Project - Gesture

For this next exercise our model had to change pose every 2 to 5 minutes, and we were asked to draw quickly looking for the centre of gravity in each pose.

Next we had to look  at the energy of a pose.  This exercise asked for dynamic positions to be held for about five minutes.  We were to concentrate on the sense of energy and not to worry about the details.

I tried these exercises in ink and dip pen, felt tip, biro and oil pastels.

Project - Form

This exercise was looking at the different shapes within the body and noticing and angles the body was making.

I then tried some exercises from a book I am reading called Life Drawing by Bridget Woods. 

 The exercises are called Rhythm and Curve and Circling, and help you to acheive better proportions by focusing on the larger shapes first and not fiddling with too much detail too soon.  This I need to work on!

Next I went on to do a series of drawings focusing on the three dimensional form. 

They were all supposed to be for ten minutes, but they all ran over time. This I think was partly due to  the fact that I felt my models liked to see some sort of attempt being made to make the drawing resemble them.  I could have left the faces blank, but once I had started it is very difficult to stop.  I somehow felt that with a bit more shading and then rubbing out, surely some of the lines would be in the right place and may hold some similarity to my model.  Alas, this isn't the case, but we are yet to come on to portraits so lets hope I have improved a little by then. At least my drawings raised a laugh from all my family members!

Part Four- Drawing figures

For this project we had to draw quick poses of our models using different materials.  The focus was on getting the proportions right but also on sketching rapidly to lock our concentration on what was most essential.

I tried my hand at some A3 size pastel sketches also.  I found the whole thing a bit tricky as the course suggests drawing from the middle of the body out to the feet and the head.  I didn't actually do this for the pastel sketches, as I felt using the head as a measuring device, I would naturally have to do that first. But, by measuring I was quite surprised by how long the legs and arms needed to be to achieve the right proportions.  I'm not sure I got it quite right!

The next exercise was to try and do a longer pose.  This was the result of three quarters of an hour sketching.  I underestimated the length of the body again, and ended up running out of paper where the foot should be.

Assignment 3 - A view from a window

This is the picture I submitted for my third assignment.

The brief was to demonstrate some understanding of perspective, and also to include some straight lined objects and some items drawn from nature.  I thought I had included most of this with the sides of the buildings giving a sense of depth and also the natural surroundings making use of all the previous exercises on skies and trees. 

After submitting my assignment and receiving my tutors comments, I had lost focus a bit, and had been pondering over whether to continue with the course.

  I'm not sure if I've got the artistic streak in me, or if I can be creative enough, but I have now decided to give it the final push and try and finish the course.