It's All About the Figure

The third week we started on the full figure! Mainly in black and white, lots of sketches, sketches, and more sketches! The name of the game is PRACTICE! Like everything else, we like to do! First I want to share some good reference links. The first Croquis Cafe, an endless site for everything to do with figure drawing. The second Royal Academy Life Drawing Class.

We got five stills to do gesture sketches in ink and watercolor pencil. I am slowly getting over my fear of INK. It's still intimidating, but the more I practice the better I feel. These are timed 10 minute sketches to keep from "noodling"!

12.5 x 9.5"

Ink

9.75 x 13.75

Ink

12.5 x 9.5"

Ink

15.75 x  13"

Ink

9.75 x 13.5

Ink

Next, we did some upsidedown drawing. This is a great exercise because it helps to eliminate the left brain telling us what we are drawing.  She gave us two examples from Egon Schiele.  Worked with graphite wash pencil and added some crayons as well. Adding water gives a painterly look. Loved doing these!

9 x 11.75

Watercolor graphite + Neocolor I crayons

9 x 11.75

Watercolor graphite 

Did two of these turning the paper!

Here some links for references. Egon Schiele work on Instagram, and a figure drawing board of Pauline's on Pinterest.

Finally a pastel painting of a figure.

9.75 x  13.75"

Pastel Pencils + Pastels

Tinted Paper

9.75 x  13.75"

Pastel Pencils + Pastels

Tinted Paper

Tomorrow we start putting it all together!

30 in 30 Day 30

At Peace

Day 30 I wanted something special.  Something that would sort of sum up the month of the challenge and the theme I chose... hands.  Some were conceptual and some more to the realistic... all showed hands in some form or another.  For the final sketch, I feel they are all sketches, I looked at the hands of one the most famous paintings. Most recognize the enigmatic smile of Mona Lisa but her hands show such elegance and restfulness they are at peace....we all want and need peace.... within ourselves and within our world.

This is far from perfect.... rubbed down first attempt and started a new..

Charcoal and conte on grey pressed cardboard

8 x 8

30 in 30 Day 29

Sadness

This morning had some coffee with two of my workshop artists, Traudi and Neomi.... Neomi is getting ready for her first solo exhibition Traudi giving advice for invites and catalog and me just for the ride.Wonderful espresso coffee and tasted some special cheese like paste made from Macedonia nuts... that was a special treat.  Had both pose for these sketches..so I am posting two for day 29. I so  enjoy working with my own references...

Traudi    The lighting was very dramatic...

Pencil and Crayons on grey pressed cardboard

8 x 8 

Neomi  A more subtle lighting

Crayons on grey pressed cardboard

8 x 8

Can't believe only one more day... what a great ride this has been!!!

30 in 30 Day 27

Yummy Hot Corn

Charcoal and crayons

8 x 8 grey pressed cardboard

30 in 30 Day 26

Conversation

Our hands are a great part of our total body language, they can sometimes give us away. They can shout, plead, discuss and comfort. They can express sadness, happiness, peace and grief.

Crayons and pencil on 

8 x 8 grey pressed cardboard