And then I talked about breasts

I forgot how much I like figure drawing. I went to the open studio on wends not knowing what to expect, whether it would be still life or figure drawing or what. Turns out it was figure drawing, and I’m really glad it was. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t know if I could ever get bored doing figure drawing. There is just something perfect about the human body, drawing it over and over would not bore me. I don’t know if you’ll get this if you’re not an artist or not, but there’s a change that happens when you’re in a figure drawing/painting studio session. The first time the model strips there’s a moment of “oops, naked body in the room, don’t know how to react”, but you mind changes it…and instead of noticing the breast, you notice how the light from the podium reflects up next to the shadow that the breast creates, and you get obsessed with depicting the gradation between the two, and showing how the different lights play on the skin. (Mom, I bet you know what I’m talking about)

I love the fact I have given myself time for that this semester. I don’t normally get to draw for drawing’s sake. It’s for a rendering project, or it’s a sketch that’s going to be turned into something else for the paint shop. I feel like this class is going to be a great excuse to just work on my basic skills, which could never be good enough, and are a long way from being adequate on a professional level (in my opinion at least)

In short, I’m really glad that I decided to take the outside studio drawing class. I poked my head into the IES drawing class, and they were drawing a three-dimensional cone. I feel like I made a good choice.

Other than that…

I (finally) got to skype with Anna today, and it looks like my going to visit her in Florence is going to work out, and hopefully will her coming to visit me (keep your fingers crossed!). Other (possible) trips will be to Germany to see Ben, and London to see my friend Megan who’s studying there this semester. That’s all I have as far as “excuses” to go places…but I’d love to go on a French vineyard tour (in Alsace maybe?), see Belgium, and go to Normandy. Ok, in truth, there’s a ton of other places I’d love to get to, but I’m trying to be somewhat realistic. I think I’m going to get to go to Giverny and the Chateau of the Loire Valley with IES, so those are a couple of spots to check off. Oh yea, I also am going to Morocco over spring break…Ahh!!

Besides possible travel ideas, I’m still exploring Paris. Who knows if I’ll really get to know the city in these months, but its starting to feel more familiar. This past week has helped a lot. Not feeling like I’m just here on vacation has been wonderful. I still need to figure out what my routine will be, but knowing that I will be able to figure it out helps make this place feel like home. Just a bit.

Love to you all!


The Marais district: The Gay and Jewish neighborhood; tres chic and tres cher