BARBARA FUGATE Drawings And Paintings

Portrait Drawing of Hans Today

This afternoon I had the great pleasure of drawing from Hans (Handsome Hansel was his race name of one race only).  Hans is a 13-1/2 year old greyhound, and still mighty handsome indeed.  He was a bit reluctant at first to take the "model stand" but he soon settled into my couch and was the perfect portrait model.  Here's a photo of Hans and the drawing as well with a detail.  The drawing is 16X20" on ivory colored Fabriano paper and made with sepia chalk and watercolor washes.  Thank you for visiting. For portrait commission inquires, please email. 

.

.

.

Life Drawing on Sunday

Two selections from Sunday's life drawing session--both drawings are just over 30x40".  They are drawn with sepia chalk, watercolor. The figure more in profile also has soft pastel.  Both are available for purchase--email me for inquiries.  Thank you for visiting.

Here's an interesting comparison between my drawings (and drawing in general) and photography.

From an article on Eudora Welty's photography in April 2009 Smithsonian magazine, Welty is quoted:
"I learned in the doing how ready I had to be.  Life doesn't hold still.  A good snapshot stopped a moment from running away.  Photography taught me that to be able to capture transience, by being ready to click the shutter at the crucial moment, was the greatest need I had.  Making pictures of people in all sorts of situations, I learned that every feeling waits upon its gesture; and I had to be prepared to recognize this moment when I saw it."

Sketchbook Drawing class for the month of MAY

New class offering!  Back by popular demand...drawing in sketchbooks from animals, plants and trees. 
Please email me to register.

May 5, 12, 19, 26 (4 consecutive Tuesdays):  1 pm – 4 pm / Class Fee:  $115
SKETCHBOOK DRAWING (Woodland Park Zoo, Volunteer Park, and the Conservatory)
Come draw in sketchbooks for four consecutive Tuesdays at Woodland Park Zoo or Volunteer Park.  The animals, plants and trees are wonderful subjects for studying Form, Space, Texture and Mark-Making.  Our “models” at the zoo come in a full range of sizes, shapes, and personalities, keeping us challenged and entertained at the same time.  The many plants at the Conservatory and Volunteer Park’s trees give us unending variety as well.  We will draw in sketchbooks with mostly conté crayon and some ink wash. All levels welcomed.  

Photos below:  Joan drawing at the Conservatory; Barbara (me) reviewing student work at the Conservatory; Nancy drawing at the zoo (more students behind).

 

 

Drawing from Life Last Night

In "The Language of Drawing" Edward Hill states more than once that drawing is an experience.  I believe that, practice it and know it's true for any type of art-making. 
While drawing last night the conversation in my head vacillated between two ideas:
(1) drawing is an experience of the present--it's aim is to be as cognizant as possible of every breath, heart beat, emotive/energetic shift in me and the model. The drawing is devoted to them, how they present themselves at that moment, including what they look like.  My focus remains locked on them, their skin, contours, and proportions.  
(2) drawing is an experience that traverses into alternate planes and my job is to hook into whatever journey (energetic journey or spirit?) presents itself and draw from that image.  The more universal, open, accessible the marks and resulting image the better--a visual likeness to the model is secondary if at all a part of the art.  The model is inspiration, a springboard, a way to make images of "a person" rather than of "them".  Less specificity the better.  I react and respond from the gut first and foremost with my marks and color choices.  The drawing is more about movement, energy, reaction, recognizing/realizing something of the human experience, rather than a visual likeness.

Here's a selection of the drawings I made last night during that internal debate and visual exploration.  These drawings switch back and forth between these two tactics/modus operandi for the artist, me, as I made marks on papers while observing the model.

All the drawings are a minimum of 24"X36" up to 30"x40".  I used charcoal, chalk, drawing ink.  Some are Gesture Drawings (ranging from 30 seconds to 1 minute) and others are 20 minutes up to 40 minutes (drawing of a woman seated in a chair).
Most are available for purchase.  Email me for pricing. 

Click on images for larger versions.  Thank you for visiting.

Photos from April 4-5 Portrait & Self Portrait Painting Art Workshop

Thanks Leslie for the photos! 
Here are a few pictures of me teaching my latest art workshop taught in West Seattle at Youngstown Cultural Art Center in West Seattle.  The subject was Painting the Portrait & Self Portrait with an emphasis on the use of color and composition to best represent the person being portrayed--rather than focusing on the face and its proportions.  What a fun group of folks I had to work with--they made great portraits exploring the ideas I presented, coming up with their own translations fresh and new.  Beautiful work everyone!  Thank you for being a part of my workshops.
My next workshop is at Gage Academy:  Expressive Figure Drawing April 18 & 19.  Go to Gage Academy's website for more information and to register.
 

Photos from April 4-5 Portrait & Self Portrait Painting Art Workshop

Thanks Leslie for the photos! 
Here are a few pictures of me teaching my latest art workshop taught in West Seattle at Youngstown Cultural Art Center in West Seattle.  The subject was Painting the Portrait & Self Portrait with an emphasis on the use of color and composition to best represent the person being portrayed--rather than focusing on the face and its proportions.  What a fun group of folks I had to work with--they made great portraits exploring the ideas I presented, coming up with their own translations fresh and new.  Great work everyone!  Thank you for being a part of my workshops.
My next workshop is at Gage Academy:  Expressive Figure Drawing April 18 & 19.  Go to Gage Academy's website for more information and to register.
 

Next Workshops I'm teaching

Self Portrait, oil on canvas, Barbara Fugate

April 4 & 5, 2009 (Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM, includes a one hour lunch break)--Held at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, West Seattle

EXPRESSIVE PORTRAIT PAINTING: SELF PORTRAIT AND THE LIVE MODEL

Class Fee:  $225:  Held at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, West Seattle.  Email me to register.

The Expressive Portrait conveys the character and personality of the sitter through the use of color, composition, body posture (the pose)—including hands.  We will create two portrait paintings in this workshop, one from the model and another from our own reflection.  On Saturday we will paint from the model and on Sunday we will paint from our own image viewed in a mirror.  This workshop explores compositional choices and color harmonies, with an emphasis on poses that best communicate to the viewer the unique qualities and spirit of the sitter. Oil or acrylic paints can be used.  All levels welcomed.

.

 April 18 & 19 Expressive Figure Drawing -- go to GAGE ACADEMY for more information and to register.

June 27 & 28  Painting a Double Model Composition -- go to GAGE ACADEMY for more information and to register.

.

One Minute Gesture Drawing (24"x36"), Barbara Fugate

July 12 (Sunday 10 – 5 PM, includes a one hour lunch break) Class Fee:  $125:  Held at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, West Seattle.  Email me to Register.

GESTURE DRAWING: THE FIGURE

Explore and expand your mark-making in this one-day Gesture Drawing intensive.  Gesture drawing teaches us to see the whole Form before details, as well as how the figure exists and moves in space.  It’s also a very exciting and active approach to drawing that enlivens your work and yourself as you draw.  In this workshop you will draw from the live model in charcoal and ink wash.  This is a great workshop for all levels of experience drawing from the figure as it challenges each of us to further develop our mark-making vocabulary, visual connection to the model, and use of materials.  All levels welcomed.

 

7th Annual Painting Retreat on Guemes Island located near Anacortes, WA

July 24-26, 2009 (Fri/Sat/Sun 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM, includes a one hour lunch break)  Class Fee: $325.   Email me to Register.

PAINTING THE FIGURE IN THE LANDSCAPE ON GUEMES ISLAND, WA

For three days we will paint from a model standing among trees, on a bluff above the water, at a picnic, in the forest, or in a garden—what a great way to spend a summer weekend!  It is also a very special opportunity that’s fun and challenging for all levels of painters.  Working from several locations offering varied views, from the Puget Sound to the NW forest, you will practice the Direct Painting approach while exploring specific compositional and color issues.  You will also build a painting “from the ground up” over the course of the three days on the same canvas.   All Levels Welcomed.  Oil or Acrylic Paint can be used.   Please email me regarding accommodations on Guemes Island. (This is time-sensitive).

Below photos: 2008 Painting the Figure in the Landscape, Students at work.

West Seattle Workshops are held at the Youngstown Arts Cultural Arts Center in the newly renovated Historic Cooper School at 4408 Delridge Way SW—located just off of the West Seattle Bridge. There is a dedicated parking lot for the building’s Arts Center.  Workshop prices include the model fee.

To reserve your space in any class, pay in full or make a $50.00 per class reservation deposit (check or money order).  PLEASE EMAIL ME for an address and more information at [email protected]   Thank you.