Winged Victory Drawing Demo

See the larger version here

I made this 8 minute movie of my 10-hour drawing of my cast statue "Victoire de Samothrace" to demonstrate the optical block-in method.

1. The line drawing is all straight lines.
2. The shadow side is first filled in as all one even tone.

These two methods are difficult to adhere too, but if you can do it they address the main difficulties in drawing: capturing accurate proportion, and understanding light and shadow.

Materials:

• Strathmore 400 drawing paper (not ideal for charcoal)
• vine charcoal, hard medium, and some soft (sharpened very sharp with sandpaper)
• kneaded eraser
• white "magic rub" eraser
• paper blending stump
• rough, cheap paper towel for blending

Winged Victory

charcoal on paper

18 x 24 inches

Workshops

I am thrilled to announce I'll be teaching two still life painting workshops in 2010!

March 22-26, 2010
M Gallery in Sarasota, Florida

June 28 - July 2, 2010
Bay Area Classical Artist Atelier in Belmont, California

Here is the course description for both:

The sensitive observation of even simple objects can yield dramatic paintings. Working in oil paint on gessoed panel, students will learn the refined glazing and layering techniques to render the most subtle effects of light. Beginning with a drawing on paper transferred to smooth panel, we will paint open grisaille, closed grisaille, opaque layering, and finally glazing to create highly refined images.

Using knowledge gained through her studies of the effects of light on transparent and reflective surfaces through her "Wax Paper" series of still lifes, Sadie Valeri will share her methods for creating powerful and sensitive paintings. More importantly, she teaches how to see and understand the structure, value, and color principles that underpin believable realism.

Click the links above to register for each workshop.

I'm also hoping to offer a drawing workshop next summer, please sign up for my mailing list in the right-hand column to be notified of my upcoming teaching schedule.

Open Studio Recap

My Open Studio was a lot of fun this weekend!

I met a lot of wonderful people and had fun talking art all day with fellow artists, art lovers, and neighbors. I even met a Florence Academy-trained classical realist who lives right around the corner.

Saw some old friends and new, past students, current teachers of various disciplines, and generally hung out and discussed everything from Classical Realism to the neighborhood lore about the crazy parties thrown in my courtyard in the 60's.

On top of that, I sold several pieces! So a big success all around.

Plus, my little studio is all clean and spiffy and I'm exited to get back to work on the next batch of paintings.....

Two Small Paintings

Beach Stone and Wax Paper

oil on panel

5 x 5 inches

Wrapped Bottle

oil on panel

5 x 7 inches

See preparatory drawings for these paintings here.

I finished these 2 small paintings today just in time for my open studio this weekend! It was fun to work small, I'm hoping to do a whole series of these.

My studio here in San Francisco will be open to the public this weekend:

October 17-18

11am-6pm

Carl Street at Cole Street

N-Juda MUNI line

Public transportation highly recommended as my street will be CLOSED to cars for a block party on Saturday.

Hope to see you there!

Juror's Choice Award

I was thrilled to go to the ArtSpan Exhibition tonight and see that my painting Wrapped Silver Goblet has won a Juror's Choice Award.

The ArtSpan Exhibition is the central show displaying one artwork for each of 400 Open Studios participating artists. It's a great way to see a preview of the studios and plan your visit.

ArtSpan has recently redesigned their website, please visit for more info about all the Open Studios events.

Also, I now have a profile posted there.