KENDALL KESSLER'S OIL PAINTING DIARY

Friday, August 29, 2014

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and Blue Ridge Discovery Center Happening!

Nude Girl Drawings by Kendall Kessler


DSCN0684 (1)Celebration    Original 24"x 18"Charcoal Drawing    $994

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

I am going to show a number of black and white nude drawings that I decided to re-do in color.  I am pleased with both versions.  

In this case, I like the color version better.  The shadow in this drawing makes it for me.  The dramatic spacing and light are greatly enhanced by the elongated shadow.

 

The model's pose is exuberance itself, hence the title.  We should all celebrate!  All anyone really has is a limited amount of time and each day is precious!


celebrationcolor (1)

Celebration in Color    Original 24"x 18" Pastel Painting    $994

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART


Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

My husband and I are sometimes baffled by computers.  I have used the Add Media button and added Youtubes before and the whole Youtube comes up on my post.  

Now I just get the link.  

Yesterday I had Clyde try to figure it out and gave up.  Maybe I will get it to work again sometime.

 

Meanwhile, here is my latest Youtube on my Kendall Expressions!  Please click on it!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcPtNffZtmc

 

Here is the latest on the wonderful Blue Ridge Discovery Center Group!

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Hike Brushy Mountain North of Crandon

Sat, September 13, 12am – Sun, September 14, 12am

 
 
Where
Applachain Trail, Brushy Mountain north of Crandon
Calendar
BRDC Web Calendar
Created by
aaron@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description
September 13th on Brushy mountain north of Crandon. All hikes are on the famed Appalachian Trail, a 2,200 mile footpath from Georgia to Maine, completed in 1937.

 

 

Don't forget my special offer the month of August on this exciting painting!  Lion Explosion is 40% off with a 30 day money back guarantee!  The guarantee includes shipping fee!

Just click on my website and then go to Kendall Expressions.  The 40"x30" canvas print size is on special!

lionexplosionbig (1)Lion Explosion   Original 20"x16" Oil Painting     $670

Prints on Canvas or Paper and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed looking at My Nude Girl Drawings!


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and Open the Window and Let Gravity do the Work!

Nude Girl Drawings by Kendall Kessler

Yesterday I thought I had finished posting my black and white nude drawings but today I found two more in my portfolio.  I thought I had put these up but they aren't in any posts.  These two have an exceptionally delicate quality about them. 

The first one is one of my few line drawings.  There is some tone but the work exists in a linear format.  I am such a colorist that when I work in neutral tones I always want to use a wide range of greys because they are color to me. 

 In this one the line works beautifully to express the essence of a beautiful form.

nudewishirtbig (1)Nude Holding Her Shirt    Original 24"x18" Mixed Media Drawing      $994

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART


waitinginlightsmall (1)Waiting in The Light   Original 24"x18" Charcoal Drawing    $994


Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART


In Waiting in the Light the model seems to appear out of a puff of smoke for a somewhat mystical look.  I am very proud of the sensuous look of this charcoal drawing.  As I have said before, charcoal is my favorite drawing medium.


Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

I can not believe the aggravation I have had today with my computer!   I have attempted a lot of tasks it does without complaint every day.  Today it is on vacation or just being mean to me.  

I am reminded of what my husband says. 

I have posted it before but it bears repeating.  Instead of fighting with a machine, open the window and let gravity do the work!  I am really tempted to do just that!


Don't forget my special offer the month of August on this exciting painting!  Lion Explosion if 40% off with a 30 day money back guarantee!  The guarantee includes shipping fee!

Just click on my website and then go to Kendall Expressions.  The 40"x30" canvas print size is on special!

lionexplosionbig (1)Lion Explosion   Original 20"x16" Oil Painting     $670

Prints on Canvas or Paper and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER ART


Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed looking at My Nude Girl Drawings!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Nude Girl Drawing by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and I Can't Believe it!

Nude Girl Drawing by Kendall Kessler


This will be the last of my black and white nude drawings that I will post.  At least, I think this is the last one in my Beautiful Nudes Folder.

This one reminds me of The Thinker by August Rodin but it wasn't what I was thinking when I drew the model.  I love the wonderful, expressive lines in ink drawings and am very proud of the intricate passages in this etching!

Next, I am going to post some color nude drawings I did from some of my favorite black and white drawings!

thinkingnude (1)Leaning into The Day    Original Black and White Etching     $180

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

You Tube Videos

Here is another one of my You Tube Videos!  I hope you like it!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieN28aLojSA

Okay, I followed exactly the same procedure when I put up the last videos and they showed up so you could see them without clicking the code.  Go figure!

The painting, Lion Explosion is on Special Promotion on Fine Art America this month!  40% off of a large canvas print with a 30 day money back guarantee which includes shipping fee!

Just click on the Kendall Kessler Art and then click on the Kendall Expressions folder.  Lion Explosion is in the folder and the 40"x30" size is 40% off all August!

 

Life with the Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler


Another Ant Saga.  This is exactly what happened.  I am not making this up or changing the story in any way.

It looked as if we were finally rid of the ants for this season.

When they are here I take foods that they can easily get in or crawl on and put them on the table.  My husband explained to me that ants do not climb up table legs.  They prefer to stay along ledges.  So I had his rice muffins on the table and thought I could finally put them on the counter.

Later that day I saw one ant make a bee line for the muffins!  Just one!  I looked everywhere in the kitchen for more but there weren't any!  I gave that ant a dirty look and moved the muffins back to the table and it will be a long time before I move things back again!

 

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed the Nude Girl Drawing!

Monday, August 18, 2014

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and Slowing Down a Little...

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist


These two nudes have a strong look with an economy of marks.  The expression in the first one is languid while the second one has a more forceful appearance.  Charcoal has a great range of values and can be easily modified with conte crayons and pastels.  

It is a great medium and there is no limit to the expressive possibilities!

turningcopyrightTurning Beauty  Original  24"x 18" Charcoal Drawing     $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


strengthcopyright

Strength   Original  24"x 18" Charcoal Drawing     $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART



Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler


My husband is better at preventing problems than I am so I am taking some advice he gave me a while back that, I, of course ignored.  He always gets up every thirty minutes when he works on the computer and stretches.  
We are both at the seat fatigue years and I let it get so bad that I have a problem so today I am following the rule and trying to slow down a little.  For me, I am working at a snail's pace.

I have probably shared this quote before but it bears repeating.  When you finally get your head together your body falls apart.  Oscar Wilde was right.  Youth is wasted on the young.  Now that I love my life and just wish someone could add hours to the day I wish I had that twenty year old body again!

Be sure to come see me and my artwork with four other local artists at Glencoe Museum in Radford VA at 6:00 tomorrow evening!  Summer Path at Rock Castle Gorge will be on display along with four other landscapes!


summerpathcopyrightSummer Path at Rock Castle Gorge    Original 30"x40" Oil Painting    $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

Current Exhibition: Five Years of Art at Glencoe


This season marks the fifth year of Glencoe Museum’s “Gallery at Glencoe,” and to celebrate this milestone, the museum is hosting a series of three shows featuring the works of artists from the previous five years. The three shows will take place in August and November 2014 and February 2015.

The August show features the works of six talented artists whose works range from photography to painting to fiber art. These works reflect many different styles and provide something for everyone to appreciate—from traditional to avant-garde. These artists are Franchell Mack Brown, Alexander Crookshanks, Kendall Kessler, Susan V. Lockwood, Joyce Sims and RL Thomas.

Thank for reading my blog and I hope you enjoy my Nude Girl Drawings!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and You can't make Brownies with Donuts!

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

I am still showing my artistic nude drawings and will be for a while.  I am anxious to get back to my other work but I wanted to share these for a while.  I am proud of the craftmanship and expression I achieve in these works.

There are so many mediums to use to make intensely expressive drawings.  Conte crayons are a favorite medium but I think my favorite will always be charcoal.  I especially like the charcoal blocks to get deep blacks and complicated textures. 

Color is the most important part of my work so when I work in black and white or one color I like to have a wide range of values.  Black and white drawings with a wide range of grays are like color to me.


modellifecopyrightModel Life   Original 18"x24" Charcoal Drawing       $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


In this drawing, instead of inanimate objects on a table, there is a beautiful model.  I am especially pleased with the use of space in this one.


stretch copyright

Stretch   Original 24"x18" Charcoal Drawing       $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


In Stretch I succeeded in getting a strong sense of volume with a minimum amount of lines and marks.  You really feel the figure stretching out in this drawing!

 

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler


I have never been good at sleeping.  I have a hard time settling down and I tend to work so hard during the day that I am often sore when I go to bed.  It usually takes me a long time to get to sleep while my husband drops right off.

I have a lot of very strange dreams.  I think I remember so many of them because I don't sleep soundly and wake up a lot.

Last night I had one about brownies.  I dreamed that I didn't have any flour but I did have some sugar coated donuts so I decided to use them!  The dream ended before the taste test so we will never know.  I think I will go make some brownies!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Nude Girl Drawings, Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, and Do you Mind?

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

  Here are some more of my Beautiful Nudes.  As I have mentioned before, one of my Beautiful Nudes, "Reaching Out", was selected out of over 3 million works of art on Fine Art America to be on The Mindy Project.  

The show has been renewed for a third season!


dreamingcopyright

 Dreaming   Original Mixed Media 24"x18" Drawing    $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART


In this one the languid pose says it all.  I took care to apply the charcoal and conte crayon in a flowing manner that echoes the mood of the model. 

I will never forget what my mother said to me when I was a teenager and had just done something stupid.  She yelled that I lived in a dream world. 

Until that moment I had never realized that.  She was right and it is a great place to be!


musecopyright

 Dreaming   Original Mixed Media 24"x18" Drawing    $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART


In this one the hat on a nude model is fun and whimsical!  The bars of the chair make it appear as if the model is purposely hiding and in her own world.  

The energetic shadow has a foreboding quality that makes for a great visual accent.

 

 

 Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

I hope this will be the last of the ant chronicles for this summer.  The troops have slowed down.  They aren't marching in formation or sitting around the poison drops in a perfect circle.

Now I mostly see them peeking out from behind objects on the counter.  The other day a bunch of them were criss-crossing on one of the counters.  Since they were moving in a random fashion I decided I could put peanut butter on a cracker with out moving to the other side of the kitchen.
As soon as I got the cracker out one of them made a bee line for it!  I yelled, "Do you mind?"  

This is my cracker!  Move on!  It did and I finished making the crackers.  The nerve of these ants!

Monday, August 11, 2014

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, More Beautiful Nudes, and It hurts, too!

Blue Ridge Artist

I still have a lot of beautiful nude drawings to share here.  When I was in school I loved using different mediums to draw the model.  Each medium has a unique expression and it is always fun to explore all the ways it can be used.  

There is no end to the different ways charcoal, ink, conte crayon, etc. can be used to enhance the drawing and make it something to be looked at for it's own sake.   

Although I like all styles of art, I have never understood the fascination with photo-realism, or, as some artists call it, hyper-realism.  When an aritst seeks to copy what photographs capture I wonder that they don't just make photography their medium. 

 I have no problem copying a photograph or painting in a hyper-real style but I only do that if it is a commission.  My work is about my reaction to what I see and how to put myself into it.

turning in on onesselfbig (1)Woman Alone with Shadows   24" x 18" India Ink Drawing      $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

I love the wonderful linear accents of this drawing.


nudeslide (1)Repose     Original Drawing Not for Sale

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

This is one of my favorite charcoal drawings.  The rich blacks and soft textures are especially intriguing in this work.



Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America

These three are still available at 40% reduced price on  at Fine Art America!  

There is a 30 day money back guarantee that includes the shipping price!

breakcloudscopyrightA Break in The Clouds     Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


Here are the Other two Painting on the Special Promotion section!


burningshorecopyright

Burning Shore    Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


lionexplosionbig (1)

Lion Explosion  Original 20"x16" Oil Painting $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


 



Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

My husband and I come from a time period when not many people tattooed their body.  Now it is rare to see people without tattoos.  

I love what one person said on Facebook in response to the fact he had no tattoos.  He asked if the person had ever seen bumper stickers on a Ferrari.   

 Don't get me wrong.  I am not against them, they just aren't for me.

 We were discussing this on a walk and my husband was a little ahead of me.  I think many people will not like the way the tattoo looks as they age.  He replied that they can be taken off.  I said and it hurts, too!  He laughed because he had just said it was a painful procedure. 

 I didn't hear him say that. Well, it does hurt!!!!!

Friday, August 8, 2014

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, Another sale of A Break in the Clouds, and More Beautiful Nudes!

My Artwork

I am so pleased to sell another print of A Break in the Clouds to a great Tennessee patron!  This painting sure gets around!  It is my second best-selling print and 24"x 36" canvas prints of it at 40% reduced price are available for the next few days at Fine Art America!   

There is a 30 day money back guarantee that includes the shipping price!

breakcloudscopyrightA Break in The Clouds     Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


Here are the Other two Painting on the Special Promotion section!


burningshorecopyright

Burning Shore    Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


lionexplosionbig (1)

Lion Explosion  Original 20"x16" Oil Painting $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART


My Beautiful Nudes

As I said yesterday I am going to spend some time blogging about my artwork that is not of the Blue Ridge.  Here are two more nudes that I am proud of.  

It is such a fascinating experience to work from a nude model.  The contours on a person constantly change and the volume and life of the figure are obtained when an artist can get a precise contour.


draperypullbig (1)Drapery Pull    Original 24"x 18" Drawing    $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

This is my second best-selling nude drawing.  I am especially pleased with the composition and light/dark patterns in this one.  

Like "Reaching Out", the model seems to be straining for something beyond the picture plane.


changingbig (1)

Changing    Original 24"x 18" Drawing    $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

In this one the simple act of pulling a garment off has given the model a fluid, expressive look.   Artists seek to capture a beautiful moment in time.


Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

Once again, here is the latest news on the group my husband works closely with to promote this gorgeous mountain region!

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Hike on Garden Mountain
Sat, August 23, 12am – Sun, August 24, 12am

Where
Garden Mountain
Calendar
BRDC Web Calendar
Created by
aaron@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description
Join BRDC on August 23rd for a hike on the Appalachian Trail at Garden Mountain. For information about any of these free and fun hiking events, please contact Amy Roberts at 276-688-3793 or aarobert@vt.edu.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, Some Artistic Nudes, and What's Happening with The Blue Ridge Discovery Center!

My Artwork


reachingoutcopyrightReaching Out   Original  24"x18" Charcoal Drawing       $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART


When I was in school I spent many years working from a live model learning anatomy and learning how to draw expressive, artistic, beautiful nudes.  The nude drawing is a very important part of our discipline and, as I have told countless students, anyone can draw the human figure but a true artist gets it right.

Most of these student drawings are thrown out but one of my professors was so impressed with mine that he said I should hang on to them.  I didn't hang on to the stacks of drawing pads with gestures and contours but I did hang on to a number of the longer poses that I was pleased with.  
I am so glad I took his advice since, as I have mentioned before, my best-selling nude, "Reaching Out", was selected out of over 3 million works of art on Fine Art America to be on the set of The Mindy Project on FoxTV.

The drawing is across from Mindy's desk and the show has been renewed for a third season.
I have been blogging for some time about the beautiful mountains I live in so I decided to start talking  about my other work.

Here are two more favorite charcoal nude drawings.  I am especially pleased with the natural graceful look in both of these.

kneelingbeauty (1)Kneeling Beauty   Original 24"x18" Charcoal Drawing      $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER ART

It is very hard to explain what I accomplish in a work of art, but in this drawing the delicate turn of the head and the figure coming out of smoky marks of charcoal is captivating!  I am very pleased with this drawing!


reclining beautybig (1)Reclining Beauty  Original 18"x24" Charcoal Drawing     $984

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

In this one the weight of the figure that is pulled down by the pose and the expressive lines make for an intense visual experience!


Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

Here is the latest news on the group my husband works closely with to promote this gorgeous mountain region!

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Hike on Garden Mountain
Sat, August 23, 12am – Sun, August 24, 12am
 
 
Where
Garden Mountain
Calendar
BRDC Web Calendar
Created by
aaron@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description
Join BRDC on August 23rd for a hike on the Appalachian Trail at Garden Mountain. For information about any of these free and fun hiking events, please contact Amy Roberts at 276-688-3793 or aarobert@vt.edu.