Three of the drawing together. I am still working on the one to the left.
I worked on the rock. It is not as fractured looking now. But I am not not happy with the cracks. More work. Friday, July 30, 2010
Progress in spite of the heat
Three of the drawing together. I am still working on the one to the left.
I worked on the rock. It is not as fractured looking now. But I am not not happy with the cracks. More work. 
Figure Sketches
It is just too hot to spend too much time in my studio. It is not climate controlled. So I went home and worked on my figure sketch books. Here are some pages! 
I use images from pose books or magazines to do these, not live models. 
People think this looks like Maura, my wife. These are done in my moleskine books. The pages are a slightly yellow warm hue. Then I draw with a crimson hue color pencil. Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Highlights begun on the last drawing
The highlights on the last drawing have started. I spent a lot time on the rock today. The shapes are separated now, but I will link them up soon. It is hot in Charlotte so I am going to my studio very early in the morning. This drawing has the largest rock of the series. It really dominates the figure. 
The hand needs a lot more detail and refinement, but its a start. The highlight on the leg really helps the 3-D aspect of the arm and leg. I am tempted to put some light on the face, but it is in shadow. I'm still thinking what to do there.
Exhibition in December
Weight: a figure drawing series
Artist Wil Bosbyshell explores the
weight of society on individuals using the
figure as metaphor in an exhibition
at the Art Institute of Charlotte
The Art Institute of Charlotte presents an exhibition of figure drawings by Wil Bosbyshell running from December 4, 2010 to January 5, 2011 in the Libby Guinan Gallery. The Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery is open to the public daily from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m.
In the exhibition, Weight, Bosbyshell explores the figure and its role in the context of today’s pressure-cooker society.
Society puts tremendous pressure on its citizens. The pressure to succeed weighs on the public and individuals. There is great pressure to consume as well; we are all pressured by market forces, peer pressure, family obligations, and demanding jobs. Instructors for example, are pressured to be subject experts, industry leaders, class room disciplinarians, administrators, and entertainers. If societal pressures are not enough, we also pressure ourselves to advance in our careers in addition to being perfect children, parents, spouses, friends, etc. In other words, we pressure ourselves to “have it all.”
In the midst of this weight, it is important for art and artistic concepts to maintain a place in society at the conscious and subconscious levels. How can art address the pressure in our lives? How do these demands on me and those around me become art? Does art add to or alleviate the pressure? What metaphor can be used to show the weight on people in society? Who in society carries the most and least weight?
In the series of drawings titled: Weight, Bosbyshell uses the figure as metaphor to explore the weight that society places on us. Through drawing, he attempts to address the above questions, reflecting on our society.
Throughout his career, Bosbyshell has drawn and painted the figure. However, he has never undertaken drawings of this size and scale. The main drawings of the exhibit are six feet in height and three feet wide, drawn with pencil and white charcoal. Each figure supports a rock above her head. Some figures shoulder the weight easily; others look as if the weight will soon crush them. The exhibit also includes Bosbyshell’s preparatory pencil and pastel sketches.
The progress and process of the drawings have been documented in a blog: http://www.bosbyshellart.blogspot.com/. There you can see, through images and discussion of the drawings in progress, Bosbyshell’s thought process, and technique.
Bosbyshell maintains a studio at the Charlotte Art League on the Light Rail Line in Charlotte’s Southend cultural district. He is an associate professor of graphic design at The Art Institute of Charlotte. Bosbyshell is represented by Redsky Gallery in Charlotte, and has exhibited internationally, and throughout the southeastern U.S. His paintings are included in the collections of EnPro Industries and The Vendue Inn in Charleston.
You are invited to visit the exhibition during the month of December.
Directions to the Art Institute of Charlotte: 2110 Water Ridge Parkway:
From Uptown Charlotte: South on I-77. Exit on Tyvola towards the airport (right). Cross south Tryon Street. Turn left on North Stream Blvd at a light. Left on Water Ridge Parkway. At the dead end, left into parking lot. Ai is at the end of the parking lot on the left.
From South Charlotte: North on I-77. Exit on Tyvola towards the airport (left). Cross south Tryon Street. Turn left on North Stream Blvd at a light. Left on Water Ridge Parkway. At the dead end, left into parking lot. Ai is at the end of the parking lot on the left.
Artist Wil Bosbyshell explores the
weight of society on individuals using the
figure as metaphor in an exhibition
at the Art Institute of Charlotte
The Art Institute of Charlotte presents an exhibition of figure drawings by Wil Bosbyshell running from December 4, 2010 to January 5, 2011 in the Libby Guinan Gallery. The Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery is open to the public daily from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m.
In the exhibition, Weight, Bosbyshell explores the figure and its role in the context of today’s pressure-cooker society.
Society puts tremendous pressure on its citizens. The pressure to succeed weighs on the public and individuals. There is great pressure to consume as well; we are all pressured by market forces, peer pressure, family obligations, and demanding jobs. Instructors for example, are pressured to be subject experts, industry leaders, class room disciplinarians, administrators, and entertainers. If societal pressures are not enough, we also pressure ourselves to advance in our careers in addition to being perfect children, parents, spouses, friends, etc. In other words, we pressure ourselves to “have it all.”
In the midst of this weight, it is important for art and artistic concepts to maintain a place in society at the conscious and subconscious levels. How can art address the pressure in our lives? How do these demands on me and those around me become art? Does art add to or alleviate the pressure? What metaphor can be used to show the weight on people in society? Who in society carries the most and least weight?
In the series of drawings titled: Weight, Bosbyshell uses the figure as metaphor to explore the weight that society places on us. Through drawing, he attempts to address the above questions, reflecting on our society.
Throughout his career, Bosbyshell has drawn and painted the figure. However, he has never undertaken drawings of this size and scale. The main drawings of the exhibit are six feet in height and three feet wide, drawn with pencil and white charcoal. Each figure supports a rock above her head. Some figures shoulder the weight easily; others look as if the weight will soon crush them. The exhibit also includes Bosbyshell’s preparatory pencil and pastel sketches.
The progress and process of the drawings have been documented in a blog: http://www.bosbyshellart.blogspot.com/. There you can see, through images and discussion of the drawings in progress, Bosbyshell’s thought process, and technique.
Bosbyshell maintains a studio at the Charlotte Art League on the Light Rail Line in Charlotte’s Southend cultural district. He is an associate professor of graphic design at The Art Institute of Charlotte. Bosbyshell is represented by Redsky Gallery in Charlotte, and has exhibited internationally, and throughout the southeastern U.S. His paintings are included in the collections of EnPro Industries and The Vendue Inn in Charleston.
You are invited to visit the exhibition during the month of December.
Directions to the Art Institute of Charlotte: 2110 Water Ridge Parkway:
From Uptown Charlotte: South on I-77. Exit on Tyvola towards the airport (right). Cross south Tryon Street. Turn left on North Stream Blvd at a light. Left on Water Ridge Parkway. At the dead end, left into parking lot. Ai is at the end of the parking lot on the left.
From South Charlotte: North on I-77. Exit on Tyvola towards the airport (left). Cross south Tryon Street. Turn left on North Stream Blvd at a light. Left on Water Ridge Parkway. At the dead end, left into parking lot. Ai is at the end of the parking lot on the left.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sketch that began series
The July gallery Crawl in the Southend area was well attended. It was a cool night for July! The officers of the Art League allowed me to display all the drawing in my series in a vacant studio. The drawings looked good. I saw some areas in each drawing that need work. Also, I was able to hang the sketches that began the series. The one shown above has never been published on this blog before. I decided not to execute a larger version of this sketch. It seemed too pessimistic; the rock looks like it is about to come crashing down into the figure. I may do a larger version of this in the future. Mark your calendars: the Weight series will be exhibited in December at the Art Institute gallery. Saturday, July 3, 2010
Highlights continued for drawing three
I had a wonderful day in my studio on Friday. It was 80 degrees in Charlotte. Wow that is cool for this time of year. So I had to go and draw. I worked on the highlights on this drawing. I am close to being finished. The rock needs a little more work.
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