composition studies | evening interiors

Silhouette Sushi Restaurant | Congress Ave
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Zen Japanese Fast Food restaurant | SoCo
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Focus of study: Composition

In honor of the winter months the studio process will include a foundational shift from "sketch hunting" to "composition hunting". The end objective in mind is to focus less on the "subject matter" and look behind it to the arrangement of shapes on the picture plane and the creation of visual flow within a sketch or painting. A shift from the effort to create an engaging and recognizable sketch through object-driven drawing....drawing a person, a building, a tree, a plant, a bicycle, "Jo's coffee Shop", ...etc...to exploring the range and visual dynamics of the picture plane, regardless of the subject matter at hand.

The primary instructional resource is Ian Roberts' text: Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting.


The primary exercise is the "composition a day"...it's not intended to be a regimented focus on creating at least one composition a day....but rather the intention that whenever engaged in the creative "hunt" that the focus embodies "a sketch journal adventure exploring and falling in love with the world one composition @ a time".

Jo's | hot coffee:good food:cold beer....

copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Enjoying a Bodhi bowl @ Zen on Congress Ave gazing at Jo's hot coffee:good food:cold beer across the street on the corner of Congress and James.....

25th Annual Sketch Crawl - Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial

copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Pathway around Town Lake @ the Stevie Ray Vaughan memorial. Sketch was completed from field notes in Corel Painter with Wacom tablet.

Tantramount I

copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Quick abstract color study while calibrating a Wacom Intuos drawing tablet with an iMac and Corel Painter.

Casa De Luz | Bowl of sunshine....

Casa de Luz | lunch here is food for the soul| graphite| Pen | 11.19.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Each spoonful of each bowl of soup @ Casa De Luz is like liquid sunshine....its that good, and that pure of a delight....

lunchtime stroll

Construction walkway, downtown Austin | pen and graphite | 11.18.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Office View | Municipal Bldg, 8th St.

Municipal Bldng | graphite value study| 11.16.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Bit too windy to sit outside and sketch today during lunch...so pb&j and pencils looking out of my North facing office window. My view is from a building on Colorado and 7th st. The view is looking to the NE corner of Colorado and 8th st. The shadowed doorways across the street belong to the Amsterdam Cafe'. The sunlit building is the Municipal Building.

People @ Casa De Luz

Pen and ink, graphite, watercolor | Casa De Luz | 11.14.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

New Sketchbook and pens :))) !

conscious looking... we are how we see | pen and ink, watercolor, graphite| 11.13.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Vienna Teng @ Stubbs

Vienna Teng @ Stubbs, inside upstairs table looking down | graphite | 11.12.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

First time to see an inside concert @ Stubbs. Nice sound, intimate setting, great show! Upstairs table view rocks! Did I mention the jalapeno cheesy spinach?

random gaze....

graphite | oil pastel | 11.11.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Lunch on the steps (6th St.)

6th Street Fountain steps | graphite | 11.11.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

people @ Magnolia Cafe

people @ Magnolia Cafe | Austin, Tx | graphite | 11.10.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Threadgills | Bob Schneider Texas Bluegrass Massacre

Threadgill's | Bob Schneider Texas Bluegrass Massacre | graphite | ink | 11.7.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

sketchbook diptych ... two consecutive pages.... the one on the left was drawn while relaxin' before the band and crowd arrived....throwdown on the right..... good times....! :)

Auditorium Shores, view from under the Tree of Remembrance | graphite | ink | 11.7.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Beautiful weather...hub of energy, runners, paddlers, chillers and dogs....sat under the shade of The Remembrance Tree enjoying the view of city hall, and the First St. bridge....

Oktoberfest 09 Waterloo Park

Waterloo Park | Austin, Tx | Oktoberfest 09 | graphite | pen and ink | 10.24.09
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Caught a set of Guy Forsyth followed by Nakia and His Southern Cousins...always a great set! I particularly like the relatively huge size of the band (10ft at least) as well as the mammoth hugging couple in the middle. Was sitting up closer to the stage when I drew those figures...so....Doh....proportions be damned...!

New Mexico Feeding the Artist's Soul Tour '09

The next couple of days following the epic balloon | Tram adventure were low key explorations of Santa Fe with sketches of the courtyard of The Shed restaurant and the Palace of the Governors in the historic Plaza district. Countless shops, galleries, and museums make this area an exploration of the dynamic pulse of the Santa Fe creative arts.


The Shed Courtyard, Santa Fe | 10.7.09 | Pen and Ink, Watercolor
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.


The Palace of the Governors | 10.8.09 | Graphite, pen
copyright 2009 b. scott shaevel | studio712; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.


sketching in The Shed Restaurant





Spent an afternoon touring the Georgia O'keefe Museum. This tour provided a wonderful exploration of the artist's philosophy regarding the creative spirit and abstract art, her strength of conviction regarding her art, her technique with pastel, acrylic, and abstract color...and an in depth biographical glimpse into the artists love affair with NM. The exhibit displayed quotes and biographical information painted on the exhibit walls accompanying her works, along with stunning historic photographs, several taken by Ansel Adams. Wandering exploration of the historic plaza area...weather turned a bit chilly for outdoor sketching but absorbing a lifetime of images and influences for inspiration and future reference....












San Miguel Church
Oldest church in the US


Santa Fe sunsets/sunrises are stunning

New Mexico Feeding the Artist's Soul Tour '09

Madrid, Turquoise Trail | Higher and Higher | Epic Day of Adventure

Floating down the Turquoise Trail after epic heights of adventure we soak in the gorgeous landscape on display along this drive and stop as the sun begins to set. Madrid is a mining ghost town nestled on the northeast side of the Sandia Mountains. We stopped for a stroll through this small village of about 400 residents, revived by artists. Dotted with shops, galleries, bed and breakfasts, and The Mineshaft Tavern, we stopped for refreshments with the locals and ghosts of Madrid.


The Mineshaft Tavern


One unique gallery after another













We ride into the sunset the sounds of indian flute music and old west ghosts echoing in our trail bringing an epic day of adventure to a beautiful close.