Composition 8.11.10

Its been so long since I posted anything here - I'd almost forgotten how to ! The last post was at the beginning of my Summer vacation - before real life began and teaching became a distant memory. Well I've been back at the chalk-face since 24.8.10 - hence no posts and very little life either ! Life at in my studio continued throughout and I have managed to find time to continue working on the fiddly bits on my large TUDOR painting. It's coming together and the sterncastle of the main protagonist is now peopled with lots of bustling bodies ! The French battlefleet has appeared on the horizon and an English barge has also turned up ! More on this later . . . .

The first half of the term at College is now done and dusted and it has certainly been a busy one with huge classes of very needy students. The main objective of the first term is to encourage students to explore new skills and hopefully develop some themselves ! So we have been subjecting them to materials, techniques and processes - old and new - abstract and figurative.

The above is a composite of images that were kicking around on my desktop. It is my attempt to maintain my dwindling sanity. The composition comprises of a monoprint, that was in my last exhibition plus a detail of a charcoal drawing of one of my favourite models. At the bottom of this collage of images is the ghosted image of a new studio that I have been designing, although its very faint but so are my ideas for said building ! A topic that my AS Graphic Design students have been working on is "LOST & FOUND" and I think this rather manic composition fits the criteria. Lots of movement with layers of imagery flyiing about - it mirrors my life !

I have just completed a very different illustration for the Artspace 6by4 exhibition and sale which is on Friday and this has thrown up lots of ideas for a series and possible childrens book - so lots more to keep the creative juices flowing and the midnight oil burning brightly ! Talking of which I most get on ! Goodnight all - over and out !

Dashboards, dead flies and passing time

Hello to all my dedicated followers, a VERY BIG sorry for not writing for so long and yes I've changed the background for the blog ! I saw the flies and couldn't resist it ! It reminds me of a book called the Wasp Factory by Ian Banks - a very dark tale of violence, the odd wasp and the odd dead fly too !
I haven't written for many a moon due to being back at college and having the odd commission to complete. I still haven't finished the commission but it's my day off teaching - hence the borrowed 5 minutes and the quick rant from yours truly. At this time of the week I'm normaly writing up my lesson-plan for my ADVANCED LIFE DRAWING WORKSHOP but as its not running tomorrow, I have a brief reprieve. I should be in my studio DRAWING LINES with tiny 0000 brushes and water soluable oil paint - but somehow I'm not ! Maybe in a few minutes !

I haven't got my Tuesday evening lifeclass due to the fact that I'm double booked and instead of weilding a lump of charcoal I'll be encouraging even more students to sign up for Graphic Design courses at the St Vincent College Open Evening which so happens to be tomorrow evening ! The course and yours truly is a victim of success and this year we have huge classes - so no rest for the wicked, which brings me back to Frank in the afore mentioned novel - if you haven't read it - beg or borrow a copy and you'll see what I mean - he really was a wicked lad ! That's enough plugging for Mr Ian Banks - not that he neads it. I need a plug and perhaps another cup of tea - cheerio everyone
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Studio Door Drawing & Tip of the Day !

Today's drawing depicts one of my favourite models who is very energetic - I'm not sure if this comes across in the drawing - thoughts on a postcard perhaps !

Todays tip is don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today ! The rationale behind this remark is that I've been putting off archiving my work for far too long.

The studio door gallery came about from a desire to unearth more of my drawings from the festering piles in various studios here there and everywhere and to archive, catalogue and share my work both on a local level, with my friends at Artspace Studios in Portsmouth and with my various followers in hyperspace !

“Denis the menace” Charcoal on cartridge

595 x 840 mm

archive 0018

signed chris n wood

Studio Door Drawing & Tip of the Day !

On my studio door at today is this multi layered portait in pastels.

I took a rubber to the drawing today and cleaned up some unwanted marks and smudges.

My tip for the day is spray fixative on your drawings ASAP !

Don't do what I do - invariably I leave charcoal or pastel drawings without fixing them. I usually make at least 5 or 6 drawings each session then return home and empty my portfolio - leaving the drawings on an ever increasing pile in my studio at home, the consequence of which is that the wretched drawings imprint themselves onto the backs of each other ! Another stupid thing that I used do was drawing on both sides of the paper. If you do that & forget to fix them - its a recipe for disaster ! I used to be very precious about my labours but now I'll rattle off a drawing and the act of drawing is far more important to me than the result - at least that's my excuse for developing sloppy habits !

Belated News Years Resolution : Take better care of my doodles !

“Gerald in Orange & Blue” Pastel on cartridge

595 x 840 mm

archive 0024

signed chris n wood

Studio Door Drawing 0006

On my studio door at Artspace Portsmouth today is this multi layered portait in oil bars.

Drawing with oil bars can make a refreshing change - I like the way fact that, in common with oil paint, they take longer to dry than oil pastels and they blend and smudge together. This drawing was probably done about a couple of years ago (despite instructing my students to date drawings - I rarely do it myself) and the surface still feels damp - so caution has to be exercised when storing or transporting drawings done in oil bars !

“Gerald” Oil Bars on Cartridge

595 x 840 mm

archive 0006

Welcome to the latest posting of The Studio Door Gallery. This isn't exactly a new drawing - simply one kicking around from my last exhibition at gASP, the Artspace Gallery above my studio. The exhibition was a huge success and I was amazed how many lovely people turned out ! The show was a collaboration with friend and fellow Artspace member, Sue Freeborough. Sue showed some superb examples of figurative sculpture and life drawings - many of which were created at when she attended my Advanced Life Drawing Workshop at Portsmouth Grammar School. We had the last session on Tuesday and explored Deconstruction. The Tuesday evening sessions will continue in September - for further details contact natalie@artspace.co.uk or email me direct on chriswoodartist@aol.com

Happy scribbling !

Studio Door Drawing 0035

Welcome to the first of a new series of drawings that are being attached to my studio door at Artspace Portsmouth.

The idea of shoving a drawing on my door came about when I had my exhibition at the gASP gallery in April/May. I had a total of 36 drawings and three pieces of sculpture in the 2 man show and I thought I'd stick a few drawings on my studio door to advertise the exhibition upstairs in the gallery. I meant to go online before but it didn't happen - the best made plans of mice, artists and men !

I had every intention of changing the drawing (at least once a week) and posting the image to my Website, Facebook and Twitter pages - well I've done that - so it's here too.

Pastel 595 x 840 mm archive 0035

signed chris n wood