Last Life Drawing Class of the Year. Candid 19/12/06

This session I felt a lot more confidence. As in, trying things and not worrying about the results. (trust me, it may not seem like it but for each drawing I had different goals). I did a lot more in my 5 min drawings than my 2min this time. But the problem now is my 5min has more than my 10min, LOL. oh well... Since this class I've seen some amazing life drawings from a guy named Alan Cook. It's depressing that someone could be this good, and yet exciting because now, I have another place reach. You must check this guys work. I don't know where he finds the time. you'll see what I mean when you see his blog. cookedart.blogspot.com
Wes

Out and about.

This is my "out and about" sketch book. It's A6 so it's ideal for traveling. Got it from muji. I've decided to be ready to draw at anytime so I carry it everywhere now. The drawings are a bit concious as I feel uncomfortable drawing in public. Especially on the train, but out and about is the best time to draw. I learn more when I'm uncomfortable, I think....

Marys chick....

This is a drawing I did a couple months ago for a friend from my old work place. She's been buggin' me for about a year to do a picture, any picture (she ain't the only one and some have been waiting longer). I was supposed to give it to her but it got creased by accident by someone on my course, (I won't say who, they don't even realise that they did it), so I've been meaning to redo it, and finally did, but I didn't like the new version (not posted because it's that bad, no really) So I thought I'd clean it up, and do some photoshop magic with it. (I haven't done any "finished" PS for about 8 months to a year ). I thought I'll just do quick colours but then got carried away. I decided to remove the outline, Arthur de Pins style (check he's site in my links, this guy is BAAAD!). So here it is. Got the itch now, must do moooorrreeee..... :)

Quick Sketch of cous....

Ok, enough of the deep talk, More drawing A quick sketch of my cousin, I decided to mess around with it in photoshop. I haven’t used photoshop to do any finished illustrations for a while (almost a year). Might do a couple over the next week or so. I think I need to have some fun now. I like the letratone-ish one the best.

The Baby Challenge

Some painful, but important truths have come to light over the last 2 weeks. I guess that’s why I’ve been going a bit deep lately. While I’ve been studying (at uni), I’ve not really had the chance to reflect on my work. Deadline after deadline with no real time to look back. I think I need drawing lessons, or rather, “perception lessons” (I believe drawing is about the way you see things, not how you hold a pencil, even though technical lessons help). I’ve been made to realise (thanx again to Mr Dash) that since starting my course, all I’ve done is draw. I draw as much as I can, when I can, but that’s the problem. I’ve been drawing with no real purpose. All I’ve tried to do is one pretty picture after another without really taking anything from it. Not to say that drawing for the fun of it, isn’t beneficial, but I realise that I definitely need to “study” what I draw. A balance of both; study and fun. This became really apparent to me with this group of drawings.

I was watching the special features of Lilo & Stitch and I saw some of Andreas Deja child studies. Beautiful drawings, done with a brush pen (I think) of children in a Hawaiian class room. He not only captured the aesthetics of a child, he also caught the essence, mannerisms etc. I’ll take some DVD screen grabs and put them on a separate post, I just don’t want he’s work next to mine right now, makes me look bad. LOL

Anyway I tried to do the same with my 7 month old cousin, (the most beautiful baby I've ever seen, my drawings did not do her justice). This is probably one of the most difficult, but insightful things I’ve done in terms of drawing. I really struggled to the point of frustration. She moved around so much. Never stopped moving. This definitely illustrates all of my weaknesses, and shows how I go about drawing in the most extreme way.

I wanted to edit out some of the drawings because I really don’t like most of them, but the mistakes are probably the more important drawings (providing I learn from them of course). So I put in all the drawings to keep my ego in check and to remind me of how far I have to go.

I changed my mind about showing Mr Dejas Work, now my ego truly is in check, enjoy :)

Does art mimic how we live our lives?

These drawings were done at Candid (previous post) I decided to put them on a separate post because of the conversation it sparked with a close friend, by the way Dex, can’t thank you enough for your constant belief, and honesty about my work, the talk really helped. At Candid , Anne (the facilitator) always says, with quick poses we really go for it, draw with abandonment, but when we have more time, we become more careful, stiffen up, an though we may have a more accurate drawing, we lose the energy and life of the subject. I didn’t think I was one of them but my friend pointed out to me That I seem to do a lot more in 2 min drawings than 5 min drawings. He then compared it to how people live their lives. Why is it we make better use of the time that we don’t have than the time that we do? I can't wait for the next class. Gonna try a few things.

Left 5min, right 2min....

Life Drawing ,Candid Arts 13/12/06

This was a good class for me. The facilitator, Anne (I think that's her name), challenged us to do things out of the norm. Single line drawings, left hand drawings, even drawings without looking at the page. Got unexpected but interesting results....

Sketch no.1, I really tried to make this sketch accurate. Took about 10mins. Proportion wise I think I captured the model, even in the face, but It's a weird drawing, and I have no idea why. Could be my lack of knowledge of anatomy, could be the fact that I was trying to do a "pretty drawing" anyone out there got some advice for me...?

loosening up 5min sketch....

More 5min sketches The bottom drawing is a single line drawing, your pencil doesn't leave the paper....

2min single line drawing with my left hand...whoa.

Ok...a step further...30 sec single line drawings without looking at the paper...double whoa.

more 30 second poses....

These were the last 2 drawings of the session. I don't know why, but I really seized up. Maybe because the drawings I did before were "fun" with no real pressure to do "the perfect drawing." With these ones I was like "Ok, time to get serious and draw properly" Even the size of the drawings shows how seized up I was. It seems I can only let go with the quick drawings...

Life Drawing, Central St Martins, Back Hill, 06/12/06

Quick poses while model is moving, one still...

Model walking, trying to convey sadness...






Fellow student Tim :)



One angry pose, one from below.



I rendered the top to the same level as the bottom only to realise that my measurements were wrong. Took the leap of faith and just rubbed it out. Problem is I had about a minute left to finish it. Tried to do a quick sketch, but I was in "careful drawing mode" so I left it. Damn...

Not to be taken for granted...

These were done on wednesday, at Back Hill after my tuesday class at Candid arts. I put them in a seperate posts because, when I look at these drawings, they remind me of how fortunate I am to be doing this. The model ( if you haven't guessed) is blind. We did some still poses and some moving ones. I wish she was able to see our drawings after the session. When, we finished I was thinking (I still am) If I was blind, what would be my passion, what would deepen and enrich my life? Maybe music, or some form of martial arts perhaps? anywho, hope you like the drawings....
Wes