February 16, 2014
“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.”
– Stella Adler
Less talk, more art.
Charcoal
Life Drawing, November 12, 2013
Last life drawing class for awhile and we started out drawing on newspaper – another exercise in loosening up. It was a good last class – hopefully I will have a chance to do more of this in the new year.
First three: Oil Stick on Newspaper, newspaper sized.
Last two: Vine and Compressed Charcoal on Paper, 18″ X 24″.
Life Drawing, November 5, 2013
Having survived a very busy last few weeks, I am finally getting around to posting the results of my last two Life Drawing classes. On our second last class, we began by drawing with a stick dipped in India Ink. In spite of the puddles of ink on the floor, I really enjoyed this technique. Maybe with a drop cloth I could start doing this at home. Or not. It definitely helped us loosen up our drawings and be more spontaneous. Later on in class we were able to switch to brushes and ink and then charcoal.
First five: Figure Sketches, India Ink on Newsprint, 18″ X 24″.
Last two: Figure Sketches, Vine and Compressed Charcoal on Newsprint, 18″ X 24″.
More figure sketches and blue pears.
Another week of figure drawing class. And for a change I spent today painting, rather than staying up far into the night. I’m not sure I prefer it though – somehow time feels different in the middle of the night and I don’t feel as controlled by the clock. Not that I don’t suffer the following week from lack of sleep. Hmmm.
Figure Sketches, Vine Charcoal on Newsprint, 18″ X 24″.
Payne’s Grey Pears, Take Two, Acrylic on Canvas Board, 10″ X 10″.
Figures, Faces, Hands and Pears
Nice rhythm, but it doesn’t really rhyme. And although we drew feet in class on Tuesday as well, I just didn’t think any of them were even worth including. I tried out oil stick on newsprint and didn’t mind it. I thought my first drawing of our model’s face went not badly, but it’s pretty difficult to believe that the other two are even the same person. Hands…. well, they speak for themselves. I really enjoyed working monochromatically on my pear painting and I think I will try to do more of that, but probably without this outlining thing next time.
Figure Sketches, Oil Stick on Newsprint, 18″ X 24″.
Face and Hand Sketches, Vine Charcoal on Newsprint, 18″ X 24″.
Payne’s Grey Pears, Acrylic on Canvas Board, 10″ X 10″.
This week: Barenaked Men – or one at least…
Second week of figure drawing and it just didn’t go nearly as well as the first. I’m not sure why but I really struggled with proportion and relationships and everything else that would have made these sketches look better. It’s a process – let’s see what happens next week. Hopefully I’ll be able to do some painting again soon as well.
Figure Sketches, Vine Charcoal on Newsprint, 18″ X 24″.
Figure Drawing and an Apple in Hand
On Tuesday I started my figure drawing class. It’s been a long time since I have drawn the figure and I wasn’t sure how it would go and how frustrating I’d find it. As it turned out, I really enjoyed it and found that other than my shoulder and feet getting tired, it went very quickly. I felt I did ok and a lot of what I’ve learned previously came back – now let’s see how much I can improve by the end of the six weeks. We started the class with some quick sketches, then some gestures and blind contours. The last three were 15 minute poses.
Then last night I did some more painting. I thought – hey – let’s see what happens if I use retarding medium in my paint. Bad idea – it seems that I’ve grown used to the short drying time of acrylics and slowing it down was just plain annoying. I’ll call it a learning experience. I wasn’t thrilled with how my painting turned out, but I liked the subject matter and may have to return to it again down the road to see if I could do better.
Figure Sketches Vine Charcoal on Newsprint, 18″ X 24″.
Apple in Hand, Acrylic on Canvas Board, 10″ X 10″.
susanne semchuk 