Quinta da Sapeira

I have not being so regular with my drawings of late, as I have been busy helping out a friend with wine making. A few days ago we heard that their wine has been awarded another gold medal at the international wine competition in Vienna. This is not the first, they have been winning prizes often, and they are looking forward to a very good future. If you have a moment, take a look at their website: www.quintadasapeira.pt , they have a very interest presentation video.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

Rembrandt van Rijn. one of the greatest artist ever. This man new the human anatomy like not other, and with a swift stroke of his brush, he could draw the most unbelievable figure studies. I find a lot of his drawing remind me of the Japaese art called sumi-e Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn; (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669) was a Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and print makers in European art and the most important in Dutch history.[2] His contributions to art came in a period of great wealth and cultural achievement that historians call the Dutch Golden Age when Dutch Golden Age painting, although in many ways antithetical to the Baroque style that dominated Europe, was extremely prolific and innovative.

Drawing Hands

Drawing hands has long been the nemesis of many aspiring artist. The masters had this down to a fine art. This sketch is an attempt at copying the drawing of Andrea Del Sarto.

This is an attempt at copying Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo March 5, 1696 – March 27, 1770, also known as Gianbattista or Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice. He was prolific, and worked not only in Italy, but also in Germany and Spain. Successful from the beginning of his career, he has been described by Michael Levey as "the greatest decorative painter of eighteenth-century Europe, as well as its most able craftsman."

Andrea del Sarto

This is one of the portraits I have been putting off - for some reason I have procrastinated in having a go at this, but as my choices seem to get less and less, the ones that I did not fancy doing will have to be done. I really need to post some images of the wine farm as well.

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Is there any value to constantly redraw the same drawing over and over? Does one become a little flat at it? Is there a cut-off time, where one has to say. "enough is enough, I can not learn anything new from this exercise". If one comes back to the same drawing a year later, will ones attitude have changed, and then a another go at it?

2 nd day of comeback

Well maybe I´m back into the swing of things, the second drawing is done. This is a copy of a drawing done by Peter Paul Rubens. Think I must also put up some images of the the wine harvesting as well.

Quinta de Sapeira

It has been some time since I did some drawings. I have been involved in harvesting grapes and the making of wine. I think that should be a excuse that will hold up to any critical comment. How can an artist paint without the liquid of the Gods? The creation of wine is an art in itself. Have been helping a friend of mine that has a small and very respected wine farm in the center of Portugal. The name of this illustrious little vineyard is "Quinta da Sapeira". "Quinta" meaning farm and "de Sapeira" of the bird of prey that hunts frogs. Unusual to say the least They have won various awards in competitions in Vienna, and each year promises to be better. It is because of this harvesting that I have not completed my goal set out last year: of doing a drawing a day for 365 consecutive days. Having done 289 drawing and then dropping out is just not good enough, so in an effort to redeem myself, I have started to draw again to day. This drawing is a copy of Leonard´s work.