Hatless Russian Busker

The Russian Photo Busker Who Wore No Hat. 2014. @11" x 9." Graphite, tinted with Compressed White Charcoal, Conté, and Pastel, on Blue Saint Armand Old Master Drawing Paper. Casey Klahn.

The Violinist on Claret Paper

The Violinist

Not a finished work, but my first efforts on Claret Paper!

Bogus Sketches and The Violinist

Degas book, original sketch from life, Degas study of a male violinist, and my working sketch on Bogus Rough paper.

How interesting that the sketch I made at the Yellowstone Lake Hotel remains the best of the bunch, even after I have done several studies now to arrange it into a finished piece.  I will keep at it.

On another note, I have been trying to make my own ground now, off and on, for several years but have finally stumbled onto a workable surface, I think.  It might be a life changing event.  Claret paper.  Not my own formula, but I did deviate from the recipe I was following.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Claret Paper, in light blue and claret hues.  I will credit the original recipe after I test this to see how it works.

Sergeant Major

Sergeant Major Sketch

@7" x 9." 

Charcoal and chalk on toned brown paper.

Casey Klahn

This is a life sketch I rendered last weekend at a battle reenactment.  The opportunity to draw the figure from life is rare for me, and Civil War reenactments are a grand time, with costumed participants, equipment and regalia for subject-matter.

Hodge Podge

I was just organizing files, and these looked like some fun images.  Some have been shared, and some haven't, but they are topical for the late winter.

Did you know that February is post every day month at Pastel Workshop?  This is #18, now. Please come back tomorrow.

 

Artists in Pastel

Thanks to Niall O'Neill, who blogs at Artists in Pastel, for his review of my website and blogs.  If you want to be inspired by the diverse pastellists who post their art online on the World Wide Web, I recommend you follow O'Neill's blog, where he looks at each artist one at a time.  

I have re-tooled my studio for a serious season of drawing.  Right before the new year, I spent most of a studio day just sharpening charcoal and organizing supplies. Below is a landscape done this week.

  Autumn Slope Drawing

12" x 13.5" 

Charcoal, Chalk & Pastel

Casey Klahn

Casey Klahn at Artists in Pastel.

Bronze Figurine, A Drawing

Figurine Drawing #1

18" x 12"

Charcoal, Chalk & Pastel

Casey Klahn

This time I drew the figure from photos I took of one of Degas' bronze ballerinas.  More to come.

Progress

Detail

Charcoal, Conte and White Chalk

@ 8" x 12"

Casey Klahn

Okay.  I fixed the eye placement and the lip.  It is fascinating how once good abilities can evade me after too many years out of practice.  Figures and heads require lots of practice, and then there's the art part, too.

This is done on newsprint.

Detail of a Head

Detail

Charcoal, Conte and White Chalk

@ 8" x 12"

Casey Klahn

This drawing was a failed start.  But, this detail is nice.  I'll try it again tomorrow.

Just Thinking with a Charcoal and a Pastel in My Hand

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Study and color study thumbs

Drawing

This post was originally published 9-08.

Ponte Vecchio - Old City
@7" x 6"
Graphite on 70gr. Sketch Paper
Casey Klahn

Under Riva Ridge, Italy
@8" x 5"
Charcoal
Casey Klahn

View my complete body of drawings at Pastel.

At The Colorist, I also have a collection of drawings.

The Portal

4.75" x 4.5"
Graphite
Scene at "Riva Ridge," Italy
Casey Klahn



Lake Garda Alley
@4" x 3.75"
Pastel
Casey Klahn

See all of my drawings at The Colorist.

At The Bar

At The Bar - Copy of Degas

@22" x 17"

Charcoal, Conte & Pastel 

Casey Klahn

pas camera 

Leonardo

Face, After da Vinci

@14" x 20"

Conte & Compressed White Charcoal

Casey Klahn

Raw Red Apple

Raw Apple Sketch

9.5" x 10.5"

Pastel & Charcoal

Casey Klahn

The first attempt at this sketch failed at the drawing stage, but I colored it in, anyway.  Then, I wiped away the first attempt and satisfied myself, for the most part, with this.  I left it as a sketch, with no background.

Process

Ballerina Sketch

Degas Copy - Ballerina Sketch

12" x 8.25"

Vine Charcoal, Graphite, Compressed White Charcoal and Pastel on Paper

Casey Klahn

These Degas copies are helping me on the path towards my own voice with the figure.  Meanwhile, enjoy these, and keep a good thought for the master, Edgar Degas.

  The Colorist

Skagit Barn

Skagit Barn Study
@6" x 8"
Pastel & Charcoal on Sketch Paper
Casey Klahn


Skagit Barn Sketch
@6" x 8"
Charcoal
Casey Klahn

Who wouldn't want to sketch and paint an image of the Skagit Valley, Washington? This photo is from my collection, and I have been thinking about painting it for a long time. I only had a short hour in the studio this morning, so here is the sketch, a color study on sketch paper and the old photo for reference.

High Tide at the Jetty

The Jetty in Ocean Shores, Washington.
My Set-Up is the Guerrilla ThumBox and an Ampersand Panel.

The painting was begun at high tide, but as you can see the tide was going out by the time I took this photo. Interesting how the camera compresses reality - my painting is accurate for relief, showing more ocean above the jetty, but the photo makes the ocean appear flattened.

I had to drive to my home town area this past weekend for a funeral. The art kit went with me, since I have had a desire to do some images from there for some time. Specifically, I want to do a series on the Hoquiam river.

This painting of the wild Pacific Ocean hitting the rock jetty in Ocean Shores, WA has some things I like. The technique of pastel strokes is pleasing. The colors are accurate, it seems. But, an interesting thing happened with this rare plein air session. I had my new large box of pastels, which is organized by hue first, and value second. My smaller boxes are purely organized by value. So, wouldn't you know it? The painting I rendered in this method suffered a little for having incorrect values! I'll keep this in mind for my next efforts, and I'll see if I wish to correct this one in the studio. Live and learn.

As things turned out, the drive was too hard for me this close after my surgery. I know - I should be well by now, but such is the case. I did get some good family and college buddy visits in, but after one morning session at the beach, I was wiped out. I tried a second session at the mouth of the Copalis River, but circumstances and wind got the better of me.

Not to despair, though. I did take my camera with me. More importantly, I had my eyes, too. Paintings will follow.

Tree School

Tree Study in Turquoise
@ 6" x 5"
Pastel
Casey Klahn

The title "Tree School" sounds like it belongs at an arborist's convention, or maybe a logging camp. But, I want to offer my artist's take on rendering trees with pastel.


Trees can be an awful distraction in a painting. Especially if they are present but not the subject, and if they take up too much of your effort.

We all enjoy graphite drawings in detail of a beautiful tree. Great texture, perfect modeling, and wonderful presence are what please us. But, that is the tree drawing where the tree is center stage; the star of the show. What about when the landscape is about things other than how the trees look? What do you do then?

Additionally, you can face a problem when the trees are the main content, but not the subject. I mean by that the painting where a color composition is the subject of the painting, or maybe something like the motion of one's eye through the woods. Trees have a built-in drama to them, and I propose that too much detail can distract from the message.

Return here to attend my short course on trees in pastel, and I leave you with this hint: don't begin with green.

Pastel Apples

Red Apple on White
Pastel & Charcoal on Printer Paper
7" x 7"
Casey Klahn

Apple in Violet on Gray
Pastel & Charcoal on La Carte
9.5" x 10.5"
Casey Klahn

These apple studies are preparation for the drawing class I'll be teaching soon. I'll be live blogging some of it, hopefully. I can't remember ever doing this exercise before. It is a lot of fun!

Drawing

Ponte Vecchio - Old City
@7" x 6"
Graphite on 70gr. Sketch Paper
Casey Klahn

Under Riva Ridge, Italy
@8" x 5"
Charcoal
Casey Klahn

View my complete body of drawings at Pastel.

At The Colorist, I also have a collection of drawings.

The Portal

4.75" x 4.5"
Graphite
Scene at "Riva Ridge," Italy
Casey Klahn



Lake Garda Alley
@4" x 3.75"
Pastel
Casey Klahn

See all of my drawings at The Colorist.