Currently Browsing: Reviews 1055 articles
Why Keep Sketching the Same Subject?
A friend of mine once said he couldn’t understand how I could draw the same subject over and over. I do that a lot. Most notably daily drawings for 4 and a half years of my dog Dottie. But my life is full of drawing the same subject over and over. Life drawing models I […]
Bob Newhart: Television Comedy
Spoiler Alert, I am going to give something important away. I’m sorry in advance. I cannot help myself. If you’ve ever been nearby when I talk TV you’ll know how much this thing I’m going to mention means to me and the art of writing for TV. So just know this: if you haven’t watched […]
Jack Unruh Retrospective Show
I don’t draw attention to many upcoming shows, typically I just go to a show and then maybe write about it—like when I go to a show at Mia. But Jack Unruh is one of my all time favorite artists. His use of pen and watercolor is stunning and quirky at the same time. He […]
In Context: Thoughts on Downsizing
Today you can click on the image and read what I was reading and someone else’s thoughts on downsizing. My downsizing is ongoing. Often when we are involved in something we find other people who are involved in the same pursuit. It doesn’t matter if it is eldercare, or downsizing, or painting a good watercolor […]
Johnny Vegas—An Autobiography in Multiple Voices
Readers of RWU will know that sketches of Johnny Vegas make it into a post every now and then; and onto my instagram. I watch a lot of British TV. He’s on a lot of shows that I enjoy watching. I pick up a pen… Then the other day “the algorithm” threw out that Vegas […]
The Kakimori Brass Pen Nib
This spring a friend told me about a new sort of dip pen: The Kakimori Brass Pen Nib. It’s shaped like a bullet. Channels all around the nib feed the ink to the point. (See the product photo at the left.) I thought it might be interesting to try it out because you can […]
Another Look at Hahnemühle’s Travel Journal
I go on and on about how much I love Hahnemühle’s Travel Journal. It’s about 8 x 6 inches and looks like a very thick Moleskine—i.e., black cover, elastic closure, back envelope, ribbon book mark. (Let’s just point out that the first thing I do when I open a new one is pull that ribbon […]
Why Character Actors Make the Best Models
This sketch of a character actor in an historical drama (set in the 1930s) is not exaggerated. This is how he looked (essentially, OK there is always some exaggeration when you draw directly with ink, because if a line goes a little wonky I simply keep going…) It’s no secret, especially when I work with […]
I’m Learning More about Neill Rea’s Face
Season 8 of “Brokenwood Mysteries” started streaming in July on Acorn. I’ve been watching along as they release the new episodes; and of course sketching. I think I’m finally starting to get a little better feel for Neill Rea’s face. (His cheeks need to be a little plumper to catch his character’s kind but “I’m […]
Derwent Shade and Tone Set
Manufacturers of art materials are always looking for new ways to bring existing products to more people, often in different forms. The Derwent Shade and Tone Set is a recent example of that. I’m not testing a lot of stuff right now (downsizing, blah, blah, blah; and a lot of paint I want to use […]