Author Archives: Pi-Lo

Journey to the SAM/ Looking At You Looking At Me

Last week’s visit to the Seattle Art Museum was enlightening, inspiring and informative to the approach in portraiture that I’m going for. After a day of profuse sketching and wandering, I couldn’t wait to run home and start drawing people. While gazing at some paintings by 20th century Spanish-American artist, Morris Graves, especially “Morning” 1933, my questions on the line between realism and expressionism were answered; getting the right body proportion is key. Pictured bellow are “Morning”, and some of my sketchbook studies (my solution to forgetting to bring a digital camera)

Patrick Semple "The Jamie" Hope Gangloff "Vera" 2013 Morris Graves "Morning" 1933 Sketchbook 1 Sketchbook #2 Sketchbook #3

As I’ve had time to contemplate and experiment with portraiture, these past weeks have been all about figuring out correct proportion and skin tone, using myself and friends as quinine pigs. My goal is to get used to adding more and more color to the person, to execute an honest skin color and body proportion that is vibrant and expressive; much like what is shown above: Hope Gangloff’s “Vera”, 2013. Despite the urging of friends and artists for me to start oil painting, I am still going deeper into using chalk pastel as testing grounds for getting skin color down; something that’s important for me to get comfortable with before I graduate on to the medium of oil. In my latest portrait, “The Jamie” I’ve implored the use of some vivid, surreal colors, while also trying to stay true to the shadows I perceive. In terms of expression, I wanted to emulate the sense of natural comfort in his body language, the contemplative look on his face, the cool atmosphere of light cast by the bluish wall in the background. For a full-scale look at my drawings, go to the ‘Images’ tab above

Hope Gangloff “Vera” 2013

Journey to the SAM/ Looking At You Looking At Me

Last week’s visit to the Seattle Art Museum was enlightening, inspiring and informative to the approach in portraiture that I’m going for. After a day of profuse sketching and wandering, I couldn’t wait to run home and start drawing people. While gazing at some paintings by 20th century Spanish-American artist, Morris Graves, especially “Morning” 1933, my questions on the line between realism and expressionism were answered; getting the right body proportion is key. Pictured bellow are “Morning”, and some of my sketchbook studies (my solution to forgetting to bring a digital camera)

Patrick Semple "The Jamie" Hope Gangloff "Vera" 2013 Morris Graves "Morning" 1933 Sketchbook 1 Sketchbook #2 Sketchbook #3

As I’ve had time to contemplate and experiment with portraiture, these past weeks have been all about figuring out correct proportion and skin tone, using myself and friends as quinine pigs. My goal is to get used to adding more and more color to the person, to execute an honest skin color and body proportion that is vibrant and expressive; much like what is shown above: Hope Gangloff’s “Vera”, 2013. Despite the urging of friends and artists for me to start oil painting, I am still going deeper into using chalk pastel as testing grounds for getting skin color down; something that’s important for me to get comfortable with before I graduate on to the medium of oil. In my latest portrait, “The Jamie” I’ve implored the use of some vivid, surreal colors, while also trying to stay true to the shadows I perceive. In terms of expression, I wanted to emulate the sense of natural comfort in his body language, the contemplative look on his face, the cool atmosphere of light cast by the bluish wall in the background. For a full-scale look at my drawings, go to the ‘Images’ tab above

Hope Gangloff “Vera” 2013

Journey to the SAM/ Looking At You Looking At Me

Last week’s visit to the Seattle Art Museum was enlightening, inspiring and informative to the approach in portraiture that I’m going for. After a day of profuse sketching and wandering, I couldn’t wait to run home and start drawing people. While gazing at some paintings by 20th century Spanish-American artist, Morris Graves, especially “Morning” 1933, my questions on the line between realism and expressionism were answered; getting the right body proportion is key. Pictured bellow are “Morning”, and some of my sketchbook studies (my solution to forgetting to bring a digital camera)

Patrick Semple "The Jamie" Hope Gangloff "Vera" 2013 Morris Graves "Morning" 1933 Sketchbook 1 Sketchbook #2 Sketchbook #3

As I’ve had time to contemplate and experiment with portraiture, these past weeks have been all about figuring out correct proportion and skin tone, using myself and friends as quinine pigs. My goal is to get used to adding more and more color to the person, to execute an honest skin color and body proportion that is vibrant and expressive; much like what is shown above: Hope Gangloff’s “Vera”, 2013. Despite the urging of friends and artists for me to start oil painting, I am still going deeper into using chalk pastel as testing grounds for getting skin color down; something that’s important for me to get comfortable with before I graduate on to the medium of oil. In my latest portrait, “The Jamie” I’ve implored the use of some vivid, surreal colors, while also trying to stay true to the shadows I perceive. In terms of expression, I wanted to emulate the sense of natural comfort in his body language, the contemplative look on his face, the cool atmosphere of light cast by the bluish wall in the background. For a full-scale look at my drawings, go to the ‘Images’ tab above

Hope Gangloff “Vera” 2013

Journey to the SAM/ Looking At You Looking At Me

Last week’s visit to the Seattle Art Museum was enlightening, inspiring and informative to the approach in portraiture that I’m going for. After a day of profuse sketching and wandering, I couldn’t wait to run home and start drawing people. While gazing at some paintings by 20th century Spanish-American artist, Morris Graves, especially “Morning” 1933, my questions on the line between realism and expressionism were answered; getting the right body proportion is key. Pictured bellow are “Morning”, and some of my sketchbook studies (my solution to forgetting to bring a digital camera)

Patrick Semple "The Jamie" Hope Gangloff "Vera" 2013 Morris Graves "Morning" 1933 Sketchbook 1 Sketchbook #2 Sketchbook #3

As I’ve had time to contemplate and experiment with portraiture, these past weeks have been all about figuring out correct proportion and skin tone, using myself and friends as quinine pigs. My goal is to get used to adding more and more color to the person, to execute an honest skin color and body proportion that is vibrant and expressive; much like what is shown above: Hope Gangloff’s “Vera”, 2013. Despite the urging of friends and artists for me to start oil painting, I am still going deeper into using chalk pastel as testing grounds for getting skin color down; something that’s important for me to get comfortable with before I graduate on to the medium of oil. In my latest portrait, “The Jamie” I’ve implored the use of some vivid, surreal colors, while also trying to stay true to the shadows I perceive. In terms of expression, I wanted to emulate the sense of natural comfort in his body language, the contemplative look on his face, the cool atmosphere of light cast by the bluish wall in the background. For a full-scale look at my drawings, go to the ‘Images’ tab above

Hope Gangloff “Vera” 2013

Journey to the SAM/ Looking At You Looking At Me

Last week’s visit to the Seattle Art Museum was enlightening, inspiring and informative to the approach in portraiture that I’m going for. After a day of profuse sketching and wandering, I couldn’t wait to run home and start drawing people. While gazing at some paintings by 20th century Spanish-American artist, Morris Graves, especially “Morning” 1933, my questions on the line between realism and expressionism were answered; getting the right body proportion is key. Pictured bellow are “Morning”, and some of my sketchbook studies (my solution to forgetting to bring a digital camera)

Patrick Semple "The Jamie" Hope Gangloff "Vera" 2013 Morris Graves "Morning" 1933 Sketchbook 1 Sketchbook #2 Sketchbook #3

As I’ve had time to contemplate and experiment with portraiture, these past weeks have been all about figuring out correct proportion and skin tone, using myself and friends as quinine pigs. My goal is to get used to adding more and more color to the person, to execute an honest skin color and body proportion that is vibrant and expressive; much like what is shown above: Hope Gangloff’s “Vera”, 2013. Despite the urging of friends and artists for me to start oil painting, I am still going deeper into using chalk pastel as testing grounds for getting skin color down; something that’s important for me to get comfortable with before I graduate on to the medium of oil. In my latest portrait, “The Jamie” I’ve implored the use of some vivid, surreal colors, while also trying to stay true to the shadows I perceive. In terms of expression, I wanted to emulate the sense of natural comfort in his body language, the contemplative look on his face, the cool atmosphere of light cast by the bluish wall in the background. For a full-scale look at my drawings, go to the ‘Images’ tab above

Hope Gangloff “Vera” 2013

Journey to the SAM/ Looking At You Looking At Me

Last week’s visit to the Seattle Art Museum was enlightening, inspiring and informative to the approach in portraiture that I’m going for. After a day of profuse sketching and wandering, I couldn’t wait to run home and start drawing people. While gazing at some paintings by 20th century Spanish-American artist, Morris Graves, especially “Morning” 1933, my questions on the line between realism and expressionism were answered; getting the right body proportion is key. Pictured bellow are “Morning”, and some of my sketchbook studies (my solution to forgetting to bring a digital camera)

Patrick Semple "The Jamie" Hope Gangloff "Vera" 2013 Morris Graves "Morning" 1933 Sketchbook 1 Sketchbook #2 Sketchbook #3

As I’ve had time to contemplate and experiment with portraiture, these past weeks have been all about figuring out correct proportion and skin tone, using myself and friends as quinine pigs. My goal is to get used to adding more and more color to the person, to execute an honest skin color and body proportion that is vibrant and expressive; much like what is shown above: Hope Gangloff’s “Vera”, 2013. Despite the urging of friends and artists for me to start oil painting, I am still going deeper into using chalk pastel as testing grounds for getting skin color down; something that’s important for me to get comfortable with before I graduate on to the medium of oil. In my latest portrait, “The Jamie” I’ve implored the use of some vivid, surreal colors, while also trying to stay true to the shadows I perceive. In terms of expression, I wanted to emulate the sense of natural comfort in his body language, the contemplative look on his face, the cool atmosphere of light cast by the bluish wall in the background. For a full-scale look at my drawings, go to the ‘Images’ tab above

Hope Gangloff “Vera” 2013

Interview with an Art Collector

Here I interviewed George Meyer, an art collector and ex writer for “The Simpons” on ways that the art hanging in his domestic space affects him. For his entire life George has been a lover of all art forms including music and and all things pop culture, and now lives not more than a five minute walk from The Seattle Art Museum, where he often visits with his wife and daughter.

Q and A:

Q. How does having art in your home affect you?

A. The art is a subtle daily reflection of my values. It can be comforting or challenging, depending on my frame of mind. The work also evokes vanished years, especially their joys and struggles.
Q. What sort of moods or feelings do you get from the colors in your domestic space?
A. My art tends toward splashy, vivid colors; the bright hues lift my spirits on crummy Seattle days. When I’m feeling precarious or besieged, the colors can seem jangly and garish… particularly orange for some reason. But usually art feels like a loyal friend. The paintings in my bedroom have a subdued palette… I don’t want them keeping me awake!
Q. When you start collecting art and why?
A. I think the first original piece I bought was at Comic-Con in San Diego… maybe around 1991. It was a Dan Clowes page from “Eightball.” I didn’t mean to become a collector, I just admired Dan’s work and finally could afford something. I later branched out to Adrian Tomine, Dennis Worden, Ivan Brunetti, Robert Williams, the Clayton Bros., Tara McPherson, Lari Pittman, and others.
(Shown bellow are some pieces from George Meyer’s collection)
the Clayton Brothers "A Flash in Time" 2005 Robert Williams "Mathematics Takes a Holiday" 1991 Tara McPherson "Melvins Screen Print" 2008
I’m usually drawn to idiosyncratic, singular artists. They often become friends — at least Christmas card friends — and their faces swim into my mind when I look at their creations.
Part of the collecting impulse is a desire to throw in my lot with brave souls who are taking risks and exposing their deepest yearnings.

Interview with an Art Collector

Here I interviewed George Meyer, an art collector and ex writer for “The Simpons” on ways that the art hanging in his domestic space affects him. For his entire life George has been a lover of all art forms including music and and all things pop culture, and now lives not more than a five minute walk from The Seattle Art Museum, where he often visits with his wife and daughter.

Q and A:

Q. How does having art in your home affect you?

A. The art is a subtle daily reflection of my values. It can be comforting or challenging, depending on my frame of mind. The work also evokes vanished years, especially their joys and struggles.
Q. What sort of moods or feelings do you get from the colors in your domestic space?
A. My art tends toward splashy, vivid colors; the bright hues lift my spirits on crummy Seattle days. When I’m feeling precarious or besieged, the colors can seem jangly and garish… particularly orange for some reason. But usually art feels like a loyal friend. The paintings in my bedroom have a subdued palette… I don’t want them keeping me awake!
Q. When you start collecting art and why?
A. I think the first original piece I bought was at Comic-Con in San Diego… maybe around 1991. It was a Dan Clowes page from “Eightball.” I didn’t mean to become a collector, I just admired Dan’s work and finally could afford something. I later branched out to Adrian Tomine, Dennis Worden, Ivan Brunetti, Robert Williams, the Clayton Bros., Tara McPherson, Lari Pittman, and others.
(Shown bellow are some pieces from George Meyer’s collection)
the Clayton Brothers "A Flash in Time" 2005 Robert Williams "Mathematics Takes a Holiday" 1991 Tara McPherson "Melvins Screen Print" 2008
I’m usually drawn to idiosyncratic, singular artists. They often become friends — at least Christmas card friends — and their faces swim into my mind when I look at their creations.
Part of the collecting impulse is a desire to throw in my lot with brave souls who are taking risks and exposing their deepest yearnings.

Interview with an Art Collector

Here I interviewed George Meyer, an art collector and ex writer for “The Simpons” on ways that the art hanging in his domestic space affects him. For his entire life George has been a lover of all art forms including music and and all things pop culture, and now lives not more than a five minute walk from The Seattle Art Museum, where he often visits with his wife and daughter.

Q and A:

Q. How does having art in your home affect you?

A. The art is a subtle daily reflection of my values. It can be comforting or challenging, depending on my frame of mind. The work also evokes vanished years, especially their joys and struggles.
Q. What sort of moods or feelings do you get from the colors in your domestic space?
A. My art tends toward splashy, vivid colors; the bright hues lift my spirits on crummy Seattle days. When I’m feeling precarious or besieged, the colors can seem jangly and garish… particularly orange for some reason. But usually art feels like a loyal friend. The paintings in my bedroom have a subdued palette… I don’t want them keeping me awake!
Q. When you start collecting art and why?
A. I think the first original piece I bought was at Comic-Con in San Diego… maybe around 1991. It was a Dan Clowes page from “Eightball.” I didn’t mean to become a collector, I just admired Dan’s work and finally could afford something. I later branched out to Adrian Tomine, Dennis Worden, Ivan Brunetti, Robert Williams, the Clayton Bros., Tara McPherson, Lari Pittman, and others.
(Shown bellow are some pieces from George Meyer’s collection)
the Clayton Brothers "A Flash in Time" 2005 Robert Williams "Mathematics Takes a Holiday" 1991 Tara McPherson "Melvins Screen Print" 2008
I’m usually drawn to idiosyncratic, singular artists. They often become friends — at least Christmas card friends — and their faces swim into my mind when I look at their creations.
Part of the collecting impulse is a desire to throw in my lot with brave souls who are taking risks and exposing their deepest yearnings.

Interview with an Art Collector

Here I interviewed George Meyer, an art collector and ex writer for “The Simpons” on ways that the art hanging in his domestic space affects him. For his entire life George has been a lover of all art forms including music and and all things pop culture, and now lives not more than a five minute walk from The Seattle Art Museum, where he often visits with his wife and daughter.

Q and A:

Q. How does having art in your home affect you?

A. The art is a subtle daily reflection of my values. It can be comforting or challenging, depending on my frame of mind. The work also evokes vanished years, especially their joys and struggles.
Q. What sort of moods or feelings do you get from the colors in your domestic space?
A. My art tends toward splashy, vivid colors; the bright hues lift my spirits on crummy Seattle days. When I’m feeling precarious or besieged, the colors can seem jangly and garish… particularly orange for some reason. But usually art feels like a loyal friend. The paintings in my bedroom have a subdued palette… I don’t want them keeping me awake!
Q. When you start collecting art and why?
A. I think the first original piece I bought was at Comic-Con in San Diego… maybe around 1991. It was a Dan Clowes page from “Eightball.” I didn’t mean to become a collector, I just admired Dan’s work and finally could afford something. I later branched out to Adrian Tomine, Dennis Worden, Ivan Brunetti, Robert Williams, the Clayton Bros., Tara McPherson, Lari Pittman, and others.
(Shown bellow are some pieces from George Meyer’s collection)
the Clayton Brothers "A Flash in Time" 2005 Robert Williams "Mathematics Takes a Holiday" 1991 Tara McPherson "Melvins Screen Print" 2008
I’m usually drawn to idiosyncratic, singular artists. They often become friends — at least Christmas card friends — and their faces swim into my mind when I look at their creations.
Part of the collecting impulse is a desire to throw in my lot with brave souls who are taking risks and exposing their deepest yearnings.