Paper and Threads

Yesterday our model was completely new to modeling.  She was wonderful - and actually had props and different clothes that she could change her appearance during the 2 hour session.  She had very active and wonderful one minute poses, and when I finished other drawings, I went back and firmed up my lines on two of them.

These are two ten minute drawings - she had quickly changed into another outfit right in front of us - with props.  I sketched with a soluble graphite pencil and then spread the graphite with a waterbrush to shade the drawing.

She was dressed in other clothing, as if by magic, for the 20 minute poses, and I sketched her once.

Her other 20 minute pose was prone and all I could see were the bottoms of her feet and hips from my seat, so I sketched the artist across from me. 

Posted by Shirley at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Figure al Fresco

It was very warm, but sunny, Wednesday at Battery Park City, and then our model didn't arrive.  One of the Conservancy employees quickly filled in and was great.  

This was a 10 minute pose of Frances done with a Burnt Siena watercolor pencil on toned paper.  I resketched the lines with a pen when I got home because the drawing was too light. 

One more of my Drawing Sheets: 

My figure drawing on the left was a 20 minute pose - drawn with a soluble graphite pencil.  When I finished sketching her there, I added water to the three 1 minute poses on the right that I did earlier.

I have two pages of flowers, and 4 pages of drawings done at Christie's Southeast Asia Modern and Contemporary Auction Preview on Monday - that I still want to paint.  There are so many other things that kept me from my paints this week, but I am delighted that retirement is so fulfilling.  I began my Fall semester FIT class on Monday, Fashion Art and Design, and my homework is drawing front and back views of my fashion figure - which is 10 head sizes tall, instead of 7.5 heads tall like real people.  Should be interesting.  

Posted by Shirley at 6:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I love drawing human figures, and although I can draw people who are sitting around, or standing in groups talking, I can't draw any person who is moving fast.  I keep thinking that if I draw enough from photos, I will be able to fill my memory with specific actions, but so far that is not happening. 

I sketched these 3 figures on quarter sheets of scrap copy paper, painted them with watercolor, then collaged them on a piece of paper that I made with acrylic paints and a Gelli Plate. 

Last night I began a new Fall Class at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) - "Fashion Art and Design."  It is basically a drawing class and we spent the first 2 hour class drawing the very elongated figures used in fashion design.  A "normal" person is 7.5 heads long.  A fashion illustration body is 10 heads long - mostly due to long legs.  I'll post my homework for next week soon to demonstrate the differences.  I already love the class.

Posted by Shirley at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I really enjoy figure drawing and during the last few years I've been sketching from photos after breakfast.  I tear scrap copy paper into 4 pieces, and leave a stack on the breakfast counter, with a pencil, pen, and small scissors.  This is a very low stakes exercise - which makes it fun!  These are some of the drawings I did during the summer - cut out and glued into my sketchbook.  

Posted by Shirley at 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Finally, a thunderstorm was forecast, but I visited the TC Cannon exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian and Figure Al Fresco in Battery Park City again.  It rained the last 3 Wednesday afternoons, but yesterday the rain held off until dinnertime and figure drawing was possible.

These are two of the drawings I did of Marilyn at figure drawing.  This one was a 20 minute sketch and since I get bored after 10-15 minutes, I sketched a little of the background.

My favorites are usually 5 or 10 minute poses because I work quickly and still have time to use a waterbrush for shading.

Posted by Shirley at 6:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)