Life drawing classes are not available where I live. I know photographs and online referencing are not ideal but I’m thinking it is better than nothing. And actually the Croquis Cafe videos make me feel (a little) that I am at a class.
These are my preliminary attempts with my quick studies. At this point, I am very much relying on outline. I am also starting from the head. I need to practise this. I need to avoid outlining. I need to start from the torso. I need to work out ways to not end up drawing a small head.
Remember: middle of the body up and out – keep the marks loose and light.
I then returned to this exercise knowing I had a bit more time on my hands so I chose to do the warm up poses for 1 and 2 minutes. These helped me incredibly; I felt so restricted to the outline of the body so this time I relaxed and followed the advice, working middle and out and I realised I kept my pencil moving all the time. As a result I have created some interesting lines.
I was going to omit the next image but it made me laugh so much when I realised the unfortunate placement. I need to think about the placement of the sketches ahead of time almost. But I was lost in the drawing momentum that I didn’t even clock what was happening. Still, I hope this makes everyone smile!
In the next 2 minute pose drawing I was able to start thinking about shading, and realised how much this can add to even a quick drawing.
I tried a 2 minute pose using brush and ink. I think this medium would better suit an even shorter pose, allowing more gestural. The lines proved to be so ‘permanent’ and not as flowing as pencil. As in this one below, it is overworked with shapes losing definition as I tried to correct. Maybe rework this with pen and ink, or pencil?
Sanguine conté; working from centre shape out. Smudging conté create a base tone to deepen and highlight.
Oil pencil; I have allowed following lines which I always admire in other artists’ work, always wondering how they did it. I’ve achieved it! Well, in my own beginning kind of way. I am so pleased with these and have broken down my initial barrier of trying to create a perfect, realistic drawing, and in actual fact, doing the very opposite because I’m trying too hard.
The face remains my drawing nemesis….
Experimenting with colour and tone using coloured pencils in complementary colours. This is something I would like to work with more. Link with Lisa Brice blue work in personal project?
Tea and Doodles 