Yoga Sketch Book

My figure sketches are done in a moleskine book. I love those things! I usually have a theme for the book, this time it is yoga poses. Here are two pages I did recently. I used color pencil to draw these sketches.

 

Weight Series: The Figure as Metaphor

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 as well as subconscious levels.  How can art to 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 this series of drawings, I will explore the figure and its role in the context of today’s pressure-cooker society. Through a series of drawings, I will attempt to address the above questions, reflecting on our society. The series, called “weight,” uses the figure as metaphor to explore the weight that society places on us. The series will be a metaphor for our lives.  

I have drawn and painted the figure throughout my career. However, I have never undertaken drawings of this size and scale. Large scale drawings will hopefully have greater impact on the viewer, but are much harder to execute successfully than small drawings.  

 

Figure Sketch book - Cross Legged Poses

Figure drawings in my figure sketch books. I use a moleskine book with bristol pages and a Scarlett Lake red colored pencil. 

 

I Am Woman Exhibit Reception March 13, 2021 • 12 - 2 pm

I Am Woman Exhibit at Southern Arts Society in Kings Mountain, NC

features two Weight Series drawings by Wil Bosbyshell

Exhibit Runs March 3 - April 16, 2021

Public Reception March 13, 2021 • 12 - 2 pm

Awards announced online & presented to artists in person • 11 am

Southern Arts Society has sponsored their annual I Am Woman art exhibit and competition since 2004. Artists from around the region have entered over sixty works of art dedicated to the feminine or the essence of being a woman. Artists have created works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, sculpture, textiles and mixed media to interpret their view of I Am Woman. Artwork in this exhibit will be judged with prizes awarded for first, second and third place prizes along with three merit awards.

Many pieces in year's show are figurative, showing women in a variety of poses. There are women serenely embracing motherhood and another literally bearing the weight of the world on her shoulders. Some portraits are very straight forward with gazes growing more confident within themselves, showing a combined strength and serenity. Not all the artwork is serious with some light-hearted paintings showing women enjoying life to the fullest. And yet there is some art that makes us question how we judge women, for their “beauty” or their unseen accomplishments. There are works in all media representing women across the spectrum from goddesses to living embodiments of the natural world.

The public is invited to attend a reception for I Am Woman on Saturday March 13 from Noon until 2 pm. Presentation of awards to the artists will be at 11 am to limit the number of visitors in keeping with current restrictions for Covid-19. This is a free event and dress is casual. All visitors are required to wear a mask or face covering. I Am Woman exhibit will be on view in the galleries of Southern Arts Society (SASi) March 3 through April 16, 2021. Photos of the exhibit and a list of the winners will be posted on our social media and on the exhibit page on SASi's website.

Body Positive Exhibit Opening Friday March 12th

The Body Positive Exhibition opening will be LIVE, IN PERSON on Friday March 12th. The Charlotte Art League will be socially distanced and safe! I will have several figures in the exhibit. I hope to see you there. 

 

Figure Sketch Book

 

Playing around in my figure sketch book. Here is a sketch of the female lead in the latest True Grit movie: Hailee Steinfeld. 

People Are Strong virus face sketch book series

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