was a magnificent Siberian tiger who would come once a year for a day of drawing. I have to admit that inside I always was a bit afraid of bloody mayhem breaking out, but in retrospect I think driving the 401 is more dangerous.

Sadly Qadesh died a few years ago and I doubt there will be another like her. The relationship between her and her keeper Bill Fraser was truly unique . I think everyone who experienced those classes would agree.

Tenderness at the Zoo

Looking for something today I came across this study of a mother and baby from the Toronto Zoo. I guess I could have posted for mother's day in a few weeks, but just thinking of the tenderness between the two of them, made me want to pop it up now.

I'd like to organize a zoo day of all the Sheridan and Seneca students I've know...maybe use it to raise a drawing prize fund. Anyone reading this and interested, email me.

Toronto Consort

Went the other night to hear The Toronto Consort, an ensemble that plays medieval and early rennaisance music. On Friday it was the music of St. Marks in Venice....Monteverdi being one. It was beautiful, but unfortunately either I am getting hard of hearing or we were too far away to really enjoy the nuances.

Much of the time I sat with eyes closed and imagined myself back in Venice, in St Mark's Square listing to the music as were it coming out through the doors of the basilica to where I was standing. It actually was quite the sensation...I wanted to open my eyes and really find myself there.

Regretably it was not to be so, but while my eyes were open, I took the opportunity to do some quick sketches of the musicians and singers. The lute players were quite interesting and this is one of them...someone I am told regularly plays in Tafelmusik.

If in Toronto and either venue is playing, I encourage you to go, listen and sketch.

http://www.torontoconsort.org/ http://www.tafelmusik.org/about/orchestra.htm

Debbie

The other day after classes at Seneca I returned to the studio and found everyone busy in extra life drawing Debbie. She's one of our favorite models, both for her sinuous beauty and her ability to cut wonderful poses. Regrettably I had no time to stay and draw. Thinking back to that evening, I've posted this pen study from a class a few years back that I've always liked for its simplicity. It's not exceptional by any means, but never the less I have always liked it.

Dr. Sketchy Birthday PartyToronto

Birthday party for Seneca student Diana at Tequila Bookworm. A few sketches from the evening.

Time for bunnies

Georgina

three reclining nudes

after the snow

After the wild blast of snow yesterday and the night before, today was one of those magical days.I didn't want it to end.

Everything outside was beautiful.The evergreens hung heavy with the powder that traced the patterns of the individual boughs. We shoveled for hours to get the driveway cleared but it didn't matter. The sky was an opalescent cerulean blue and the shadows a luminescent violet.

This evening we took a long walk along the river. I have tried to capture the feel of days like this in the past while practicing digital painting (or more like it, struggling to learn). I didn't paint today, so I'm posting them. One is of Tom's house across from my place in Lion's Head. The other done after I returned from a similar walk along the Speed River last winter.

Saturday morning at Zehrs

Stormy morning sketching at the coffee counter at the grocery store. Every one bundled and weary from shoveling.