Every Thursday, I figure draw. And I absolutely love it.

Over the course of the quiet night, I usually create a composition of figures on one page. While the model moves and shifts shapes every 30 seconds to 20 minutes, I capture her pose and find ways that the figures can connect, compliment, or melt into each other. Then I play with adding a graphic element; sometimes another medium or color, a pattern, a framing element, illustration, or some typography. It's fun to create a finished piece this way. Ultimately though, I'm there every week I can be, with many talented artists in hometown, simply to practice- as I really do believe figure drawing is one of the best ways to keep your hand moving, keep your eyes sharp, and improve your illustration. 

I started figure drawing at Santa Barbara Adult Ed when I was 16, came and went, then took an intensive anatomy-based figure drawing class my first year at Otis College of Art and Design, came and went, then picked up the practice again during my senior year under the mentorship of Nathan Ota. Now 4 years later, I'm back at Santa Barbara Adult Ed practicing whenever I get the chance. I've had one art show showcasing this passion practice at Seven in the Funk Zone of Santa Barbara, and have framed originals and prints available for sale.