Daily Sketching, Drawing Human Head Basics

We have one more sketch class before the Holidays, on December 13th, and the group requested we focused on faces.  In preparation for drawing from a live model I suggest filling some pages with basic head structure... 
the overall shape
the center line (that runs between the eyes and down the nose)
ear placement (between the eye line and the bottom of the nose)
and the lines for the mouth, nose and eyes.
Paying special attention to angle of the head - the way the eye line tips - up, down or straight on.

You can practice in a coffee shop, train station, on a bus, etc or grab a magazine and sketch as many heads as you can fit on a page.
Leave out the details for this assignment - right now you are looking only for the basic structure.  And getting comfortable with the placement and angles.
Have fun!
"You can't do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh.” John Singer Sargent

If you enjoy my art you can find more in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.  Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Gluten Free Apricot Chicken review

I am constantly in search of gluten-free dinner recipes - simple and flavorful are my biggest qualifiers. And on day that I am on the run - a crockpot meal will seal the deal!

The other day I felt I covered half the state of NJ and ended the marathon with a nighttime drive back from my daughter's basketball game in a combination of heavy rain, flooding, snow, sleet and fog! 

The light at the end of the stressful tunnel was Apricot Chicken waiting for us - hot, tender, flavorful and ready upon arrival!  


I found Stephanie O'Dea's Apricot Chicken recipe from A Year of Slow Cooking.  The apricot sauce was easy to make and started with a jar of Apricot Preserves... I used Polaner All-Fruit (clearly labeled gluten-free).

The only change I made to the recipe was the addition of 5 cloves of garlic, minced.  (We are a garlic loving family).
The aroma that met us when we dragged in wet, tired, cold was truly delightful.

The chicken with it's sweet and savory sauce were poured on piles of steamy rice - a huge success! It will be part of the regular dinner rotation going forward.

If you enjoy my art you can find more in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.  Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram