"Puppets of the Past, v1"

Semi Abstract Nude

I love to paint nudes, such great subject matter, the curves, the natural lines, the natural brushstrokes of God. I mean we talk about looking at the natural brushstrokes of human artists but when you stop and look at the natural brushstrokes or the craftsmanship of God I don't think you can help but be amazed, even in awe. I've been painting, I've been an outside artist for over three decades now and during all that time I've managed to attract some people that wanted lessons in how to paint or draw.

I can only teach somebody the way I was taught and using nudes was the way I was taught. I took some classes at TNCC about 30 years ago. I met a good friend of mine Aaron Hazelwood there along with learning a lot about the application of charcoal and water. I had a great art teacher. I took a once a week 5 hour drawing 1, and painting 1 class for the course of a year.

We used a beautiful model whose name was Summer. I wouldn't so much paint whatever pose she was in as I would focus on something like the thigh, the breast or the waist and then I would draw something abstract from those shapes. Some of that was because I really just wanted to stare at the beautiful nude body. I was encouraged to keep doing what I was doing and never reprimanded for not doing what the rest of the class was doing.

This is all relevant because when I teach, I use a tasteful nude picture from the internet. I focus on how easy it is to just keep moving and form the image through freedom and constant manipulation. This is one of those tasteful nude pics off the internet. I start off with 30-seconds sketches, then move to 60-second sketches and then jump to 5-minutes sketches and then end with a 30- minute sketch. Trying to complete a drawing of a model in 30 seconds or 60 seconds really frees up the person and brings out their natural brushstrokes. It builds their confidence and helps them focus on the important things.

This painting was started to show a student just how easy it is. It sat in hibernation for probably 10 years, and I finished it in 2023. I like the way it starts off at the top, very abstract, then unfolds into very natural inviting shapes