Ty-Jack...

So this is the final piece I submitted for the Drawing show we are having here at Temple Rome in conjunction with a group of Italian Art students.

I chose to do a portrait of my best friend Tyler based on a self portrait he took of himself a few weeks ago. I can't really explain it, but I was so drawn to the photo upon seeing it that I knew I wanted to draw it myself.

I have to say I learned a lot through this piece and while it's not completely proportional, I really am pretty pleased with how it came out; especially the shirt.

40in. x 40in. Vine and Compressed Charcoal.

Just Like A Prayer...

Today in drawing class one of my classmates asked if we could pose the model as if she were the Madonna so that she could use the studies for an upcoming piece she's working on. It was actually pretty comical seeing this Italian woman holding a bundled up blanket with shear cloth draped all over.

Brutta Figura...

This is how I feel about this week...

Mainly due to the overload of Midterms.

3 down. 3 to go. Then off to Tunisia!

Friday can't come soon enough.

Circolo Show Video and Flyer...

So we had a show in Rome yesterday! Which was pretty hectic, and time consuming, and a little draining. But in the end it all pulled together and was pretty amazing. Not to mention the fact that I can now say I've shown artwork internationally.

(Here's the flyer from the show!)

And here's a video from the morning before the opening yesterday!

Cicrolo Degli Artisti from James Dunn on Vimeo.

-To see the Link that I posted on the Temple Rome Art Blog, click HERE!

Overfriendly Faun...

Drawing Assignment: Reinterpret/get inspired by a piece of Italian art.

I chose the Barberini Faun, Caravaggio's "Seven Acts of Mercy", and I think I'm going to add some cherubs from a few prints by Ribera.

Here are some in progress shots so far. I started on the ground because the size is pretty huge, but eventually put it on the wall so that I could work out the perspective. I think it's probably close to 9ft tall. I've been talking to my professor about how I feel like I need to break out of the "completing assignments" role I've gotten into the past couple of semesters, and start actually making art I'm proud of. She suggested I try and get a little more complex in my compositions... I have a lot of work left on it. And crit tomorrow night... wish me luck. Any suggestions?!!!

Drawing Crit...

Had a drawing crit Monday. Went over alright. I got some pretty constructive criticism and feedback, but I'm still working things out in my head as to how I want to continue with this. (If at all.)

Top: Me. Gustavo. Coady.

Bottom: Natalie. Kamille.

Studio Sunday...

It rained today!!!!

Finally!!!

Just some pictures from the studios today...

Everyone's working on drawing, painting, and printmaking homework.

Busy busy busy!

Coady's Studio.

Dan hard at work...

Dan's Chinese Inspired Landscape Drawing.

Kamille's Drawing.

Natalie working on her drawing of a statue from the Villa Borghese.

And the model posing with her portrait.

Oh! And before I forget...

I moved studios so that now I have a huge wall to draw on rather than having to constantly bend down! Soooo nice!

Looking Up...

So I've been feeling a little stuck in terms of what to do when it comes to my studio classes. I guess you could call it a funk, or mind block, or whatever. I don't think my problem is lack of inspiration... more like over stimulation. Everything is just so breathtaking or amazing in its own right that I feel like I have too many ideas and concepts forming in my head that when it comes to putting them down on paper, it just gets lost in translation.

That being said... my drawing assignment for this week is to do a large scale drawing. Totally open. Only criteria is the size... Which normally I would love, except for the fact that I had no idea where to even begin. Enter my wonderful friend Natalie. Who told me to challenge myself... that's why I'm here in Italy anyways. So what's more challenging than people. Particularly portraits.

So here is my work in progress shots thus far...

I'll upload the others and the final product when I finish!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

-I'm going to rework the face and try and bring out more tones/greyscale in her features.

I'm also going to duplicate her silhouette and faintly wipe it out.

Edit: This is the finished piece as of right now...

Some of my classmates conviced me to leave it as it is until after the crit.

What do you think?

Any suggestions?!!

There Are Giants in the Sky...

There are great big terrible giants in the sky...

I can't believe I forgot to upload my drawing final from two semesters ago... Anyways the assignment was to create a life size or larger black and white self portrait. That's it...

So naturally I chose to depict myself in one of my favorite pastimes: Sleeping.

You can't tell from the pictures but the drawing

is actually 6 feet wide and 7 feet tall.

Way smaller than my last drawing final, but still pretty huge.

I don't know what it is, but there's something about working on such a large scale that really excites me. I love it.

These photos were taken by the very wonderful and talented

Jenni Kowal.

Monica...

Here's a charcoal drawing of Monica I did today on

18x24" Strathmore paper.

(I sprayed the final piece, which I don't normally do, and it really killed all the lights.)

Drawing

*Click the box above to see some in-progress photos of the

drawing above from start to finish.

(Once you follow the link hit the "slideshow" button in the top

left to view in slideshow form)

-And if you would like to see some of Monica's amazing

work click here!

Come on & Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Road...

Drawing Homework: Texture.

I decided to spend a few late night hours on Liacorus Walk in order to finish this assignment. I can't believe that this is the first homework assignment I've drawn outside this semester, everything else has fallen under still lifes or interior spaces.

Conte, Vine, Compressed on Strathmore.

It's going to be a very long week. Things to do:

1) Lino-Cut Prints for 2D

2) Photoshop Project for Computers

3) Make a kitchen and buy smoothie ingredients for 3D

4) Sketchbooks for 2D

(In that order.)

Step On Up...

Drawing Homework from last Week: Perspective drawing. 

-It's weird how different professors can be sometimes. Tom Vance is the complete polar opposite from Helen Bayley, but as more time passes I'm finding I've learned a lot more from both than I had thought I would. This particular piece was actually worked into more and tweaked... I fixed a few of the wonky orthogonals but didn't manage to take another picture.

Draw Me Some Motivation...

Some drawing homework from a few weeks ago... I need to start spending more time on my homework here. I feel like I kind of forget about this class or wait to the last minute because:

1) my professor is super nice and I don't really feel pressure to push myself...

2) I find that the things/styles he is having us draw are all really kind of boring...

3) Im just not as motivated as I was last year in Helen Bayley's class. I need to work on that. 

Contour line drawing. Showing depth through value shifts.

Because You... (#5)

Brielle...

Because I'm in love with your hair. I'd trade you in a second. Because you give the absolute best head scratches anyone could ask for. Because you are ridiculously sarcastic and you don't even try. Because I love our tradition of late night walks to get chinese. Because you introduced me to pizza rolls. Because Tyler would be so much lonelier without you. Because you're you.

Because You... (#4)

Anila...

Because you never lose faith. You believe in what you say. You are independent. You don't make excuses. You are your own person. Because you're you.

Because You... (#3)

Tyler...

Because you are my best friend. Because I don't feel awkward talking to you. We share ideals. You make me laugh. And we're both in agreement as to how weird I am... Because you're you.

Because You... (#2)

Noelle...

Because you are almost as weird as I am. You listen to almost everything I say. And I've never met anyone else with a sense of humor so close to my own.

Because you're you.

Because You... (#1)

Im Starting a new series... it has to do with a personal project that I am using for my Drawing Sketchbook. I am drawing a bunch of interesting perspective portraits of the many interesting people I have in my life.  Under their pictures I explain why I drew them with the the words: "Because you..." 

Sarah...

Because you hug me every time you see me. You have one of the most comfortable beds I've ever napped in. Your obsession to "whoozer". The way you make me laugh. Because you're you.

Southern Cookin...

Had lunch at the SAC today... I love that building, but it was soooo packed because we decided to go right at the peak for the lunchtime rush. I ended up getting Pulled pork, mashed potatos, and macaroni at Charleston Market.

And I was accompanied by the ever pleasant Liz, Mercedes, and Corrie.

Also had my first classes today. Art History was kinda boring. Here's the still life I drew in my Drawing Studio.