Go Figure 2014

Several of the "Loveland Wild Life Session" artists will be part of this new figurative show.  Steve and Amy are two of the organizers.  Amy Lewark is the featured artist.  George  Coll is one of the jurors.  Suzi Holland, Danna Hildebrand and Mary Giacomini are participating.  There will be other artists participating as well.  Both original art and photography of the nude will be represented.  The opening is April 4, 2014 from 6-9pm as part of First Friday Artwalk in Ft Collins, Colorado.  The public is welcome to attend and meet the artists.

Art show at the Loveland Museum Gallery

 This summer our  "Wild Life Sessions" group will be having a show at the Loveland Museum Gallery.  We will have an opening  and meet the artists night on June 13, 2014.   Victoria Lisi will be doing a (free) portrait demonstration on July 6.  There will also be a workshop taught by Victoria Lisi and a 'paint along' this summer to go with the show.  Details to follow....

"Cathexis" by Amy Lewark

"Sitting Pretty" by Dana Hildebrand

by Dave Holman

by George Coll

"Illusion" by Steve Engeman

"Reclining Nude" by Suzi Holland

"Escape" oil by Mary Giacomini

"Naughty Santa" by Venetia Ellis

by Victoria Lisi

Danna Hildebrand

Danna Hildebrand recently moved to Loveland from Sheridan, Wyoming.  She is a painter and former art instructor at Sheridan College, now retired. Danna paints primarily in oils, but occasionally does watercolor, drawing, and pastels.  She has concentrated on "plein air" painting in the last ten years, as she loves the out-of doors.  Gardening is her hobby.

 

Danna has been a practicing artist and has shown mostly in Wyoming because of teaching demands. She has shown many times at The Brinton Museum, Nicolaysen Museum, Wyoming State Museum, University of Wyoming Art Museum and Ucross Foundation.  Her education in fine arts has been at these institutions; A.A. at Sheridan College,B.A. at Montana State University,and a M.F.A. at University of Wyoming.

Dave Holman

We are fortunate to have Dave Holman  as part of our group.  Dave is a very talented professional artist that comes to our weekly sessions.  He is proficient in painting in several mediums including oil and soft pastel.  With his  classical background training, he is able to capture  the likeness of the models with ease.  He paints a wide variety of subjects and themes.  You can see more of Dave's art online on his blog,  at his Loveland, Colorado studio, Fine Art America, his Facebook Artist page or one of the outdoor shows he participates in year round.

George Coll

George Coll is an extremely talented professional artist and downright nice person to hang out with. He has let us use his studio every week for our life drawing/painting for years.  He loves the challenge of painting from life.  He usually completes an oil painting (portrait or figure) in 2 hours or less.  His hard work over the many years I've known him has made him an even better artist. He is excellent at capturing a likeness in his portraits and his paintings are fresh.  You can see more of his work on his website, blog,  u tube or maybe catch him on one of the many outdoor shows he participates in.

New Years Eve 2013

Amy Lewark working on her watercolor figure

Venetia capturing a portrait

Suzi's charcoal capture

Mary Giacomini's oil "Luau"

This past New Years Eve we did something new: painted or drew with friends.  Our model was willing to wear a grass skirt, flower lei and pose semi-nude (topless) to give us a warm feeling of being in the tropics while it was quite cold outside.  She propped her hand on a tripod since holding it up in a hula dance pose for long pose would be impossible.  These are some of our artists in action.

Bad Santa night

 Graphite/Danna Hildebrand

Oil/George Coll

Pastel/Suzi Holland

Pastel/ Suzi Holland

Graphite/Will Bemis

Oil/Mary Giacomini

For a holiday treat we had an evening life drawing and painting of  "Bad Santa".  Just in time for Christmas 2013!    We had two models for a three hour session who were excellent.  Several years ago we had a "Bad Santa" night and decided for an encore.  These are some of the group's artwork for the evening. Enjoy.  Laughter is good for the soul.

Drawing Hands

 

Drawing hands is the most difficult part of the human body to depict gracefully.  Will Bemis depicts hands in a masterful way.  Close observation and eliminating some detail  makes these hand drawings in graphite natural and realistic.  Will often creates in graphite, focusing on the value and form-and does it quite well.  He gets the credit for keeping our group together for many years by arranging the models,  exposing us to new & different music and treating us to hearty homemade bread.

Mary Giacomini's figures & faces

I have been participating in the Loveland Wild Art Sessions since our beginnings at the Wild Art Center in 2007.  The majority of figure drawing I did this year was on toned paper.  I filled up a sketchbook of toned paper that I would use graphite with some conte and white charcoal.  Another favorite drawing support is using Cold Press Arches Watercolor paper that I tone with a warm watercolor base then proceed to draw with graphite, conte and charcoal pencils.  My focus is on how the light hits the body.  We don't always draw nudes.  Sometimes we paint or draw a portrait.  You can see more of my work on my blog, website & on FAA.

Amy Lewark's Creations

Conte on colored paper

Conte on pastel paper

Conte and pastel on pastel paper

These are just a few examples of Amy Lewark's fine figurative work.  Amy works in Conte Crayon, pastel and charcoal.  You can see more of her art at AmyLewark.com.  All of these were all created "alla prima." (in one long session -3 hours with breaks)