ciejavie.com

Tag: life drawing

  • It’s 2026! What else is new?

    It’s 2026! What else is new?

    2026 atc Stu @stuinsd

    Happy New Year! It’s 2026! It is still January, right? It’s difficult to come out of hibernation while still shedding the skin of 2025’s Year of the Wood Snake! But that cycle is nearly complete!

    What else is new? I’ve continued my ongoing work of building ciejavie.com from scratch. The site continues to evolve and grow. In 2026 site sections and pages continue to be enhanced with updates of new, revised, digital, and archived work. New pages have also been added for some model galleries. There’s also a new look for the menu.

    Somehow in this process , new work and explorations are also beginning to emerge as I continue to work on unfinished projects and a few new ones as I proceed with the site development. Ready for forward movement in 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse!

    Cie Ja Digital – 2025
    from Bridget SDAI 2013 – Cie Ja, Jaron, and Tony Magpantay, Jr. collaboration collection

    Collaboration

    Bree – 2013 SDAI
    Lena Gardelli, Jaron Stokes, and Cie Ja

    There is a new page for Collaboration with artists Lena Gardelli, Jonathan Williams, Tony Magpantay, Jr., and Jaron Stokes. There is more work for this page that is still being processed.

    Tori – Collaboration with Jaron Stokes
    Bree – 2013 SDAI
    Lena Gardelli, Jaron Stokes, and Cie Ja
    Cieja – Digital 2025
    from James – SDAI 2013 a collaboration with Jaron Stokes
    James and Zoe – collaboration with Jaron Stokes
    Collaboration
    The Blue Plaids – Cie Ja, @stokesjaronalex, Johnathan Williams
    Valerie – collaboration with Jaron Stokes
    Tori – Collaboration with Jaron Stokes

    Journals

    Journals is another new page. The majority of work in the journals is early wet media explorations from 2013 to 2015 with watercolor and inks as well as other mixed media. I’ve shown a few of my favorites in the gallery below. You can see more through the link above. Journals are listed by size on the page.

    Tori
    Journals mixed media 9 x 12 Jono
    Lori Models K to O

    Sketchbooks

    Sketchbooks is another newly added page. The work here spans from 2013 to present. It includes my work with dry media, wet media, and mixed media. The page is organized by size of sketchbook from smallest to largest by the papers weight. All sketchbooks less than 98lb. weight will appear first in the lineup by size smallest to largest. I’ve shown one of my favorites from each in the gallery below. You can see more through the link above.

    Tamara

    Most of my work tends towards mixed media, both wet and dry. This requires heavier paper weight. Sketchbooks currently in use are the 98 lb. mixed media sketchbooks. Under that title towards the end of the sketchbooks page you will find the remaining sketchbooks also organized by size from smallest to largest. I’ve shown one of my favorites from each in the gallery below. You can see more through the link above.

    My sketchbooks projects have been on hold recently as I have been pouring the majority of my work into the new sites. I have started the new year inspired to slowly begin again on delayed sketchbook projects. There are six new ones shown below.

    5 x 5 blue sketchbook

    Glen
    mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    A5 layout pad
    (this sketchpad has not been added to the sketchbooks page}

    Rob D.
    blind contour – charcoal
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    5 x 7 rainbow sketch – Orange

    Rob D.
    mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    5 x 7 rainbow sketch – Purple

    Glen
    mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    6 x 9 black sketch

    Glen
    mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    5.5 x 8.5 mixed media 98lb. sketchbook

    Earl – @mr_sdleather2024
    semi-blind blind contour
    collage – cardstock and silver foiling
    mixed media – acrylic, alcohol ink, charcoal, conte, and pastel
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    Artist Trading Cards

    Most of my new work in 2026 has been with my artist trading cards. I’ve also been behind on this project for some time and it feels good to be catching up a bit. There are twenty-three new atc’s. The new cards are all photo reference from my own photography with local models (see my Model Photography page). There are two exceptions noted that were submitted from Instagram life models.

    Rob D.

    blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper
    mixed media – charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper
    mixed media – charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel

    blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    acrylic painted cardstock, charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel

    @vivastra_life_modelling

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper
    mixed media – charcoal and pastel
    photo reference – @vivastra_life_modelling

    Earl – @mr_sdleather2024

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper
    mixed media – charcoal and pastel

    Scott

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    mixed media – acrylic painted card stock, charcoal, and pastel

    Donovan – @dr.sickness

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper
    mixed media – charcoal and pastel

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    mixed media – acrylic painted card stock, charcoal, and pastel

    @stokesjaronalex

    modified blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    collage – cardstock, alcohol ink and acrylic painted recycled paper
    mixed media – charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel

    blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper
    mixed media – charcoal and pastel

    @brocktonwarwick

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    mixed media – acrylic painted card stock, charcoal, and pastel

    blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    mixed media – acrylic painted card stock, charcoal, and pastel

    Glen

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    mixed media – acrylic painted card stock, charcoal, and pastel

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    @lorent_live_model

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – @lorent_live_model

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – @lorent_live_model

    @stuinsd

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card
    photo reference – see my Model Photography page

    2026! and that’s January!

    I am finding forgotten work, rediscovering and revisiting older work and techniques, developing new routines and approaches, and managing at my own pace. Of course, I am also learning more about myself along the way. Thank you for your patience with my process and your continued support. It is gratefully appreciated.

    What’s next?

    February 2026!

  • scribble gesture – Robert W.

    scribble gesture – Robert W.

    Scribble gesture drawings of Robert W. in charcoal on newsprint were my inspiration for these new digital images. I’ve used both left hand and right hand scribble gestures in the digital exploration process. Let’s look at my process in the creation of the digital versions that have evolved from these original life drawing sketches.

    scribble gesture

    I’ve come to the conclusion that my best solution for posting is to just “blog” my posts instead. I’m excited about this. I had some reservations about blogging, and what to blog about, or when and how often to blog. The fog seems to be lifting. This is the first step (blog post) in that new direction.

    scribble gesture – charcoal on newsprint

    First up in the process for the digital exploration is photography of the work. I then transfer the photography to the computer for file creation of TIFF and PNG images for the digital work, and save for web compressed JPEGS for website and social media posts.
    As you can see from these examples, that is a process of it’s own.
    Natural light or artificial?
    I prefer natural light. I have found that artificial light, on occasion, can yield better results.
    Morning light or evening light? That depends on various factors. Both are good. Occasionally, I have also developed good results with harsh midday light.

    left hand scribble gesture

    (As you may have noticed, there are more left hand scribble gesture than right hand. The practice is to draw more with the non dominant hand.)

    right hand scribble gesture

    scribble gesture – digital image editing

    After the photography process and image file creation, it’s time for digital image editing. This, of course, will involve even more and larger file creations. That step usually involves the creation of layered TIFFs and flattened PNGs. I then export the PNGs to my phone for final adjustments and signature. The process then goes back to the computer for final save for web JPEG compression to the best file size for websites and social media platforms. I know. It’s a process.

    The image shown above and the images shown in the gallery below were created for the original social media post and for the site. These were the images that inspired this blog post.

    scribble gesture

    Digital Image Editing – the additional images

    Images in this section referred to as additional images were created during the making of this post to demonstrate the process involved and the variety of possibilities with the remaining sketches. I am excited about these results and newly explored techniques that often surface during this process. Cliche, I know, but I do my best to “go with the flow”.

    other scribble gesture – Robert W.

    During this post process, I ran across another scribble gesture of Robert W. This one was used for a collage that continued to evolve. I will have to check some old sketchbooks to see if more were possibly collaged there.

    I’ve enjoyed this process of discovery that has occurred with this blog journey. I’m also excited by the new developments with the Robert W. gallery of work.

    Now it’s back to work on the main project of the new build of the site. Thank you for your time and continued support. It is greatly appreciated.

    See the Models post for images to other models while new pages and galleries are added. You can find me on Instagram at @cie.ja1.

  • Models

    Models

    Yoni life models
    Yoni – @bakermodel

    Welcome to ciejavie.com. All work is my own unless otherwise noted. My life drawing journey and work with life models began in 2013 and continues to evolve in the present.

    You will find images to models listed alphabetically in sections. Models with large amounts of work will have gallery pages created.

    I have worked with many life models in various locations around San Diego. I started in life drawing courses at San Diego Mesa College in 2013.

    Tori – Digital

    I sought out what was available to me to supplement my classes. I found that with “art gym” at San Diego Art Institute’s (SDAI) Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park.

    The opportunities for model photography there also allowed me to acquire images for photo reference drawings and digital exploration.

    I’m fortunate and grateful to have met and worked alongside a large number of talented local artists and models there. I am especially grateful to have collaborated with several of them.

    James – 2015 collaboration with Jaron Stokes, Lena Gardelli, and Jonathan Williams

    I would also draw at San Diego Art Department (SDAD) on Ray Street in North Park. Opportunities that allowed me to explore my creativity freely were at the top of my list.

    Anonymous Three – SDAD 2013

    I was grateful to find another opportunity with North Park Drawing Group at the rec. center in North Park.

    Christa – NPDG 2015

    I also enjoyed excursions for drawing to My Art Shed in La Jolla. I would collaborate with Jaron Stokes and we would also draw individually there (see my drawing below) with life model Yoni – @bakermodel.

    (My Art Shed – La Jolla 2015) Yoni – @bakermodel

    Participating with the San Diego Gay Men’s Art Group and having the opportunities for both drawing and photography at Diversionary Theater and Twiggs Coffee in University Heights was also truly a blessing.

    SDGMAG 2018 – Brock, Chris, Donovan, and Jaron (back to front)
    SDGMAG 2025 – Donovan, Brock, Stu, Jaron, and Scott (left to right)

    A Model Photography page has been added. The creative digital work and reference drawings that were inspired by those images are being processed to be included. The page is in continued development.

    Chris – 2018 SDGMAG at Twiggs (2025 digital)

    As pages are created this post will evolve. Thanks for your patience with my process and new site construction.

    ciejavie.com

    Models A to E

    Models A to E page includes the following (linked names go to Instagram profiles or ciejavie model gallery pages):
    Aileen, Amanda, Angele, Anonymous One, Anonymous Two, Anonymous Three, @artmodelstl, @ayax_moon, Bart, Bree, Bridget, @brocktonwarwick, Cadi, Chelsea, Chris, Christa, Christine A., Christine K., Cynthia, David, Donovan, Earl, and Erica.

    Bree – Collaboration with Jaron Stokes
    Bridget – 2013 Collaboration with Jaron Stokes (digital 2025)

    Models A to E page includes work from 2013 to present with images from life drawing, photo reference, collaboration, and digital photography.

    @artmodelstl

    Models F to J

    James – 2015 collaboration with Jaron Stokes

    Models F to J page includes the following (linked names go to Instagram profiles or ciejavie model gallery pages):
    @fitartmodel_2, Frances, Gabriela, Gilbert, Ginger, @giovanniortiz6151, @giraffucklyspeakingart, @gjthefiguremodel, Glen, Harriet, harrycovair15, James, Jaron, Jim, Joel, John, John B., Jono, and Joshua.

    Models F to J page includes work from 2013 to present with images from life drawing, photo reference, collaboration, and digital photography.

    Models K to O

    Models K to O page includes the following (linked names go to Instagram profiles or ciejavie model gallery pages):
    Kirby, @leniadbrecaradibujos, Leigh, @lifefigure_, @lifemodel.rach, Lilly, @lorent_live_model, Lori S., @luniversphotos_de_p, @malemodelmtl, Mandi, @maxexhibiart, Meghan, Mike, @mistry.3y3z , @mrkendonagasaki, and Nancy.

    Models K to O page includes work from 2013 to present with images from life drawing, photo reference, zoom sessions, and digital photography.

    Models P to T

    Models P to T page includes the following (linked names go to Instagram profiles or ciejavie model gallery pages):
    Rebecca, Rob D., Robert W., Sabrina, Sajda, Scott, Shaunna, Sherman, Shondra, Sophia, Stefanie S., Stephanie R., Stu, Tamara, Tanya, and Tori.

    Tanya –
    Collaboration with Jaron Stokes

    Models P to T page includes work from 2013 to present with images from life drawing, photo reference, collaboration, and digital photography.

    Models U to Z

    Models U to Z page includes the following (linked names go to ciejavie model gallery pages):
    Valerie, Veronica, Virginia, @vivastra_life_modelling, @vlad.uvarov.cg, Yoni, Zara, and Zoe.

    Models U to Z page includes work from 2013 to present with images from life drawing, photo reference, collaboration, and digital photography.

    ciejavie.com

  • Welcome to My New Life Drawing Art Domain!

    Welcome to My New Life Drawing Art Domain!

    I am thrilled to announce that my subdomain, Cie Ja Vie, for my life drawing art at cieja.com, is officially moving to a brand new domain! This exciting change marks a significant step in my journey. I can’t wait to share all the wonderful new features with you.

    What’s Coming Your Way

    As I transition to the new site, you can expect an influx of new work. Captivating art model images will breathe new life into my artistic endeavors. I am now hard at work adding quality content and building my new site. I am dedicated to ensuring that your experience is better than ever. My commitment to my life drawing arts and creativity journey is at the forefront of this move!

    Thank You for Your Patience

    I appreciate your understanding during this development phase. Change can be challenging, and I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your patience as I enhance my platform. New posts and pages are in production, so stay tuned for exciting updates that will keep you inspired. Together, let’s celebrate the world of art and creativity in life drawing, digital art, model photography, abstract, collage, and wherever inspiration takes us!