For the past two years the Covid variants have behaved like those annoying guests who refuse to leave, long after the party's over. Even after we finally get angry, and push them out the door, they linger and lurk for an opportunity to mutate; then sneak back into our lives and go viral.
All posts by Rob Court
Frozen in Time: Cellphone Users as Models to Draw
With feet swollen tightly into Birkenstocks, he waited nervously for his name to be called. His rotund body was starkly juxtaposed with delicate fingers deftly scrolling a cellphone.
Except for a few empty chairs near this young man, … Continue Reading ››
Getting Out & Getting Real
We are drawing again. And loving it!
Since closing my studio a year and a half ago due to Covid, it is a joy to finally connect with students through on-location workshops and private sessions. We are escaping digital screens, getting outdoors, and getting real with our sketchbooks at … Continue Reading ››
Life Lines: Sketching the Unseen World of Movement
Not even for a brief moment does life hold still for you.
When sketching outdoors, the first lines placed on the page are the most important. These spontaneous marks are what I call life lines and they are vital in translating your first visual reaction to your subject onto paper.
The Ups & Downs of Urban Sketching
Can urban sketching—the art of drawing what you observe in a city—ever become a truly comfortable and relaxing pastime for amateurs? By way of curiosity, commitment, and courage the answer is a resounding YES!
Here’s the first thing to know about urban sketching: It really is okay … Continue Reading ››
Awakening from the Great Hibernation
The world changed dramatically and became increasingly restrictive during the Covid hibernation of 2020-21. I still had a desire to bust out, to live a creative and productive lifestyle. But paranoia quarantined my brain. I opted for perpetual indoor slumber.
My daily routine eventually drifted into the doldrums: hit the … Continue Reading ››
Drawing in Your Own Backyard
Not making this drawing would have been easy. For a couple of days I walked right past my friend's basket of ordinary garden tools and nearby potted plants, not even giving them a moment’s notice. But little by little, this random backyard arrangement began to capture my fascination. And then it found its way onto … Continue Reading ››
Call of the Wild: Youth & Adult Students Draw Animals in the Brave Real World
Our irrepressible youth sketchers have forged ahead to improve their drawing skills while enduring month after month of pandemic restrictions. And they're staying true to their passion for drawing as they balance online school courses with phased reopening of hybrid classrooms.
Youth sketcher Scout emailed me several drawings of animals that she … Continue Reading ››