With the start of the new school year I've been pretty busy, but I finally opened my etsy store! Check it out:
Etsy.com/shop/artbynickstecher
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Back Log: 7/23/2012
July 23, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Please Help Me With My Thesis!
Back log: 7/16/201 - 7/19/2012
Monday, July 16 2012
Hill and 8th
La Esquina del Sabor
Process: pencil sketch, watercolor wash, dry on wet,
watercolor pencil
I think that’s the last time I use Canson watercolor paper.
What garbage! It is inconsistent and unpredictable. Arches 140lb cold pressed
is so much better. It handles washes well and the pigment settles in at a
predictable rate. It also holds up better and gives more consistent washes. I
was really enjoying my sketch but that paper could not handle simple work.
Activity I noticed on 8th and hill: people waiting
for the bus and getting off the bus for work. Almost no one stops for coffee
here. The payphones are much more popular.
Today was overcast again this morning. The sun didn’t pop out
until after 10AM and changed my light way too much. It was so bright I could
not make out colors.
I see potential in this composition for narrative. By focusing
on a limited site rather than a grand scale I think it is more personable and
approachable. I will revisit this one for sure. Later I will try LA Café from
across the street.
Tuesday, July 17 2012
Grand Central Market
China Café
Process: pencil sketch, watercolor wash, dry on wet,
watercolor pencil
Today I met and interviewed Alex Schaefer. It became clear to
me, and Alex helped to bring this up, that the interactions with all those
people in the street are just as important, if not maybe sometimes more
important than the painting itself. There is so much to learn from the
encounters with local people! I am also excited for the prospect of meeting
other artists and painting together.
Afterwards I stopped at the Grand Central Market for lunch and
a sketch. It is always so busy here. Last time I came through I was conflicted
by actually getting a seat at the counter of China Café or hanging back and
painting it. I wanted to experience it last time, so this time I sat back and
painted the action. The China Café is not nearly as good as the carnitas place.
Wednesday, July 18 2012 2AM
Tonight I noticed a B-boy dancer practicing in the parking lot
across from my apartment. I’ve seen them do this before, but tonight I was
inspired to draw him. I spent too much time out of the gate drawing the scene
and not focusing on the dancer. By the time I got to the dancer, he had moved
out of the scene. I realized that I can draw that part anytime, and that I
should do some gesture drawings of the dancer. He moved like a robot. It was
tough, he was so fast and his moves did not look human. At one point he broke
out the guns like dirty harry. He is hard to draw when he moves his shoulders
up and hands down.
Wednesday, July 18 2012
Grand Hope Park
Soccer in the Park
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, watercolor pencil
I decided to try Grand Hope Park again in the early afternoon,
midweek. I figured there would be more people in the park, and I was right. A
group of people were playing soccer. Some came and joined in and left. I tried
out my new view finder today and I like how it really helps me place things.
I thought a different view of the park today might be nice. I
liked the big tree and the jungle gym in the background. The soccer game picked
up now and again. It was tough to draw the figures who were constantly moving.
Today I conducted a phone interview with Diego Cordosa. He was
short spoken but gave me a good description of his process and motivation. He
works quite different from Alex and John who both do plein air. Diego works in
acrylics from photos. There is definitely a different spirit to their
paintings, John and Alex were also much more animated.
Thursday, July 19 2012
Runyon Canyon
LA Skyline
Process: watercolor wash
Today I met and interviewed John Kilduff. After looking at his
painting of LA from Mulholland Drive, I was inspired to check it out. I drove
from one end to the other. There were two placed to hike, one a former NIKE
missile site and the other near the Hollywood Bowl is Runyon Canyon Park. You
can see all of LA up there. I hiked out and set up to paint, but it was so hot
and I was burning badly. I got a short sketch of the skyline. I will go back
better prepared.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Back log: 7/6/2012 - 7/14/2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Afternoon
LA Café
LA Café
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet,
It is a warm afternoon, very sunny and beautiful. The cafes
along Spring Street are busy. There are a lot of people out walking dogs and
riding bikes. There are some interesting things to paint near LA Café including
the lamp posts benches, trees, cars and people. This is challenging trying to
include so many details and maintain space and perspective.
Saturday, July 7 2012
Evening (just before sunset)
Broadway, near 8th street
View of Eastern and
Tower Buildings from Los Angeles Brewing
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
The Eastern Building in particular is very fascinating. It
represents the prime example of art deco in the theater district. This angle
was difficult and did not capture the composition I was after. The sketch I
made on the back of the watercolor based on the first is a better
representation of the desired composition.
Sunday, July 8 2012
3:30 – 5:00 PM
In front of the Globe Theater, Broadway between 7th
and 8th Street
View of Broadway From
The Globe Theater
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
This one is 100 feet back from yesterday’s sketch at Los
Angeles Brewing Company. It was hot in the direct sun but this angle was much
better and allowed me to develop a stronger composition. Today I looked head on
instead of over my shoulder as well. This made it easier to stay focused on my
perspective. I like the strong pencil lines and I am tempted to ink this one.
Tuesday, July 10 2012
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Angels Knoll
View from Angel’s Knoll
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pen
Today is hot. I checked out a few spots on my walk, but
there isn’t much shade and a few spots that have caught my interest were busy.
I’ve been thinking of drawing from Bunker Hill a few times before so I decided
to check out the park on the hill, Angles Knoll. The shade and cool breeze was
very welcomed on this hot day. It must be close to 95 degrees! It was tough to
get a good vantage point through all the trees. There is a more wide view, but
today after a few tries I decided to just focus my attention toward city hall.
A short walk north led to a better view of City Hall and
actually the view Ed Kosa (1931) used. It is much different now with all the
growth. Where he stood is now a parking garage that would provide a great view,
but lacking in narrative potential. A more wide view from the park would be
better. By extending my composition down, I could show more park and more people.
The trees provide a nice contrast of cool shadows as well.
Tuesday, July 10 2012
3:30 – 6:00 PM
Near 7th and Grand
Diamond Exchange Theater
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
“Take your diamonds and throw ‘em up like ya bulimic…”
I’ve admired this Diamond Exchange Building for months. It
makes me think of Kanye West. It
is very classy looking though. The sun shining down 7th lights it up
with golden highlights. Most of 7th street sits in shadow at this
hour.
The street is really busy with people going to and from work.
Mostly from. Students too. Many people stop to see what I’m doing. I’ve gotten
many compliments and some even stop to talk a bit. It is hard to find the
narrative other than that. People coming and going. Although this is the
jewelry district it is hard to tell if anyone is even looking at jewelry. The
old woman at the small newsstand seems to hold the most potential.
With this scale, I could not fit the whole view. I chopped the
farther end of 7th past hope. I kept what interested me most.
Wednesday, July 11 2012
4:00 – 5:30 PM
7th Street near Grand again
Today was tough. I spent a lot of extra time cutting paper and
going through previous sketches. I used wider paper today in hopes of getting
the scene right this time. I tried twice, but could not fit everything again. I
think tomorrow I need to draw some place with people. Maybe the park. I need to
develop my narrative, and so far I didn’t they are quite showing up. I have
been concentrating on the scenes. Maybe I need to focus more on what people are
doing. So far I feel that the sites help represent a bit of LA culture, but I
need more of the human side.
Thursday, July 12 2012
1:00 – 4:45 PM
Pershing Square
Pershing Square
8x10” 140lb Canson cold pressed paper
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil hatching
Today is mostly cloudy which makes for low contrast drab. I
woke up early but was uninspired. I got a late start. I decided to walk to the
park, but on my way I realized my painting form LA Café should be from the
other side of the street or in a way where you can see the café better.
The park is filled with people relaxing and easting lunch.
Occupy LA is here drumming and dancing. The park is pretty lively on this
cloudy day. At least I don’t have to worry about sunburn.
I talked to a lot of people today as they walked through. A
lot just had nice comments, a few even stopped and chatted for a while. One
couple stopped for a while and eventually asked if I felt a spiritual
connection to the scenes I painted. Was there divinity involved? I think they
tried to inject just a little too much into my work. He told me he saw “God at
work in there.” The occupy folks were very talkative and interested. They
stopped by a lot.
So far, out of all my LA paintings, I like this one best. I
think the people finally exist as a dominant subject. I enjoyed the bright
color and split compliments. The paper is much different and absorbs the
pigment quicker and deeper. Not sure how I feel about it yet.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Today is super hot and I am not feeling well. I walked by FIDM
campus today on my home from the store and I realized that Grand Hope Park is
right there. It is the park right in the middle of campus, but it is a city
park not just FIDM property. It was very lively with people playing Frisbee and
such. I will paint here tomorrow.
Saturday, July 14 2012
Grand Hope Park
Grand Hope Park
8x10” 140lb Canson cold pressed paper
Process: Pencil sketch, watercolor wash, wet on wet, dry on
wet, pencil
It is a bit cooler today than its been this week. The park is
dead. Only people napping or reading. A few people sitting and relaxing. It is
a very pretty park. Much more of a park than Pershing Square. It has an
interesting view of the LA skyline from here. Walking around the arts and
fashion districts and drawing this week I’ve come to realize many of the
buildings have Spanish roofs. It is surprising to see on modern city buildings.
I also have been getting more familiar with the order of the streets, from Fig
to Los Angeles. That used to really confuse me.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)