Ch-ch-changes

Hey, everybody...make a note of an email address change for me. New one is:
pateart60@gmail.com

Here Comes Santa Claus

Erin H in a reclining pose. 12 minutes. It was our Christmas party night. 2nd annual playing of Bob Dylan's Christmas album and 1st annual Christmas trivia contest. I discovered it was difficult to draw and run a trivia contest at the same time. Good time.

Peace, Love and Pastels

Between computer problems and a lot of work that I can't post(Christmas presents), I've been a little slack in keeping up with the blog. Here is a drawing I liked from our last life drawing class. Model, Ashleigh F posed as an awesome hippy girl. I like the entire drawing but wanted to highlight a detail. 15 minutes, conte and pastel. $225.

Tis the Season

2 minute gesture drawing and a 15 minute drawing of dancer Emily T from tonight's class. The gesture is drawn with the large chisel tip Sharpie on newsprint. The other is conte and pastel on drawing paper. We were entertained by the Mills Brothers Christmas CD and the Home Alone soundtrack.

One good turn....

15 minute drawing of model Alex G...I really liked the turn of the head here. Good poses and a nice, classic outfit...black dress with a white scarf. I added some green for interest.

I Draw the Line

A couple of drawings from tonight's class. James S, terrific as usual posing with a walking stick. Approx 10-15 minutes on these. Conte and pastel. Johnny Cash was our featured musician.
$185.- $200.

On Your Newstand!

Check out the November 2010 "American Art Collector" magazine..pages 38, 105 and 110 for some of my work. The article on the OPA 2010 Eastern Regional is quite good and starts on page 100.

Welly, welly, welly, well.

Erin H posed for the drawing class as Alex from "A Clockwork Orange". Fun costume, great poses as we all tried to recall images and scenes from the movie...no one had seen in a while...some had never seen it. This pose was 15 minutes, conte and pastel.

Country Fair

Small painting...11x14. Inspired by a painting I saw many years ago at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota...I forget the artist but it was a real gem. One of the smaller works in the museum. This work, painted on masonite panel in oil.

Merle Haggard and Hobbits

I didn't think about it at the time but Merle has a little hobbit in him...a little on the short side. He's the man though. We listened to part of his "Down Every Road" boxed set last night while Ashleigh posed in hobbit attire, complete with pointy ears. Here's a 15 minute conte and pastel and a 2 minute gesture drawing. I decided to really go wild on the gestures and draw in marker instead of lead or conte.

Cherry Grove

Just to prove that I occasionally get out of the studio and paint, here's a photo of me taken by my friend David Boyd. We painted recently at Cherry Grove Beach, SC. I worked on an 11x14 Masonite panel...gessoed and toned with a wash.

God's Eyes

I don't know Josiane and her English is not perfect but her expression of praise for the OPA Regional show in Wilmington, NC (opening this Friday) is as beautiful as you'll see. She was speaking specifically about the online pictures of the show. I particularly love, "They all get God eyes inside they art". Josiane really has me eager to see this show...hope some of you can make it!
Josiane's comment:
*Those picks, do not give justice to the beauty of the paintings. I had the chance to see the exhibition yesterday. I am going back today Sunday. I hope to find open doors.
From all i have seen in Wilmington and New-York, and for many years , this is the most amazing paintings i ever seen in 10 years. Some of them reminded me of Jan Vermeer.
I thought i was a good painter compare to what I see in exhibition some times. I guess i was not looking at the right place. Mayfaire exhibition will make you wonder: ” is it a photo or a painting”. Then as you’ll get closer to the canvas…. oh my gosh…. this is oil painting !…
As a painter, I was in admiration. There are not all famous artists…. Art lover this is your chance to own the next generation of Vermeer, Degas or maybe Rembrandt….
They all get God eyes inside they art.
Merci du fond du cœur pour cette extraordinaire exposition.
Josiane.

Yippee Ki Yay...

October is costume month at the drawing class. Alex P came tonight as a cowgirl. 2 minute gestures shown. Drawn with a 6B lead on newsprint. 18x24 paper.

Mood

11x14 study of dancer Robin V...this could possibly become a larger work later. From a photo shoot this summer...tutu was changed from blue to red.

Back in Action

After a week out of town, I'm back and the drawing class has resumed. Bekah R modeled tonight. Very nice job in modern dance attire. 15 minute drawing shown.
$175

Etsy Time

Hey, my daughters "Safety Pin Bracelet" got chosen as a feature on this Etsy page...check it out! Also, check out her Etsy store...great ideas for holiday gifts!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c98eb8a94f06d91f8c980ff/color-connections?index=0

Bracey's shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/braceypate?ref=top_trail

And Tutu Too

Katie's tutu tonight at the drawing class needs it's own facebook page...it makes quite a statement! I'd sign up as a fan. Great dance poses tonight...despite a few limbs going to sleep. Drawing shown is 15 minutes. Long stretched out pose...I ran out of room for the hand.
Conte.

One Good Turn Deserves Another

Small crowd at the drawing class but the usual great poses by Erin H. I liked several of my drawings and have posted one here. This drawing shows a standing pose from the rear. Really nice lines here...loved the turn of the torso and the positioning of the feet. Conte and pastel...15 minutes. $250.

Old Glory

I had hoped to be finished with this painting by now but just not quite there. Detail of a large, 4'x6' painting of Fort Gordon GA circa 1942...in progress. Soldiers in formation before the old headquarters building...Old Glory flying. A memorial park and plaque now stand where this building was.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous??

Well, not rich or famous but I'm in "Lifestyles" magazine this issue. Atlanta area magazine highlights "life around the perimeter". Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone has an ad in this issue featuring my painting, "The Girl in the Red Hat", as well as works by photographer Gary Gruby and painter Olga Mosina. The magazine is free at various locations. Good read...very nice quality...great ads! Dogwood Gallery is located behind the Legacy Theater in Tyrone, GA.

What a Crowd!

14 at the drawing class tonight...close to a record! Outstanding...thanks to all that came. Ashleigh F was super...great poses...great outfit. Army style boots, a black tutu inspired skirt, black vest and black, sheer, disconnected sleeves that probably have a name but I don't get out much. Drawing shown here was a 15 minute, reclining pose.
$185.

NC Bound

I posted this painting of dancer Robin V before but I found out this week that it was juried into the Oil Painters of America 2010 Regional Exhibition in Wilmington, NC. The show opens October 15 and runs through November 13. Based on names I saw on the acceptance list, this should be a very good show. The show will be at Walls Fine Art Gallery in Wilmington.
"Quiet Power" 24x30

Ride On William

I first knew William as "The Bicycle Man". I noticed him shortly after moving to Newnan. It was then that I first realized that every where I had ever lived, especially small towns, had a William...local individuals that lived by their own rules...danced to the beat of a very different drum. William could be seen everywhere on his bicycle...and what a bike. I couldn't begin to tell you everything he had on that bike but the painting accurately depicts the display. I decided to approach William and ask him if he minded if I took some photos so that I could do a painting. I've often seen folks I'd like to paint for one reason or another but usually can't get up the nerve to ask them. I approached William in the parking lot of the First Methodist Church where he frequented a senior citizens group. It did'nt take but a moment to realize that William was special. William was both deaf and mute. He could neither hear my words nor speak but somehow we understood each other. I did my best to act out my wish to take his picture and William came to life. He was a very animated gentleman...very good at expressing himself. Over time, I painted the picture and found William so I could show it to him. I did not expect his reaction...he cried...crossed his arms over his heart...signed the "love" sign and more than any speaking person, showed his emotions and joy at the image. The painting has hung for years in a local downtown restaurant called "The Redneck Gourmet"...a place of honor among other local personalities and memorabilia. In July, while I was on vacation, I got an email that William had died. I really barely knew William but felt like we had a connection through the painting. The past few years I had seen less and less of William as he grew older and unable to ride. William was a piece of the unique fabric of Newnan...he'll be missed.

Red Heels

Drawing of Erin H from the drawing class. 15 minute pose..conte and pastel. This drawing recently sold at Flint Gallery(Panoply) in Newnan...always blog worthy!

Do You Draw Like We Do?

Peter Frampton fans will get the title. That one song lasted this entire drawing. Pretty cool. I like to tell life drawing students that instead of avoiding areas they have trouble with, instead, they should seek them out. Foreshortening is one of those areas a lot of people avoid..why? Because it's difficult! Still is...even after many years of life drawing. This pose had some challenges in the legs arms and even a little in the torso. Super pose...Emily M model. 15 minutes. conte and pastel.

Pre Egg McMuffin Breakfast

Here's a final look at the painting for Charles Pinckney National Site in Mt. Pleasant, SC. 1791...George Washington and his entourage visited the farm of Charles Pinckney near Charleston. The painting will hang in the home/visitors center and is to be unveiled September 17...for anyone in the area that's interested. The painting is a large one, 4'x6'

Mucho Mucha

Alex G posed for the drawing class and recreated 4 poses from works of one of my favorite artists...Alphonse Mucha. The interpretations were loose but a lot of fun. Alex did a great job of adding something extra to the norm. I believe this pose was from a work titled "Spring"...we also did Summer, Fall and Winter. We tried to represent a blowing wind by positioning the lower part of the dress on a box. 15 minutes, conte and pastel.
$225

Come Together

Well, not too many of us "came together" to draw James last night...too bad...some cool poses. Late summer is always a little tough on numbers. Our small group had a good time drawing and listening to Abbey Road. Two drawings, one a detail...both 15 minutes or so. Conte
$185 each.

Lookin' For Johnny Reb

I've been asked to have a show of Civil War art next year here in Newnan. I rarely do a painting like this unless it's a commission...takes too much time to research and paint unless I know for sure there's a paycheck coming. So, I've decided to do a few and borrow a few and hopefully, come up with a decent amount of works. This is one that I've wanted to do for some time. The idea is that the sole survivor of a group of confederate soldiers is behind enemy lines and is being hunted. The end may be near but he's not going down without a fight. With his Colt cocked and ready and his Bowie knife drawn, he's ready for the approaching enemy. 30x48...in progress.

Julie and Julia Remix

A friend sent this still from the movie Julie and Julia showing the Yuchi-town poster (I did the painting). I posted about this last year when the movie was coming out. It's now available for rental or purchase...good flick if you didn't get to see it.

New Web Site

I've been working on a new website...still have a ways to go. Some older work some newer work. Linked here is the fine art section...paintings and drawings done for galleries, for sale or personal works. I'm also working on a new site for interpretive art and portraits. More on that later.
www.martinpate.com (or click on the link to the right Martin Pate Fine Art)

Attitude

A class member said it right when she said this pose had "attitude". It did and I hoped to capture a bit of it in the drawing. Has a real "fashion model" look to it. Great job posing by Erin H tonight...in the middle of a torrential storm. Fortunately the power stayed on..we had light and we had the Beatles on CD. "I drew her standing there" could also work as a title...maybe??
15 minutes, conte and pastel
$250.

Washington

Nearly finished. Poor photo but this gives you an idea. 4'x6'

Is That a Fern or your Tutu?

Emily T was outstanding as our model tonight. She held some difficult poses very well and wore a beautiful, green tutu. As she was bringing it in though, upside down, two of us thought it was a fern. We don't get out much. Both drawings shown are approx 15 minutes...conte and pastel. Most life drawings are for sale. These two are $225 each.

Let the Sunshine In

Elizabeth T is ready for the beach in her straw hat and green wrap. Timely and well executed poses by a new model last night at class. I'm thinking that someone needs this in their beach house.
conte and pastel, approx 8"x20"...art area.
$250

PS...The 5th Dimension suggested the title.

Final

I think I'm done on the painting of Robin V. I'll look at it a while and see if it passes muster. Thank you all for your feedback...love to hear your thoughts. Detail of hands shown along with full art. 24x30

Expressive Rest

Painting underway of dancer Robin V. I love the hands in this one and am trying to keep that as my focus. I'm also trying to match the beautiful baby blue color of my the actual outfit. I'm using W/N manganese blue and some ultramarine blue...along with permalba white. I see a lot of life and movement in this work even though the model is in a restful pose. 24x30.

Red hair isn't red

My daughter was the model for tonights class. This was my favorite even though I had a couple of more I liked. 15 minutes, conte and pastel. Some good foreshortening practice here. Don't avoid things you have trouble with...faces, hands, foreshortening etc...instead, seek them out, position yourself to work on those things you have difficulty with...you'll get better only by practice.

Peace Table

Mellow out at this 60's inspired round coffee table. 4' wide, 1' tall. One of a kind work of functional art. Hand painted and signed. Free delivery within 75 miles. $850. email me at pateart@juno.com

How Bout Them Dogs!

...or should I say, how bout them beads! You'll show your Georgia pride with Bracey's latest creation...a bold, red and black necklace. See more at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/braceypate

Robin

After two weeks off, it was good to get back into some life drawing. It was a small crowd but the poses were excellent...model, Robin V. I liked the angle on this pose particularly. 15 minutes. Conte, pastel