Kevin McGillivray
@schmevin.bsky.social
Artist & instructor in Wisconsin
✍️ Writing “Art Just Happens: A Life Drawing Handbook”
The Timeless Way / mythic mode / conviviality
I post about: Paintings, drawings, websites, creative practice
✍️ Writing “Art Just Happens: A Life Drawing Handbook”
The Timeless Way / mythic mode / conviviality
I post about: Paintings, drawings, websites, creative practice
Portrait study, charcoal pencil on newsprint
November 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Portrait study, charcoal pencil on newsprint
All we want is the winged victory
Figure study in Procreate with Lane Brown’s charcoal brush pack
Figure study in Procreate with Lane Brown’s charcoal brush pack
November 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
All we want is the winged victory
Figure study in Procreate with Lane Brown’s charcoal brush pack
Figure study in Procreate with Lane Brown’s charcoal brush pack
I’m writing a life drawing book! It’s a companion to bring with you to life drawing to find inspiration and exercises to keep your practice fresh, grow your observational skills, and get encouragement in your creative practice. Want to help? Send me a DM! Looking for folks to test draft exercises 😄
November 27, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I’m writing a life drawing book! It’s a companion to bring with you to life drawing to find inspiration and exercises to keep your practice fresh, grow your observational skills, and get encouragement in your creative practice. Want to help? Send me a DM! Looking for folks to test draft exercises 😄
A few life drawings from the last few months
November 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
A few life drawings from the last few months
Figure drawing on thrifted Pier 1 stone tile
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Figure drawing on thrifted Pier 1 stone tile
The Red Mage knows when to be still and heal, and when to take action with a sharp sword, which is a hard earned wisdom. I also think the Red Mage represents clearly what I believe is the underlying practice of any creativity, becoming fluent in opposite modes and blending them into a new whole.
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The Red Mage knows when to be still and heal, and when to take action with a sharp sword, which is a hard earned wisdom. I also think the Red Mage represents clearly what I believe is the underlying practice of any creativity, becoming fluent in opposite modes and blending them into a new whole.
Similar to the Green Man living in the boundary between the human realm and the dark woods, the Red Mage is a liminal figure who lives in the threshold between the internal and external worlds, between action and stillness, spell and blade.
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Similar to the Green Man living in the boundary between the human realm and the dark woods, the Red Mage is a liminal figure who lives in the threshold between the internal and external worlds, between action and stillness, spell and blade.
The red mage feels impossible. How can one character blend such extreme opposites on their own and in combination? They synthesize seemingly incompatible opposites into a unified flow, and seem to have no problem shifting between modes.
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The red mage feels impossible. How can one character blend such extreme opposites on their own and in combination? They synthesize seemingly incompatible opposites into a unified flow, and seem to have no problem shifting between modes.
Spellsword classes in role playing games are also examples of the archetype, equally comfortable with both the mundane sword and the arcane book. In the Legend of Zelda series, Link carries some of these qualities, and might exchange his green tunic for a red one.
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Spellsword classes in role playing games are also examples of the archetype, equally comfortable with both the mundane sword and the arcane book. In the Legend of Zelda series, Link carries some of these qualities, and might exchange his green tunic for a red one.
As a class they are defined by their adaptability and their fluency in opposites, the ability to wield magic at the front line or distribute essential boons to support their companions, and to switch between the two modes in the blink of an eye.
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
As a class they are defined by their adaptability and their fluency in opposites, the ability to wield magic at the front line or distribute essential boons to support their companions, and to switch between the two modes in the blink of an eye.
The “red mage” is a gaming reference, but I think it’s a deeper archetype that happens to have found its expressive footing in the medium of video games. In the Final Fantasy series, a red mage is a spellcaster that blends offensive black magic and healing white magic.
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The “red mage” is a gaming reference, but I think it’s a deeper archetype that happens to have found its expressive footing in the medium of video games. In the Final Fantasy series, a red mage is a spellcaster that blends offensive black magic and healing white magic.
At a life drawing session I made drawing in sanguine that became the visual direction for a new series titled Red Mage. I loved the brilliant red contrasted with the paper, and the immediacy of the study. The series gradually grew in the studio during what I called “sanguine summer.”
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
At a life drawing session I made drawing in sanguine that became the visual direction for a new series titled Red Mage. I loved the brilliant red contrasted with the paper, and the immediacy of the study. The series gradually grew in the studio during what I called “sanguine summer.”
the tarot / oracle deck web app I’ve been working on is gradually starting to feel juicier
September 28, 2025 at 4:13 AM
the tarot / oracle deck web app I’ve been working on is gradually starting to feel juicier
One drawing sold and added a couple more today!
These drawings are a helpful exercise for me personally to practice different approaches and techniques, but I also hope to make drawings that would be fun to have on a wall at home.
These drawings are a helpful exercise for me personally to practice different approaches and techniques, but I also hope to make drawings that would be fun to have on a wall at home.
August 3, 2025 at 8:40 PM
One drawing sold and added a couple more today!
These drawings are a helpful exercise for me personally to practice different approaches and techniques, but I also hope to make drawings that would be fun to have on a wall at home.
These drawings are a helpful exercise for me personally to practice different approaches and techniques, but I also hope to make drawings that would be fun to have on a wall at home.
Trying something new, an art auction! There are many daily studies piling up in my studio, and it would be nice to 1) make collecting art more accessible and 2) create a flow of drawings out the door. I have new charcoal figure drawings available now, thanks for looking! www.ebay.com/usr/kevinmcg...
August 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Trying something new, an art auction! There are many daily studies piling up in my studio, and it would be nice to 1) make collecting art more accessible and 2) create a flow of drawings out the door. I have new charcoal figure drawings available now, thanks for looking! www.ebay.com/usr/kevinmcg...
I’m working on a web app that has been on my mind for a long time. It’s Enchanted Table, a virtual tabletop for oracle decks designed to support any journaling or creative practice.
You can create your own cards and decks, and shuffle, draw, and arrange them on an open ended canvas. 🧵
You can create your own cards and decks, and shuffle, draw, and arrange them on an open ended canvas. 🧵
July 16, 2025 at 4:06 AM
I’m working on a web app that has been on my mind for a long time. It’s Enchanted Table, a virtual tabletop for oracle decks designed to support any journaling or creative practice.
You can create your own cards and decks, and shuffle, draw, and arrange them on an open ended canvas. 🧵
You can create your own cards and decks, and shuffle, draw, and arrange them on an open ended canvas. 🧵
Charcoal portrait
June 15, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Charcoal portrait
never leaving my house
June 1, 2025 at 9:18 PM
never leaving my house
“Chez”
Cat on wood floor
20 x 30 in.
2025
NFS
Cat on wood floor
20 x 30 in.
2025
NFS
April 21, 2025 at 12:18 AM
“Chez”
Cat on wood floor
20 x 30 in.
2025
NFS
Cat on wood floor
20 x 30 in.
2025
NFS
Drawings from a figure drawing class last night with Ray Fehrenbach at the Trout Museum of Art. Thanks for a great class!
April 17, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Drawings from a figure drawing class last night with Ray Fehrenbach at the Trout Museum of Art. Thanks for a great class!
Public Mana Pool (Red Phase, Disturbed)
Oil on linen
30w x 20h in.
This painting will be included in the upcoming Art of Water IX show at James May Gallery in Milwaukee. Opening reception May 2, 5-8PM. Hope to see you there!
Thanks to Kendra and @bfrink.bsky.social - so excited for the show
Oil on linen
30w x 20h in.
This painting will be included in the upcoming Art of Water IX show at James May Gallery in Milwaukee. Opening reception May 2, 5-8PM. Hope to see you there!
Thanks to Kendra and @bfrink.bsky.social - so excited for the show
April 16, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Public Mana Pool (Red Phase, Disturbed)
Oil on linen
30w x 20h in.
This painting will be included in the upcoming Art of Water IX show at James May Gallery in Milwaukee. Opening reception May 2, 5-8PM. Hope to see you there!
Thanks to Kendra and @bfrink.bsky.social - so excited for the show
Oil on linen
30w x 20h in.
This painting will be included in the upcoming Art of Water IX show at James May Gallery in Milwaukee. Opening reception May 2, 5-8PM. Hope to see you there!
Thanks to Kendra and @bfrink.bsky.social - so excited for the show
Hey it’s #portfolioday!
I make oil paintings and charcoal drawings. My studio is called Enchantment Supply, a low fantasy worldbuilding RPG, and I organize a life drawing community at @appletondrawing.bsky.social. Nice to meet you!
I make oil paintings and charcoal drawings. My studio is called Enchantment Supply, a low fantasy worldbuilding RPG, and I organize a life drawing community at @appletondrawing.bsky.social. Nice to meet you!
April 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Hey it’s #portfolioday!
I make oil paintings and charcoal drawings. My studio is called Enchantment Supply, a low fantasy worldbuilding RPG, and I organize a life drawing community at @appletondrawing.bsky.social. Nice to meet you!
I make oil paintings and charcoal drawings. My studio is called Enchantment Supply, a low fantasy worldbuilding RPG, and I organize a life drawing community at @appletondrawing.bsky.social. Nice to meet you!