Charcoal on paper. Original size, 11″ x 17″.

Hour and a half long portrait from life.
If you’re interested in a similar black and white portrait, contact me.
I’d love to draw you. -Z

Oil on board. Absolutely no Photoshop. 15″ x 20″

First fully completed oil painting. 16 week Atelier session. Oils are amazing.
Gotta look at Rembrandt more. Keeping the highlights rich and thick, the darks
transparent and thin. So much to learn! -Z

Inktense pencil on sketchbook paper

First time at the Society of Illustrators life drawing session. Lots of men with white beards were there.
Also, live jazz. Such a deal! Can’t wait to go back. -Z

HB Charcoal on Stonehenge paper, with a tiny bit of Photoshop. 10.5″ x 13.5″

3 Hour charcoal pencil Alla Prima.

Oil on thick Illustration Board with a good dollop of Photoshop. 15″ x 20″

3 hour long Alla Prima. Wipe out method. I like the wipe out way because I just
don’t understand how to use white yet. Kinda gives it a haunting monoprint feel.
Keeping in mind shadow welding and large shapes to achieve reality. -Z

Oil on Ampersand Gesso Board. 12″ x 16″

First oil …almost. I had a brief accidental collision with oils this summer during IMC.
After nearly a 2 year wait, Andy, my atelier teacher, finally felt I was ready to paint.
This was a highly anticipated event. This is a 3 hour long alla prima done with
raw umber and black. Using the wipe out method, painted on Ampersand Gesso board.
I’ve been dreaming about painting. My first time felt really remarkable. Also reading
Alla Prima by Richard Schmid which is getting me even more excited. -Z

Charcoal HB/2B pencil on Mi-Teintes Strathmore paper. Sizes vary.

These are done at a small Brooklyn atelier. The instructor’s name is Andy Reiss. He’s definitely changed
the way I draw and see reality, and I owe my career as an illustrator to him and to the Atelier method.
An atelier is a systematic way of learning to draw. Art schools won’t give you this, except for a few. -Z

Waterbrush filled with rapidograph ink on glossy paper. 8.5″ x 11″.
Ugolino and his sons by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux on the second page, one of the
most impressive sculptures pulled out of marble. Go look at it at the Met.
Just realized that human hands have webbing between the fingers. Ink inspiration
comes from Franklin Booth and Joseph Clement Coll. –Z

Waterbrush filled with rapidograph ink on glossy paper. 8.5″ x 11″.

Hand Studies, inspired by expressive hands of JC Leyendecker and Alphonse Mucha.
A lecture given by Frank Porcu, revealed how much character and emotion can be shown
through hands. Studies done from George Bridgman, my own hands, and Rob Rey.
Porcu also mentions how a value change means there’s a plane change. –Z

Charcoal and white pastel on toned paper.