Featured Drawings

Figure Drawing Archive
03/31/2020
My Figure Drawings archive.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Divine Delirium
ORIGINALLY POSTED (to Instagram) OCTOBER 17, 2019
New digital drawing, Divine Delirium
Written by
Todd Powelson
Birds
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON APRIL 28, 2013
Birds are an especially powerful symbol for me. A link between heaven and earth.
Written by
Todd Powelson

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More Drawings: From Instagram

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A couple of weeks ago, I was out in front of my house watering the plants. It was a nice day, but hot. First, one #bird landed in the water that was starting to puddle up, then another. More followed, then more. #Finch, #sparrow, maybe a #pigeon or two (I don’t remember seeing pigeon specifically, but maybe. I see them flying around in my trees often enough anyway). I made bigger puddles for the #birds, and they started to play with each other, splashing and drinking. Flying around, having fun. I was really enjoying watching ‘em, and they seemed to be having a great time. I don’t know for sure, but it seemed like there could have been 20 or so birds playing in the water all around me. But then, suddenly, this #falcon zipped down into the crowd. I don’t know if it saw me or what (I was kind of under a canopy and it did seem surprised), but the #peregrinefalcon stopped abruptly, landing in the grass only a few feet away. Of course, all of the other birds panicked and flew off into my trees and rose of sharon. The falcon and I stood there looking at each other. It was very intense. After a moment, it flew off, #flying wildly after one of the other birds. I didn’t see the falcon catch anything, but how can I know for sure? To be honest, the whole experience bothered me for days. Still does. Unease and dread. Not because of the falcon, it is a beautiful bird too… I guess it is because I don’t want to cause suffering to any animal, deliberately or by accident, and do my best to live my life accordingly. And also because… well, it was a reminder that there is danger all around. Just out of sight. Hiding in the trees, waiting to swoop down while you’re out having fun. And who needs those kind of reminders this year? #2020, #knowwhatImean? So take a #look and be reminded, ha! Anyway, I made this #drawing because I couldn’t stop thinking about the whole experience. #omen #art #artwork #draw #sketch #sketchbook #cubism #horus #toddpowelsonart #🐦

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I've been seeing a lot of #coyote lately. It started a few months ago last spring with a pair of coyote I'd sometimes run into. I'd spot them up the hills. By the river. Later, in the early summer, I heard and then saw their 4 pups from a distance up the hillside. They were having a rowdy blast. Ive seen (and heard) them regularly ever since. A few weeks ago I was coming around a corner and stood about 15 feet in front of one of the coyote, who was coming up from the river. The coyote started moving back to the river, but I waved and told him it was okay, he could keep on moving up the hill. Even though my dog was flipping his noodle, the coyote stopped and moved closer to me, sniffing the air. My dog calmed down, and we all just stood looking at each other. After a few minutes (seemed like a very long time) the coyote moved a bit up the hill, stopped and looked back. I waved, he moved a littled further up and stopped to look back. I waved. He moved, looked back, I said "see ya" and he was gone into the trees. Ive been wanting to #draw that #coyotebuddy since, and finally did. I also like to print my #animal images onto #tshirts and wear them into the hills. Kinda feel like I'm telling my #canyon "look what I made for ya". Lately I've been using #Society6 for various printing projects, and you can get this coyote and a handful of other designs there too. society6.com/toddpowelson #drawing #digitaldrawing #sketch #sketchbook #art #artwork #adobe_illustrator #adobeillustrator #toddpowelsonart #trickster

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Years ago, I was hiking back into the #Uinta mountains and eventually found myself at the bottom of a strong waterfall, which emptied into a large gorge, with tall cliff walls on either side. I sat down at the bottom, enjoying the rapids and the river, but soon heard something above me and noticed a #mountainlion looking down over the cliff edge at me. It disappeared, then reappeared. Disappeared, reappeared. It seemed to be looking for a way to get down to me, so I jumped over the rapid’s rocks, crossed to the other side, went bye-bye. I’ve seen #cougar a handful of other times, usually from a pretty significant distance. Once though, even closer, from about ten feet away. That sighting was really quick, no more than a few seconds, as it ran away, up a hill and into the trees. About three years ago, I was going for a hike after dark on a summer night when I started to get an uneasy feeling, like I was being followed. As I kept going, I was sure of it. I’d hear small rocks shift, or leaves move, branches crack softly up above me on the hillside. Every sense shouted danger, like something was trying to determine how I'd taste, and if I was worth the effort. I made my way out of the canyon as quickly as I could, and after about 45 minutes that feeling went away, I wasn’t worth it after-all. I never actually saw what was following, but I think it was a mountain lion. I don’t know of another animal that’d do that the way it did here or nearby, and besides, I know how they “feel” now and I trust my instincts. About a week ago I started a hike at dusk. I went up a side-trail for a couple of miles, and by the time I reached my destination it was dark outside. I was in a clearing with trees all around, and I sat down on a large boulder. I started to feel like I was being watched. My dog sensed it too, and stood bolt upright staring deep into the trees in the same direction I felt the threat coming from. Again, I never saw it, but I could smell that familiar threat and got the hell out of there. I’ve been thinking about all that, and that’s why I did this #drawing - #draw #art #artwork #sketch #sketchbook #paperandpencil #toddpowelsonart

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More Drawings

Death
05/02/23
The rest is silence.
Written by
Todd Powelson
De Chirico – The Mathematician
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON APRIL 8, 2012
This last week I came across the drawing above by artist Georgio de Chirico called the Mathematician.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Tolkien’s Trees and Landscapes
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON MAY 8, 2016
The work of J.R.R. Tolkien has been a constant companion throughout my whole life.
Written by
Todd Powelson
James Jean Drawings
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON AUGUST 4, 2013
I especially like going through James Jean's work on Instagram and seeing how his work evolves.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Peter Schmidt
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON JANUARY 29, 2012
Lately I find myself going back, and back again, to check in on the work of Peter Schmidt.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Véronique Meignaud
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON DECEMBER 6, 2011
Not too long ago I came across the artwork of Véronique Meignaud and loved it immediately.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Art in the Caves
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON JUNE 12, 2011
A few weeks ago I went to see Werner Herzog’s movie The Cave of Forgotten Dreams at the Broadway Cinema.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Bare Bodkin
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON DECEMBER 20, 2011
I wanted to fight against the urge to quietus make, with a bare bodkin. . .
Written by
Todd Powelson
Coyote
ORIGINALLY POSTED (to Instagram) OCTOBER 3, 2018
It started a few months ago last spring with a pair of coyote I'd sometimes run into. I'd spot them up the hills. By the river.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Alive With Moonlight
ORIGINALLY POSTED (to Instagram) JULY 25, 2018
Tall trees reach into the sky, branches creating new eye shapes for the moon to peek through with each step. These moon eyes became hypnotic, watching the moon watch me.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Medusa
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON AUGUST 25, 2017
Written by
Todd Powelson
Psychopomp
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON JUNE 18, 2017
A psychopomp is a guide, an escort accompanying souls to the afterlife. They can also serve as guides through the various transitions of life.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Emperor
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON MAY 21, 2017
Some new artwork, called the Emperor. I caught a vision of this chap one day while sitting and listening to a lecture, and I immediately had to draw the dude down.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Life Drawing
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON OCTOBER 9, 2016
It’s easy for me to focus on drawing what is in my imagination, and forget to draw from life. It’s always a good and important exercise to draw the human figure, and draw what you see.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Winter Trees
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON DECEMBER 6, 2015
A giant tree face that looked back at me.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Sphinx
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON JUNE 21, 2015
Written by
Blackbird Singin’ In The Dead Of Night….
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON APRIL 26, 2015
I finished this here flock of birds
Written by
Todd Powelson
Even More Birds (In The Face!)
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON MARCH 29, 2015
I started drawing these strange birds with sort-a human faces embedded into the feathers two or three years ago and have always meant to do more with the idea.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Western Caduceus
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON OCTOBER 5, 2014
The snake, the bird, and the trees all kind of merged into one image in my minds eye and became this caduceus drawing.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Firebirds (in the Face!)
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON AUGUST 25, 2013
I didn’t think that I’d be posting more of these birds so soon, but they’ve become an important part of a project I’m working on and am really excited about.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Ghost in the Machine
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON APRIL 6, 2013
Here is a new piece I finished recently called “Ghost in the Machine“.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Ghost
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON JANUARY 10, 2013
Here is a picture that I finished last night. It is really a sketch for another idea I have brewing in my mind, but I think it also stands pretty well on its own as a finished piece too.
Written by
Todd Powelson
Figure Drawing with Adobe Ideas 2.5
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON DECEMBER 2, 2012
It has been a while, but it is always nice to take the time and draw from life.
Written by
Todd Powelson
One Sweet Dream…
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON JUNE 17, 2012
On my walk I came across a herd of deer maybe ten or twenty yards up above me, grazing near and running through the scrub oak.
Written by
Todd Powelson
New Digital Drawings
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2012
Today I am posting a couple new Adobe Ideas drawings that I’ve recently finished.
Written by
Todd Powelson
HUGE. ART. DUH.
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON APRIL 5, 2011
Here is the poster and some information on our upcoming show at the Hive, Duh!
Written by
Todd Powelson
iPad Drawing
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON FEBRUARY 6, 2011
I’ve included some of my iPad drawings in this post.
Written by
Todd Powelson
SLCitizen – Gallery Stroll
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON AUGUST 15, 2010
Written by
Todd Powelson
Regular Price, 5 bucks, 5 bucks, 5 bucks, 5 bucks – Cheap Posters by Todd Powelson
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON AUGUST 12, 2010
Over the years Todd has been invited to design posters to promote a variety of shows.
Written by
Todd Powelson
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