Category Archives: Body Language

Beach Baby

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

I was finishing up a painting this morning at Coronado Beach when I noticed a man with a baby walking towards me. I was charmed by the way they were interacting and the way the man was carrying the child. … Continue reading →

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Speed Painting at the Opera

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

The San Diego Opera invites artists to paint and draw during a practice prior to the opera’s opening. Aida opens tomorrow and I was one of the lucky artists who got to spend three hours painting in the darkened orchestra … Continue reading →

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Second Thoughts

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

Painting from models is great, except that you need to work really fast to complete a sketch in 20 minutes. Working quickly is fun, actually exhilarating, kind of like the feeling of running or skiing downhill a little too fast. … Continue reading →

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Not a Party Girl

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

This sketch is from a model with gorgeous hair and a quiet demeanor. With her chin down and her right shoulder raised, I thought she looked like a reluctant party attendee. I liked the way she tilted her head with … Continue reading →

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The Living Room

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

I live near a coffee house that is a haven for readers and has air conditioning and great coffee besides. This afternoon I tucked my small 8 X 8-inch sketchbook into my purse and set off for a few hours … Continue reading →

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Finishing Up on Backgrounds

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

Last week I took a workshop on integrating figures with backgrounds. We used our personal photos as the reference and with watercolor on white paper. I learned a bit about the emotion of color and brushstrokes, but had trouble recognizing … Continue reading →

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Backgrounds

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Sarah Sullivan

This week I am taking a workshop to learn how to integrate figures with backgrounds. The idea is that the body language of the figure should be amplified by the rest of the painting. The background should be suggestive without … Continue reading →

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