Global Online Life Drawing Groups Fulfill While #StayAtHome

By Janet Dodrill

Because of Covid-19, it has been safer to stay at home. As an artist, the art life drawing groups that I once attended have not met since early March, 2020. A couple of the groups have moved to Zoom or Facebook Live. I have found dozens of additional art groups online, both out of state and out of the country. I have been fortunate enough to stay busy with these drawing sessions, while meeting people, and fulfilling the sense of community that I seek in addition to improving my drawing skills. The life models have their own remote cameras and setups at their homes or studios, and these sessions have brought people together from all over the world.

I am especially impressed with the talent, professionalism, athleticism, and creativity of the models. Additionally, the organizations have been offering theme-inspired live drawing sessions on Zoom. In the past couple weeks I participated in a Picasso’s Vollard Suite inspired session featuring models Andrew Crayford @andrewcrayford1 and Annie Mae @amlifemodel both of London, a two-day live performance by Juliano Hollivard @julianohollivard of Brazil with constant movement by the model with lighting, music, poetry, video, props and masks, and most recently a session in the style of Matisse, the Odalisques, with model Valentina Rock @valentinarocklondon. Another group simply draws each other’s portraits. Most of them I discovered on Instagram, and there are many more yet to be discovered.

Some of my favorite (online) life drawing groups during the pandemic, on Instagram:

Adrian Dutton Life Drawing, London @adriandutton_life_drawing (Zoom)
https://www.adriandutton.com

The Renaissance Workshop, London @therenaissanceworkshop (Zoom)
https://therenaissanceworkshop.com/product-category/life-drawing

2 B Or Not 2 B Collective @2bornot2bcollective, London (Zoom)
https://linktr.ee/2bornot2bcollective

London Drawing, London @londondrawing (Zoom)
https://londondrawing.com

Life Drawing Barcelona, Spain @lifedrawingbarcelona (Zoom)
https://linktr.ee/lifedrawingbarcelona

Amanda Achen @theartache, California (Zoom)
https://linktr.ee/amandaachen

On Facebook:

Murray Hill Life Drawing, Cleveland, Ohio (Zoom)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/65156305856

The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists, Cleveland, Ohio (Facebook Livestream)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/347696515301192

Website:

Shoal of Art Meetup, London (Zoom)
https://www.meetup.com/London-Shoal-of-Art-Meetup

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Matisse, the Odalisques, theme with model Valentina Rock, by the collaboration of Adrian Dutton Life Drawing and Madhouse Studios, watercolor and ink by Janet Dodrill.

An ink drawing by Janet Dodrill of Juliano Hollivard’s Day Two, The Sacred, performance life drawing session through The Renaissance Workshop.

Hugo Max Schmitz, Newly-Discovered Artwork

By Janet Dodrill

Hugo Max Schmitz, photograph, early 1900s (recently-discovered).

On a recent trip out of town to visit my cousins, some items were discovered in my uncle’s possession. Unseen artwork by Hugo Max Schmitz, my great-grandfather, all of which I had not seen before. In a couple of the works, there are similarities to his previously-known work. He was an artist and a co-founder of Cleveland wall covering firm, Schmitz-Horning Company (1905-1964). The stunning painting comparisons are below.

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Watercolor portrait of young girl by artist Hugo Max Schmitz.

Possible study for watercolor portrait of young girl by artist Hugo Max Schmitz, oil or gouache, early 1900s (recently discovered).

Self-portrait by artist Hugo Max Schmitz, oil, 1898.

Self-portrait study by artist Hugo Max Schmitz, oil, early 1900s (recently discovered).

Peninsula Fall 2019 Plein Air Exhibit through November 15, 2019

By Janet Dodrill

Peninsula Art Academy hosts a Plein Air competition, open to all artists. Paintings are created (or 2-D work) outdoors in natural available light over the course of three days (Friday through Sunday) around prime landmarks and locations around beautiful Peninsula, Ohio including in the Cuyahoga National Park. By the end of the weekend the work must be completed (two pieces allowed per artist), framed and ready to hang.

The following weekend there is an art exhibit and reception and the work is juried. Prizes are awarded for first place, second, third, and honorable mention.

This was my first year participating in this type of event and though both demanding and challenging, it was a very enriching way to build my skills and technique, and the experience even allowed me to meet several local area artists. I am looking forward to future events offered by the Peninsula Art Academy.

The exhibit runs October 26 – November 15, 2019

Peninsula Art Academy
1600 Mill Street West
Peninsula, OH 44264
(330) 657-2248
www.peninsulaartacademy.org
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm

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Pumpkins on Wagon, Acrylic on Canvas, 18″ x 24″ (painted at Szalay’s Farm & Market).

Steeple in Autumn, Acrylic on Canvas, 16″ x 20″ (painted at Peninsula United Methodist Church).

Greg Canda (right) of Peninsula Art Academy introducing exhibit juror Jose Sacaridiz.

Listening to juror Jose Sacaridiz review the winning art pieces. (Photo: Jennifer Newyear)

Juror Jose Sacaridiz critiquing first place winning oil painting by Mark Erdelyi.

Thanks to a few who put the Peninsula Art Academy Plein Air competition on.

Plein Air paintings by 27 artists, on exhibit at Peninsula Art Academy, October 26 – November 15, 2019.

Plein Air paintings by 27 artists, on exhibit at Peninsula Art Academy, October 26 – November 15, 2019.

Painting in 38 degree weather!

Artwork Using the Primary Colors

By Janet Dodrill

Lately, I have been using primary colors (red, yellow, and blue from the color wheel) in my portraits and life model studies, and am exploring this direction in my artwork.

Below are a few examples of my artwork utilizing primary colors.

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Joe, acrylic on canvas, 9”x12”
Janet Dodrill

Kayli, acrylic on canvas, 9”x12”
Janet Dodrill

Karen, gouache, 9 x 12”
Janet Dodrill

Mimi, gouache,, 9” x 12”
Janet Dodrill

Scott, watercolor, 10” x 14”
Janet Dodrill

Carl Fuchs Designed Schmitz-Horning Scenic Wall Pattern

By Janet Dodrill

Schmitz-Horning Company’s Old South 1930s-1940s scenic panel detail (Photo: Cooper Hewitt).

Carl Fuchs designed the Old South scenic wall paper pattern (1930s-1940s) for the Schmitz-Horning Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The color lithograph (chromolithograph) inks and (washable) paper used were of the highest quality. Old South depicted plantation life in early America, and included a steamboat and fox hunt. There were twelve sections, each approximately 40″ x 80″ in repeat pattern.

The company was co-founded and run by my great-grandfather, Hugo M. Schmitz, and after his death in the late 1930s, run by my grandfather Warren R. Schmitz.

I am almost certain this 1920s Art Deco decorative pattern, Dekorative Vorbilder (Decorative Role Models), which I came across on an auction site, is by the same artist.

Dekorative Vorbilder by Carl Fuchs, 1920s Art Deco decorative pattern (Photo: Liveauctioneers.com).

Carl Fuchs was also hired by my grandparents to paint an oil portrait of my mother, then a girl of eight years.

Oil portrait of Schmitz-Horning president’s daughter (my mother) by artist Carl Fuchs, 1939 (Photo: Schmitz family).

Resources:

Cooper Hewitt, Old South Scenic Panels
https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18431473/
https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18431471/
https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18431469/

Cooper Hewitt, Objects Involving The Schmitz-Horning Co.
https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/people/18046573/objects/

Riverview Estate Auctions, September 27, 2015 Auction, Lot 0008B
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/41129637_1920s-art-deco-dekorative-vorbilder-print-carl-fuchs

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Schmitz-Horning Company’s Old South scenic panel, 1 of 12 sections, each 40″ x 80″, repeat, designed by Carl Fuchs (Photo: Cooper Hewitt).

Schmitz-Horning Company’s Old South scenic panel, 1 of 12 sections, each 40″ x 80″, repeat, designed by Carl Fuchs (Photo: Cooper Hewitt).

Schmitz-Horning Company’s Old South scenic panel, 1 of 12 sections, each 40″ x 80″, repeat, designed by Carl Fuchs (Photo: Cooper Hewitt).

Charles Burchfield, Artist, Featured in Cleveland Exhibit

By Janet Dodrill

The Cleveland Museum of Art currently has an exhibit by artist Charles Burchfield (1893-1967) in its Focus Gallery through May 5, 2019. The show is titled Charles Burchfield: The Ohio Landscapes, 1915-1920.

The show has numerous drawings and watercolors done in both Cleveland where he attended the Cleveland School of Art (now The Cleveland Institute of Art), and Salem, Ohio, his hometown.

I admire his strength and energy in depicting landscapes. He created his own visual language with almost abstract shapes from nature symbolizing emotions such as fear and sorrow, which are pointed-out in the exhibit.

Links of Interest:

www.clevelandart.org/exhibitions/charles-burchfield-ohio-year-1915-1920

www.artnet.com/artists/charles-ephraim-burchfield/

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Below are some images from the show.

Charles Burchfield exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Charles Burchfield, Inaugural Poster, 1915

Charles Burchfield, Drifting Dandelion Seeds, 1916

Charles Burchfield, Hillside, 1917

Charles Burchfield, New Moon, 1917

Charles Burchfield, New Moon in January, 1918

Charles Burchfield, Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night, 1917

Charles Burchfield, Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night, 1917, detail

Charles Burchfield, Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night, 1917, detail

Charles Burchfield, detail of abstract shapes used to reflect feeling and emotion.

Charles Burchfield, Study No. 1 for Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night, 1917

Charles Burchfield, Study No. 1 for Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night, 1917, detail

Charles Burchfield, White Violets and Coal Mine, 1918

Charles Burchfield, Setting Sun through the Catalpas (Late August Sunset), 1916

Charles Burchfield, The Sun through the Trees, 1917

Charles Burchfield, Sunburst after Spring Storm (Sunlight after a Spring Rain), 1917

Charles Burchfield, Spring Sunset in the Woods, 1917

Charles Burchfield, Untitled (Red House), 1916

Charles Burchfield, Untitled (Clump of Purple Trees), 1915

Charles Burchfield, Sulphur Stream in the Woods, 1917

Charles Burchfield, journal entry (one of many on a digital kiosk)

Charles Burchfield, journal entry (one of many on a digital kiosk), detail

Charles Burchfield, Chestnut Trees, 1920

Cleveland Drawing Group Meets Weekly for Portrait Session

By Janet Dodrill

The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists group (formerly The Pretentious Tremont Artists of the Literary Cafe), conceived over 30 years ago by artists Tim Herron and Brian Pierce, meets weekly and attracts artists from all over the greater Cleveland area, giving them a place to practice portrait drawing from a live model.

Open to all artists, I started participating in the group last fall on an occasional basis. The sketch session is three hours with breaks, and the portrait model or ‘sitter’ gets the artwork at the end in exchange for their sitting time. Models are on a waiting list that is full months in advance.

Originally the group met at a tavern in Tremont on Cleveland’s west side, but now they incorporate various east and west side locations.

It is a privilege to draw with such talented and established area artists. The quality and diversity of the art is amazing. The artwork is photographed later that evening and posted in albums on the group’s blog and on Facebook for all to enjoy.

Below are a few of my sketches from the past five months.

Links:

The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists Blog (formerly The Pretentious Tremont Artists of the Literary Cafe)
http://www.literarycafeartists.com/blog

The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/347696515301192/

Tim Herron
https://www.facebook.com/tim.herron.376

Copyright article and images. All rights reserved. Not to be used without permission.

Watercolor by Janet Dodrill

Acrylic painting by Janet Dodrill

Watercolor by Janet Dodrill

Watercolor by Janet Dodrill

Watercolor by Janet Dodrill

Watercolor by Janet Dodrill

Pencil and watercolor by Janet Dodrill

Paul Meunier, Artist – Yesterday’s New Discoveries

By Janet Dodrill

Paul A. Meunier was a Cleveland area artist who enjoyed painted nature and wildlife. He worked on staff as an artist at Schmitz-Horning Company, a wallpaper manufacturing firm, in the 1920s and 1930s. Of interest to me because of my family ties to the company, I published a list o known artists that were employed there.

A couple people contacted me regarding their Paul Meunier artwork.

One had six etched acrylic or plastic panels, two of which have a date (1970) and the artist’s name, acquired locally in Cleveland. (They are available for purchase through my source.)

The other individual purchased a map that Paul Meunier’s created of his family vacation travels from Ohio through parts of the western U.S. (1939). The contact wrote me stated that the lithograph was purchased at a Bay area market.

It’s interesting to see the broad range of work and depth of this artist, and even more interesting to speak to others who have his art work.

Copyright article and images. All rights reserved. Not to be used without permission.

Etched or engraved plastic art panels by Paul Meunier, 1970, owned by Charlie Grenier. Panel size is approximately 3×4 to 5×7 inches.

Etched or engraved plastic art panels by Paul Meunier, 1970, owned by Charlie Grenier. Panel size is approximately 3×4 to 5×7 inches.

Etched or engraved plastic art panels by Paul Meunier, 1970, owned by Charlie Grenier. Panel size is approximately 3×4 to 5×7 inches.

Name and 1970 date on art panels by Paul Meunier.

Map created by Paul Meunier of his family trip across the country, owned by Peter Bartels.

Little Italy Holiday Art Walk

Little Italy Holiday Art Walk
Saturday December, 1, 2018
Noon-9pm

Murray Hill Schoolhouse, second floor
2026 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland, OH 44106

Visit my table in the second floor hallway!

– Note Cards – Prints – Magnets – Necklaces –

Cleveland Necklaces by Janet Dodrill

Cleveland Note Cards, Magnets & Prints by Janet Dodrill

Murray Hill Schoolhouse

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Cleveland Area Sketch Groups

By Janet Dodrill

There are many good sketching groups in the Cleveland area, that I’ve found recently in my quest to start sketching again to brush up on my artistic skills with other artists! My search for groups started on Facebook and then by word of mouth. I started with a commitment of going to monthly sketch outings with Urban Sketchers Cleveland (see http://urbansketchers-cleveland.blogspot.com or http://www.facebook.com/groups/urbansketcherscleveland). It is a local chapter of the international organization Urban Sketchers. We sketch on location at different areas in the greater Cleveland area.

Recent sketch locations include:

• Giant Hand Sculpture at MOCA
• Voinovich Bicentennial Park at E. 9th St. Pier
• Cleveland Botanical Garden
• Grand Pacific Junction in Olmsted Falls
• West Side Market
• Renaissance Hotel
• The Coffee House
• Old Arcade
• 5th Street Arcades
• Cavottas Garden Center
• Chagrin Falls
• Cleveland Flats Heritage Park
• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Dunham Tavern Museum
• Lake View Cemetery
• Merwins Wharf
• Old Arcade
• Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
• Rockefeller Park Greenhouse & Gardens
• Spaces Gallery

Drawn To The Valley offers an adult open studio for figurative life drawing. The group has structured guidelines to agree to before joining the group.

Murray Hill Sketch Group has been meeting together for 25 years which offers a figure model for life drawing.

BAYArts Open Studio is a portrait sketch group from a portrait model. They also have a figurative life drawing sessions that meet on selected Tuesdays.

The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists is popular in the area for portrait sketching. At the end of the evening, the artists give their art piece to the model in leu of a fee. They meet at different east or west side locations.

Fees vary from $10 to $15 per session.

I have posted some of my recent drawings and paintings.

Selected Cleveland Area Sketch Groups:

Urban Sketchers Cleveland
http://urbansketchers-cleveland.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/groups/urbansketcherscleveland
http://www.instagram.com/urbansketcherscleveland @urbansketcherscleveland
Meets monthly each 3rd or 4th Sunday, 1:30-4:00 p.m.

Drawn To The Valley
Valley Arts Center, 155 Bell Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Meets Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
https://www.valleyartcenter.org/workshops.html
Fee

BAYArts Open Studio
BAYarts, Huntington Playhouse Dr., Bay Village, OH 44140
Portrait, Meets Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Figure, Meets Tuesdays (9/11, 9/25, 10/9, 10/23, 11/6, and 11/20/18), 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
http://bayarts.net/43-classes/adults/adults-classes-4/408-open-studio-sessions-portraits-figure.html
Fee

Cleveland Institute of Art, Pay-As-You-Go
11610 Euclid Ave., Room 302
Cleveland, OH 44106
Meets Wednesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (current session 8/29/18 – 11/14/18)
https://www.cia.edu/continuing-education/life-drawing-classes
Fee

Murray Hill Sketch Group
Murray Hill School, 2026 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland, OH 44106
Meets Wednesdays, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/65156305856
Fee

The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists
Meets Fridays, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Locations include the following, but check their Facebook page before every Friday:
Artful, 2843 Washington Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
OR
Waterloo Arts, 15605 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110
https://www.facebook.com/groups/347696515301192

Copyright article and images. All rights reserved. Not to be used without permission.

Murray Hill Sketch Group sketch.

Murray Hill Sketch Group sketch.

BAYArts Open Studio portrait.

Sketch from Wandering Sketchers.

Sketch from Wandering Sketchers.

Personal nature sketch.

Personal nature sketch.

Murray Hill Sketch Group special event sketch.

Urban Sketchers Cleveland sketch.

Urban Sketchers Cleveland sketch.

Sketch from The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists.

Sketch from Wandering Sketchers.

Sketch from Wandering Sketchers.

Urban Sketchers Cleveland sketch.

Drawn To The Valley study.

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