Life drawing class in Broomhall centre, Sheffield

On 30th Jul, I finally got free time to join in a life drawing class in Broomhall centre, Sheffield.

Well, it’s the first time for me to join in this class. When it started I even didn’t notice it is 2 minutes for sketching that I maybe concentration for the model’s pose. So the first sketch I even didn’t start to draw her torso then only 5 lines of the axis has been drafted. After I must make up quite a lot of leeway to deal with the other 2 minutes. At last, I even didn’t turn the paper to next page just over draw on the top of another sketch. So I have my 5 pictures on two pieces papers.

Paper size: 26cm*37.2cm, conte sticks.

Five – 2 minutes sketches.

                     

Two – 5 minutes sketches.

                      

Three – 10 minutes sketches.

                             Two – 25 minutes + 2 minutes sketches. 12B pencil.

 

I enjoyed this life drawing class, even the first a couple of sketches with lots of mistakes on.  I am happy with the last 3 ones after I have had a little more practice.

 

 

Basic shapes(project from)

On 28th Jul, I went to the art class in the local parish council building. As I haven’t a stationary model  I just drew the people there who were doing their work. So I can’t complain if they are moving around.

Paper size: 26cm*37.2cm

I think I chose the wrong person who was far away from the window. So when I was drawing her legs/trousers it was very difficult to see the creases under the table which was the darkest area. Her head never keep the same pose so I have to draw most of it by memory.

After class, I found a seating model from Croquis Cafe. So I use this medium for my second attempt.

 

• This model’s legs should be lifted up on the one side of the arm of the chair. I may overdraw them so it is too dark.
• Her left thigh is not feeling 3D.
• The creases of the fabric are not rendered like I wanted them to be.

Research point-Foreshortening

Drawing a picture through a mirror of myself lounging on the couch.

It is hard to try to keep the pose and to draw it. I took a photo and used that to draw a  quick picture of myself in the mirror. It is not my most refined picture.

I have watched some videos on youtube which are how to draw the figure in perspective – foreshortening. I really appreciate the way they show the moving shapes and cyclic rings they help me to think about the 3D arms and legs.

Using foreshortening can get an angle for photography, drawing or painting that can achieve special effects. The artist can use this to emphasize parts of the picture.

Andrea Mantegna (1431 – September 13, 1506)

This traditional work used the perspective of the body of Christ. At this angle, the body has been receded through into space. It is an interesting point of view how the body is viewed from the feet. It showed how it is foreshortened.

Duarte Vitoria

http://houhouhaha.fr/duarte-vitoria?utm_source=feedly 26/7/2017

In this image, we can only see half of the man’s face. His hands have been extremely enlarged. This man’s hands have been foreshortened to give an effect so it seems he has lots of power and confidence

 

 

 

A longer study(Project Proportion)

Before I started off this exercise I emailed Joanne in course support about any suggestions for my part 4. She replied very quickly and I got some nice recourse from her. She mentioned two life drawing classes but unfortunately, it was the last lesson and I couldn’t make it then they are off for summer holiday until September. The other place I could not fit their lessons in around my work. One of the video lessons which is Tonal life drawing using charcoal by OCA tutor Jane Lazenby. It did inspire me for the figures’ drawing. Then I decided to follow this way to practice my exercise.

In the material, it suggests a seated position(I think it because an hour is too long for the model to stand) but I am going to use the resource of Croquis Cafe and just pause the video. I would like to lay the first stone of the figures’ drawing that is measuring the bodies’ length and width in the basic state. When they sat down in chairs, some parts of the bodies are distorted.

Using charcoal to draw straight away is dangerous and you have to be sophisticated and brave.

Winson&newton charcoal, Derwent charcoal pencils and putty rubber.

Frist step. Using a couple of newspaper(similar size of A3) to practice the proportion and her character.

In the first attempt, I even couldn’t get all the body in the frame. The second one her feet are too close the border of the bottom paper. The third one got right stance and proportion. Then I moved it alongside to a new A3 watercolour paper.

• I admit I rushed the last bit of her feet.
• Her right foot is not right pose(bend the right knee and place the front sole on the floor).
• Her left elbow’s shadow need be refined.
• The lines/curves should not be isolated they should blend into the tone.

Then another attempt I went to the social art class on 21st. Jul. I have drawn other clothes figure by an hour.

This one’s main problem I need shadow the darker area. The original hand is looking incorrect. Her calfs compare to her thighs are shorter but I have to leave it because I sprayed the hair spray for fixatives before I left that class.

Some experience of this exercise:

How well have you captured the characteristics of the pose?

I think I got their characteristics of the poses. The first nude model is hip bents forward. she is a slim and a beautiful shape. But she does not seem to be stable on her legs. The second one I did enjoy drawing her braid(I may shade the darker and darkest areas).

Does the body have sufficient weight and presence?

The nude one because it is not a stable pose so her right leg looks uncomfortable. So I need to pay much attention to balance next time. The second one looks like a normal figure.

Do the proportions look right? If not, how will you try to improve this?

The nude one her head is a little bit smaller than it should be. I will try to enlarge a bit in the further drawing. As I said the second one her calfs are shorter than they should be. But I did like the outcome of her face’s characters. I like the second attempt of her hand. For next drawing, it is very important to get the right proportions before getting details in.

Quick studies(Project proportion)

The tasks of this exercise:

• Proportion
• Shadows in the background so that they don’t appear to be floating in space.

On Fri. 14th Jul. I went to the local art classes but unfortunately, they don’t do nude classes. Then I have done my first couples of clothing figures’ attempts there.

Attempt 1: Two-minute sketches by black conte stick.

After the two-minute body drawing, I quite like the creases of her clothing on her left arm. Then another two-minute drawing for fabric but the 3 creases on the top border look afterthought. Also, her head is wider than it should be.

The background has been added but it is a mistake as it just seems to look strange.
The people around said they can actually know who I was drawing so I did catch the character but her hand is smaller than it should be.

For my nude drawing exercise, I have to use the Youtube one which the course mate put on the forum.

Attempt 2: Five two-minute sketches on A5 papaers.

                                                                              

The two-minute sketches did stress me out to think how can I finish a figure with right proportion. Then after these five quick sketches, I think that they have the different parts disjointed.

Attempt 3: Two 10-minutes sketches on A3 white papers by charcoal and 8B pencil.

Attempt 4: Another 10-minute sketch on A3 white paper by black ink and brush.

Then I used 10 seconds to shadow the background.

Through the process of drawing the nude figure, I just feel the shape and lines of the border are so beautiful. Well without an eraser and with the ink and brush ways did pressure me to produce accurate lines. The last one with shadow on the background is really pushing the space in 3D but the shadows under the elbow are not correct but I leave it as it is and I only practice the effect of the shadows.

 

Research point-Depiction of the nude over the centuries

For this lesson, I am going to learn about reflecting on analysing how the depiction of the male and female nudes has changed over the centuries.

My tutor mentioned to me an article, John Bergers’ Ways of seeing’ on my 2nd feedback. So I just reviewed it before this research point lesson. For this essay, it is particularly useful in episode 2 which discusses the female nude. About twenty or thirty old masters depict a woman as herself rather than as a subject of male idealization or desire. There are some standpoints in this article:

• The male image projects are always exterior and their promised power.
• By contrast, the female projects are interior and been observed by herself and others.

So one might simplify this by saying: Men act and women appear.

The nude has been a principal ever-recurring theme in the art area since men started drawing women.  The first nudes in this tradition depicted Adam and Eve.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj2gb7wyYvVAhXDPBoKHfjUC58QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsensiblereason.com%2Fgreek-mythology-judeo-christian-god%2F&psig=AFQjCNGrqhl6E7gOvtETM32ETAv0nKLEtw&ust=1500218031956988 Date: 15/07/2017

There is a question for me. Which came to the world first? The story or some symbol? Greek mythology,  I am sure people were drawing pictures from very early times maybe when they started recording stories such as Greek mythology they started having pictures including nudes.

During Renaissance methods were adopted from ancient Greece.

Michelangelo (6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564). He started by learing to become a   sculptor, painter, architect when he was quite young. He worked a lots of time for Medici family. his devotion and fanaticism about the nudity pushed the evolvement of ancient Roman style on art.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjwpIDZ04vVAhXLvxQKHWhQAi4QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metmuseum.org%2Ftoah%2Fworks-of-art%2F24.197.2%2F&psig=AFQjCNF135WjK9LLTjXDfCcBB5Nsluv0lA&ust=1500220683066262 Date: 15/07/2017

Ignudo fresco from 1509 on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjE15-L2ovVAhVBtRQKHUIXDakQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F328692472783361272%2F&psig=AFQjCNHxLr4Ef2tM5DvS83rV-XspfDearA&ust=1500222376127489  Date: 15/07/2017

Yet during Renaissance, they were still some coyness about drawing the female nude. So the aritst used the name”Venus” for their composition. There were a few other images of this name.

Botticelli ( c. 1445 – May 17, 1510)

http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Birth-of-Venus.html Date: 15/07/2017

Giorgione ( 1477/8–1510)

http://www.wikiart.org/en/paintings-by-style/high-renaissance?select=featured

Date: 15/07/2017

During Baroque,  the solemn and noble characteristics of the baroque period, from the classical ancient artistic essence developed by the Renaissance, combined with the restraining effect of the concept of ritual.

Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) Daedalus and Icarus

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjDpumWgIzVAhVhAcAKHRjQADkQu_MBCF8oAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fculturalinstitute%2Fbeta%2Fasset%2F-%2FKgHRAilFI-4I3A%3Futm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dkp%26hl%3Den-GB%26avm%3D2&usg=AFQjCNH6DKRvqZTBc64l_iKkFJED_Ym3Ww  Date: 15/07/2017

Diego Velázquez (June 6, 1599 – August 6, 1660) Rokeby Venus

 

Until the 17th centurury the artist more or less conveyed the theme related to faith or mythology just as the Baroque took more rich and varied things.

In the 18th century (Rococo) and the 19th century classical themes are still popular. Characters include Gods, knights and saints and nudity is still the object of choice for painters.

In the later 19th century there was a change torwards impressionism.

Edgar Degas(19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917)

http://www.posters2prints.com/degas-edgar-art-prints-c-8493-p-4.html Date: 15/07/2017

The female figures are becoming divorced from traditional style they are getting true life like the images are not perfectionism.

In the Twentieth centuries, there are many of genre: realism, modernism, abstract, Symbolism and fauvist etc.

Pablo Picasso(25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973)

Two Nudes

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiRqYjKlozVAhWEyRQKHSYXBi0QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metmuseum.org%2Fexhibitions%2Fview%3Foid%3D490586&psig=AFQjCNFn8rZvJ1MVnhoL_K16kGxTPxPNVQ&ust=1500238572713302  Date: 15/07/2017

The 20th century has given us many defferent styles of drawing and painting making this area of art very vivid.

After learning so many steps of through history of different styles of showing nudes. I need to find my own style to work with.

 

 

 

 

Emphasising from with cloth(Project Fabric and form)

I have been recommended by my health trainer to visit a  local drawing society on Fri. 7th July. I was very excited to meet the new artist friends who live close to me and they are such kind people.

At my first class, they were happy to be models let me draw to finish this exercise.

Then I got my first quick sketch on my A5 sketchbook.

He was wearing a white apron for painting watercolour image. I was trying to draw the apron but most of it has been hidden by the table.

Second attempt. Conte stick on a large sketchbook.

• I should draw the figure upper then the foot can get in this image.
• Is her head small than it should be?
• Her thighs are longer than they should be then the calfs are much shorter when compared to her thighs.
• Her right arm put weight on the table but I didn’t draw it right gesture.

I am not going to complain because they are keeping moving their bodies when they mixed the colours or stand up to watch other people’s works. Well I was there from 10:00 am to 12:00 am with 15 minutes tea time where I was watching the others.

When I got home I corrected it to make it better.

After this female drawing, I also practiced a male’s one on A3 white paper by 5B and 6B pencils.

Again is this figure’s head smaller than it should be? I will come back to take another look at it. Pencil drawing is too rough for drawing.

I am feeling this pencil drawing is a very rough of drawing.

I am finished here because I feel that I am not capturing the character of the figures.

 

 

 

 

Sketchbook – Jun. 2017

Drawing fabric using line and tone(Project fabric and form)

I hung a white shirt on one side of a black leather chair. Then the light comes from right side.

Step 1. Make two 15-minute sketches.

Attempt 1. Charcoal on A3 white paper using tone.

I decided to draw the shirt using tone before using lines that let me more clearly understand there are three areas of the creases and the lighter halftones.

Attempt 2. Black ink on A3 white paper using lines.

15 minutes sketches are really tight for accurate fine lines (also tight for contrast the light and dark tones)  so no chance of examining all the details. It did help me to contrast these 3 areas: The left side of the front shirt, the left sleeve, and the left side of the back shirt.

Step 2. Draw serval 5-minute sketches on 8-12 cm squares papers.

Attempt 1. The collar and the shoulder.

Attempt 2. The bottom of the back shirt.

Attempt 3. The cuff of the shirt.

Attempt 4. The middle border between the sleeve and the back shirt.

Step 3. Practice the final large scale on A3 white paper.

I have used charcoal, a 12B pencil and a putty eraser and that I think they are soft and easy to get the textile effect. Through the whole process, I am thinking just make the 3D volume folds. So most bits worked out but some still a little bit flat and dirty.

As this image nearly done but I need to tidy up. It is a pure white shirt I need let it bright enough.

After a few area brighter and darker the folds’ I decide to leave it because I spent the whole weekend drawing the same shirt and I am feeling bored. This is NOT my last drawing with fabric so I will carry on and do more practice later.