Little Silver Trout

Arts Unleashed

2009-08-25T20:31:00.003-05:00

"Girl Passing on Red Bike" by Kelly Walsh

Donated to Arts Unleashed, a fund raiser for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.
Art Unleashed
Friday, August 28, 2009
7-10 pm
Hale Arena in the American Royal Complex
$25 early or $35 at the door

Art and animals unite once again at the 13th Annual Art Unleashed. Bid on more than 200 pieces of original pet-themed artwork during the silent and live auction. Join Brett Anthony, from NBC Action News, and The Nigro Brothers as they host this fun and furry event for the shelter pets. Tickets are only $25 early or $35 at the door. Be close to the action this year and reserve a table of eight for only $500. Tickets include complimentary hors d'eouvres and a cash bar. Free parking is available in Lot B, conveniently located next to Hale Arena.

Artwork includes a wide variety of mediums including: oil, watercolor, pen and ink paintings, metal artwork, sculpture, plush art and more. In this year's live auction, attendees can bid on "Golfing Birds" metal artwork signed by golfing great Tom Watson. Golfing Birds also includes a signed golf ball by Watson (see image below).

Art Unleashed Schedule
6:15-7 pm - Patron Party, by invitation only
6:30 pm - General ticket sales opens
7 pm - Art Unleashed silent auction begins
8 pm - Silent Auction will close in sections, at 8 pm, 8:15 pm and 8:30 pm
8:35 pm - Nigro Brothers kick off the Live Auction
10 pm - Event concludes

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres with a cash bar are available throughout the evening.

T-shirts
We'll have custom designed Art Unleashed t-shirts at the event. All shirts (fitted or standard fit) are $15. Purchase them at the registration table.

Parking & Directions
Free parking is available in Lot B, conveniently located next to Hale Arena.
Click here for a map and directions to Hale Arena.

For more information or to reserve your table
Contact Robin at 913.596.1000 x 14 or send an email. Seating is limited. All proceeds benefit The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City's no-kill shelter.

Duck Derby

2009-06-29T21:17:00.021-05:00

I went to the Children's TLC Duck Derby on Sunday, 6-28-09. Love those cool yellow ducks!

2009-06-23T12:28:00.003-05:00

Here is a much better image from the Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival. Such an amazing event! This photograph supplied by James and Cherish Pageau

Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival

2009-06-19T22:13:00.005-05:00

We had a long, hot day at the Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival. Foul weather threatened, but we came well armed with plastic sheeting to protect our chalk drawing during several passing showers. Three KC Clay Guild members came out and we worked together to complete this image. It is not the best photograph, but I'm going back in the morning and I'm sure I can do better. This years drawing was 8'x10', and easier to manage that last years 12'x12' square, although I wasn't expecting bricks, and slick ones at that. It was tricky to get the chalk to adhere. I want to tweak the lettering, expecially at the bottom, tomorrow morning.

Dr. Sketchy 5-17-09

2009-05-18T00:50:00.006-05:00

This blog is starting to look like a commercial for Dr. Sketchy. I swear, I do other things as well, but I am pretty hyped about life drawing these days.

The model this week had such classic lines to her face. I finally managed to match a somewhat respectable head to a body.

Dr. Sketchy 5-3-09

2009-05-18T00:19:00.005-05:00

It only took me two weeks to post these images. The model was a roller derby girl, or should that be roller derby woman? She wore huge platform shoes with fake wheels to look like roller skates.

Dr. Sketchy 4-19-09

2009-04-21T00:05:00.004-05:00

Wow! The model was an aerial acrobat. The sixty second poses were done on a hoop suspended from the ceiling. The hoop rotated slowly, so really, they were split-second poses that changed continually while brain and hand scrambled to keep up. It took until the seventh or eight pose to get into the groove and then they were over after the tenth pose. I would have loved to continue with quick gesture drawings all night. During the first break I did a "real drawing" from the best gesture. I've never done that before and it felt good.

The adorable puppy, Riley, and the model's hands shifted several times during the thirty minute reclining pose, all the more challenge. I finally "grabbed" a pose from the puppy and left it at that. I regret that I did not capture the delicacy of her face. I can draw portrait, but haven't been able to pull it off during these sessions.

Granny on the road...: Papui ...et le reste !

2009-04-13T00:42:00.000-05:00

Granny on the road...: Papui ...et le reste !

Raku . . . not for sissies!

2009-04-12T23:38:00.005-05:00

Saturday morning found me at the KC Clay Guild raku-firing pieces for the DIFFA Dining By Design table that the Guild is designing. There is still a lot of carbon to scrub off of these pieces, but I got enough off to show how great the crackle looks. Click on the image above to see the details.

I wound up with eight of the holey votive candle holders and nine torsos. I will do another firing next weekend when more pieces have been bisqued. I used stripped Romex to make the torso stand up. The photograph does not do that feature justice; it looks cooler "in person".

The poor man-in-the-moon did not crackle, but I love his expresion. I'm toying with the idea of taking a torch to him to coax the glaze along. Risky, but it has worked before. While waiting for the kiln to get up to temperature, I sketched a few passing dogs and did gestures of a fellow raking his lawn. Note the sooty thumb print in the lower left corner. Raku is a dirty business!

An observer noted, while watching the crew transfering glowing pieces from kiln to can, that the process certainly was not for sissies. I am taking his comment as a new slogan. We'll be sporting "Raku. . . not for sissies!" buttons on Raku night, May 9, 2009 at the KC Clay Guild.

2009-04-08T21:11:00.009-05:00

Once again, I am most happy with the gesture drawings done with a big brush and the cool Chinese ink that is prepared by grinding with water on a piece of slate.

This was the sketch that was most closely resembled the model's pose, although my drawing would suggest facial hair, of which the lovely young woman had none. I would like to do more work on this one.

2009-03-17T00:16:00.012-05:00

Back to Dr. Sketchys, my favorite place to be on the first and third Sundays of the month. Tried a Chinese ink set for gesture drawings; i like the speed and looseness of the brush. I took my camera and tried to photograph each pose. It was worth the effort as I can go back later and play with the drawings. The drawing posted here was not manipulated after the fact. Some other poses could use a bit of tweaking.

2009-02-25T19:33:00.003-06:00

Just a few paintings I'm working on. Both need a little more work, but I want my friend, Susan to see them.

Dr. Sketchy, February 15, 2009

2009-02-16T20:54:00.005-06:00

Back to a post-Valentine's Day Dr. Sketchy session.

Dr. Sketchy

2009-02-02T22:51:00.000-06:00

I spent yesterday evening at Dr. Sketchy's anti-art school. It was my second visit and, despite leaving the place feeling as if I had smoked a half a pack of cigarettes, I'm hooked. I will definitely go back. I am new to life drawing and not very adept. The timed poses seem to elicit a feeling of panic. It seems I do not work well under pressure. As you can see, the quick sketches of people in the crowd while waiting for the model are more relaxed. But I'm sure I will improve with practice. Here is a link to the Kansas City Dr. Sketchy's myspace. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21841626524

Raku Night at the KC Clay Guild

2008-10-09T09:41:00.000-05:00

Preparations for the 2008 Raku Night at the KC Clay Guild continue. We were thrill when photojournalist Phil Maslin filmed a piece featuring the KC Clay Guild. The piece ran on October 5, 2008. He did an amazing job of it we are hoping it draws in new attendees to Raku Night.

Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival

2008-08-27T22:16:00.000-05:00

Only after I committed the KC Clay Guild to a 12" x 12" square at the Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival did I comprehend just how big a twelve-foot square really is. With just a few days to spare until the event, I didn't know if I would have help with the design or with the actual chalking of the image. I was prepared to tackle the project by myself if need be, but in the end, Guild member, Cherish Pageau, designed the beautiful image you see below and nine hearty souls showed up on a hot Father's Day weekend to help with the chalking.

We all had a blast working together and the image is amazing. Check out this web-site to see more images from the festival. http://www.kcchalkandwalk.org/