Original Figure Drawings

[Borsheim Arts Studio]

Figure Drawings from Live Models in Italy

by Kelly Borsheim

The drawings shown on this page were all created in Italy from live models. With the exception of the two-week pencil drawing of Lucio, the drawings you see on this page were done from relatively short poses of about two hours with the models. Each Wednesday night, when I am in Florence, Italy, and the studio is open, I host an "Open Studio" in which artists from all over may draw from a live model by paying only a small fee. I get to meet many artists this way and try out models for longer projects as well. It is also a bit of "free time" for me as I play with different materials and styles.

You may notice that some of these drawings are the traditional graphite (pencil) on white paper, while others are white pencils on a darker paper. More than ever, it seems that this year I have been trying to focus on light coming out of darkness. As I work in Italy to improve my understanding of disegno (design and drawing), I am trying to let go of a few things and think more abstractly about the work that some people unfortunately describe as 'photographic.' My goal right now is to portray a believable individual (perhaps something that feels 'real'), but in a way that looks like art, and not like a photograph of a person. I think that this goal is exceptionally challenging in mediums of white, black, and greys, but I am going for it just the same.

If you like the more finished drawings, such as "Lucio - Study for a Naked Gondolier", please visit last year's drawing page.

I tried to link each artwork image to my blog on the first entry in which I shared my process of each individual work. Click on the image if this interests you.

All drawings are for sale, unless noted otherwise. Please contact the studio or one of the galleries, if interested in one or more of my original figure drawings. Thank you.
Kelly Borsheim

"Valentina"
graphite drawing 2008
12" x 12"
by Kelly Borsheim
square watercolor paper, oriented as diamond
Available: $125

"Eva"
Liquid Pencil drawing October 2008
6" x 23"
by Kelly Borsheim
White Watercolor paper
Available: $125 + $18 shipping from Italy

"Jonathon"
(coming soon)
carbon pencil drawing 2008
" x "
by Kelly Borsheim
BFK Rieves white paper
Available: $750

"Lucio - Study for a Naked Gondolier"
graphite drawing 2007
16" x 9"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson white paper
Available: $750

"Chiara - 28 November 2007"
graphite drawing 2007
12" x 9.5"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson paper
Available: $125

"Simona - 2008 Giugno 11"
white pastel drawing 2008
18" x 8"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson grey paper
Available: $125

"Ranieri - 2008 Jan 30"
graphite drawing 2008
9" x 11"
by Kelly Borsheim
Arches white paper
Available: $125

"Ernesto - 2008 Aprile 11"
charcoal pencils (W & B) drawing 2008
17" x 10"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson grey paper
Available: $125

"Eugenia - 2007 October 24"
graphite + white drawing 2008
12" x 9.5"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson grey paper
SOLD

Francesco - 2008 Feb 13"
charcoal drawing 2008
6" x 24"
by Kelly Borsheim
watercolor paper
SOLD

Francesco - 2008 Feb 13" (detail)
SOLD

"Francesco - 2008 Feb 13"
19 August 2008 "Dear Kelly,
I had him framed in a hand-made Italian olive wood frame, see attached. The local framer was very impressed with your work and said that this is the finest piece he has worked on. This may not seem like much of a complement coming from a framer in Picayune, MS; but the owners of a gallery on [_____] Street in New Orleans also live here and he does all their framing. I hope you like it. Richard"
Collection of Richard Mole
Mississippi

"Mario - Sketch in White Pastel"
white pastel drawing 2008
18" x 12"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson paper
(Study for painting)
Available: $125

"Mario - Sketch in White Pastel" (detail)
white pastel drawing 2008
18" x 12"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson paper
(Study for painting)
Available: $125

"Ernesto in White - 2008 Aprile 23"
white pastel pencil drawing 2008
15" x 11"
by Kelly Borsheim
Canson grey paper
Available: $125

"Mauro in White - 2008 June 18"
white pastel drawing 2008
16" x 10"
by Kelly Borsheim
black paper
Available: $125

Art, like mathematics, is simply determining the relationship between things.