Category Archives: sketches

He was in the Corner at Epoch

July 7, 2010 – 9:44 am

My friend Lauren Hamilton Levy and I set out for Epoch yesterday, and we got lucky – we found a pretty good table. The guy next to us, in the corner, was hunkered down for a long spell. He was very thin and East Coast in appearance. (We never wear NorthFace apparel in the summer). […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, guerrilla artist, guerrilla portraiture, Oil Sketches Live at Coffee Houses, painting people from life, portrait sketch | Tagged , , , | Comments (5)

I Sketched the Punk Rocker at Spider House

May 18, 2010 – 10:02 am

I’ve been working; some of you may be wondering. I have formed an art club with three artist friends that I worked with at Les Amis almost 30 years ago. At our weekly meetings, we have been going to Spider House, and drawing for 4 to 5 hours. They are not into painting, so I […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in art, guerrilla portraiture, Spider House, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (7)

Girl Genius Writes Code at FlightPath Coffee

January 5, 2010 – 7:49 pm

My daughter and I went to FlightPath Coffee during Finals Week before Christmas. This young brainiac came in late with her friend, and snagged one of the best tables. I don’t know if she knew how lucky she was – probably not. These Einstein- types can be totally unaware of the world around them. She […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, guerrilla artist, guerrilla portraiture, Oil Sketches Live at Coffee Houses, painting live, portrait sketch, portraiture | Tagged , , , | Comments (43)

I Painted the Guy in the Panama Hat at Epoch

December 9, 2009 – 12:20 pm

He was reading the paper, and chatting with two girls at Epoch Coffee.  He had his folded hands resting on his forehead for just a few moments – long enough for me to get the gesture. He seemed to be  filled with the youthful optimism that everything will work itself out for the best. But […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, artist, figure painting, guerrilla artist, guerrilla portraiture, oil painting, Oil Sketches Live at Coffee Houses, painting, painting live, painting people from life, portrait sketch, portraiture | Tagged , , , , | Comments (12)

I Painted Her at Royal Ground Coffee in San Raphael, Ca.

August 7, 2009 – 10:52 am

This is one of the only 2 paintings that I was able to do while I was on vacation out in Marin County recently. My sister-in-law dropped me off at this coffee house in San Raphael. I was really nervous, since it was my first attempt outside of Austin. I just loved her pink ruffly […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, guerrilla artist, guerrilla portraiture, oil painting, Oil Sketches Live at Coffee Houses, painting, painting people from life, portrait sketch, portraiture | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

The Difference Between Painting and Drawing

March 25, 2009 – 6:30 am

People ask me if I sketch in with pencil or charcoal before I begin.   No, I don’t.  So much of painting requires restatement in the process, why start out fumbling from the beginning?  I try to say what I mean from the very beginning. Think about the process of painting as opposed to drawing.  Rendering […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, figure painting, oil painting, painting, portrait sketch | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (19)

The Sensual Line of the Rapid Oil Sketch

November 23, 2008 – 9:02 pm

This is an example of the  very rapid, warp 10/volume 11 sketch.  As people are waiting for their drink orders at the counter, I try and paint them.  I have anywhere from one to three minutes to capture the gesture.  It is a tricky business.  One cannot falter, and precision and rhythm of line is […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, figure painting, painting, painting people from life, portrait sketch | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (11)

Oil Sketch Pronto-Prontissimo!

October 18, 2008 – 9:32 pm

When I started college, I wanted to be a fashion illustrator.  I went to a pretty crummy state school my first year, and the only fashion illustration class was in the home ec department.  I couldn’t bring myself to sign up for home ec, so I switched over to architecture.  I flunked out of drafting […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in art, fashion illustration, oil painting, painting | Tagged , , , , | Comments (9)

Portrait of a Gentle Geek

October 7, 2008 – 8:13 pm
By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, figure painting, painting, painting people from life, portrait sketch | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

A Little Painting Morsel Before Bedtime

October 5, 2008 – 12:25 am

I just got back from Halcyon Coffee on Fourth Street.  I was there all day.  I pretty much sucked.  I will load up some of the stuff that I painted there tomorrow if I have the time.  Here is a morsel just for tonight.  This will lead to another discussion soon about painting with available, […]

By Lavanna Martin | Also posted in alla prima, art, figure painting, painting, portrait sketch, portraiture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)