Quick Sketches

Man arrives as a novice at each age of his life.
Sebastien Chamfort

When I came across this quote I felt a divine sense of relief. Suddenly I realized it's okay not to know exactly what to do next or where to go with things. I've always felt as if each day was a new beginning but with that new beginning comes an uncertainty. Each day is a new path ~ a new adventure. Albeit unknown, just to be aware of one's future potential is a magnificent gift. In this sense we are all beginners. Anyway, above are two quick charcoal sketches I made ~ one a young girl just starting out, the other a woman who has been around the block a few times. Each one, though, is just stepping out again for the first time. I love doing these quick sketches, not just trying to capture movement but trying to capture a sense of anticipation and expectation in the figure.

The Steward 2

Silence is as full of potential wisdom and wit as the unhewn marble of great sculpture.
Aldous Huxley


After an unscheduled and lengthly break I am back at my easel! What a wonderful place to be. Anyway, I decided to get to work again on the steward so all day as I've been painting, I have been wondering what stewards, waiters, doormen, taxi cab drivers, hair stylists, manicurists, (you get the idea) actually think about as they go about their jobs. I can just imagine they hear and see all kinds of things but eventually aren't shocked by much. I do think they can't help but become wiser as they observe life close up. And yet, they're paid not to share their wisdom but to just comment on the weather. We used to live in a doorman building and I often thought how sick the poor fellow must be of passing the time of day with each one of us when he probably really wanted to tell us how he thought we should be solving our problems.

Anyway, I think this painting is starting to take shape. At first working with just shades of gray, it doesn't seem like it's going anywhere but then the folds and shadows start to appear. It's still got a long way to go but today's work provided lots of definition.

Hats 3

Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone you don't.
Earl Wilson


I'm not quite sure if this woman just said it or just heard it, but she's definitely in possession of some very juicy information. And with that hat it's all about to take wing!