Another Successful Drawing Event

This past Friday was a very eventful figure drawing session that was one of the best yet. Again, held in the World Market Center, we had 6 artists who drew (charcoal and digital) and sculpted a male nude model, afterwhich we broke for food, drinks, and socializing. This event was held in honor of Steve Litvak, the featured Artist of the Month and more than a hundred people turned out for his art exhibit. The figure drawing was an add-on to this occasion for the benefit of the special invited guests who consisted of furniture buyers, designers, suppliers, and hospitality executives. The main goal is to bring in these guests to see the new exhibits of the Beverly Showroom who makes luxurious custom designed furniture for commercial and high-end residential use.

It was my job to facilitate the drawing session which brings in several curious visitors and gives the special invites a chance to see some of the local artists at work. I put out a call to artists from my Las Vegas Art Models Group as well as to the colleges and art community. Its quite an effort to get people to come out and participate, but I'm starting to finally get the word out. I was looking to fill the room with at least 20 artists, but I think I am going to cut back to half that. The smaller groups work better the same way they do for my art nude photo workshops. I'd rather take a invite up to 10 of the best artists to this event and give them a chance to perform in front of influential guests who appreciate and support local art.

Although no work sold on the spot, two of my members on Friday ended up with contacts for future commissioned pieces. We are also making arrangements to have these two artists featured as an Artists of the Month to help showcase local talent. For the next event, I plan to bring in the media to cover this story. Its still a growing concept and pretty soon, I can assure you this will be one of the more sought after events in Las Vegas. This was a lot of fun and its a great opportunity to make the right connections and get some exposure. I'll make this happen.

And Then There's Lydia

One thing I was really happy to see this week was the return of Chris St. James from, my fave place, Univers d'Artistes hailing from France. Chris has been ill for a while now and I heard from him only every now and then. Then he posted on his blog that he could no longer maintain his blog due to his illness. That was about 3 weeks ago. I sent him an email just to wish him well and let him know I thought of him often. I still check his blog most everyday. I was surprised to see an answer that he was trying some new treatments. The next day, he posted on his blog as if he had never left. I was so elated. I pray for his quick recovery.

Over the last few months I have come across several informative links that I think I'll share on my blog. No they are not posted along the sides yet, but they will be. Some are photog resources, some are model resources, and a few fall in between. The first of which I felt was a great link is the Photo Attorney, run by Carolyn E Wright, Esq. who is an attorney specializing in photography. She's got valuable info on photog rights, copyright registration info, etc. I know I've spoken with several art photogs on the issue of copyright. Do you get them or no? I've elected to register my copyrights on everything I do. I send in my newest materials quarterly just to add that extra bit of protection for my work. It really too easy and I think its worth it. Some other links of interest for photogs are the International Center for Photography and the Society for Photographic Education.

My Las Vegas Art Models Group is becoming more active. As we speak, I have three events with locked in dates planned over the next month or so. Two are more drawing sessions, one of which will be another like the one in my recent post. The other will be the same just without the added pomp and circumstance type fanfare, although both will take place at the World Market Center. The third event is, of course my art nude photo workshop, for which my friend Dave Rudin is getting to come visit and lend his expertise. The group is growing and is becoming more publicized by word of mouth. I've made a few contacts with some special people who have helped promote me and my group. It's my endeavor to show that their efforts are paying off for thier friendship and support.

I got a chance to collaborate with Lydia some weeks ago. It wasn't a planned collaboration at all. It was actually a spontaneous shoot as an extension of our second interview. I hadn't planned to get as many images as I did. While I am certain we can do better, I was quite pleased with her and our work. Lydia has a great attitude to match her outgoing personality. She's a firery redhead with wit to match her splendid persona. In fact, I was inclined to cease my search for a model for the upcoming photo workshop and booked her as soon as we concluded our session for the 13th of April. I never get any good photos for myself at the workshops as I am busy facilitating. So I'll have to do Lydia again on my own somewhere in an outdoor locale that still suits her delicate skin. The day I shot her, she was leaving work and already had a sunburn. I'm all about protecting that body, so I'll do what I gotta do.

Look for more links next time pertaining to model resources.

Finally...a Drawing Event

Its been kind of a hectic last 3 weeks. I've had several models to shoot, a wedding, and I finally got to do my drawing session in cahoots with the Beverly Showroom at the World Market Center, here in Vegas. That's a HUGE furniture showcase mega building complex thats getting bigger. Even the architechural design is an artistic element in an of itself. Look it up. They want to help sponsor this event on a monthy basis. This last one was the brainchild of the showroom manager who contacted me about her idea of hosting a drawing session using a live model. I selected Faerie to work this gig and it was an excellent choice. I met several great contacts, got some timely advice from an artist's agent, and have possibly arranged for some future gigs in the making.

The event was held in combination with an invitation for buyers and designers of the furniture and art world who were invited to an exhibit of Artist of the Month, Steven Spann. Its a good way to bring in the right people to showcase furniture, while supporting the local artists and art community.

My side was to facilitate a Work of the Day exhibit featuring work from local artists produced on the spot. The designers got to come in and see the work being created, get to know the artists, and fill up on food and beverages. I'm not talking your run of the mill finger foods, either. This was the good stuff. The Beverly went all out for this.

Faerie thought it was sort of weird having other groups of people enter the showroom who had drinks and a plate instead of inks and a pad. Groups of people would come to watch her being drawn or painted and then head back into the gallery. A few minutes after, another few would drop in and spectate for a while. It was definately different.

At any rate, the monthy events won't be catered like this, but I admire their courage to let me help put on a show and represent my Las Vegas Art Models Group. It was wonderful. Can't wait to do it again. Tune in next time when I bring you new model, Pocatella and then later, Lydia.