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.

  

Project - Drawing Trees

These are some of the sketches I did using pencil and charcoal.  Studies of individual trees and groups of trees.

Drawing a statue

This was my attempt at drawing a statue.
It stands in the middle of the market place in Bury St Edmunds, but it was a busy day, and I felt very self concious trying to draw it, so I ended up taking a photo.

Project - Townscapes

The next exercise involved a study of a townscape using line.

I enjoyed doing this drawing.  Working in pen is good for me as I know I can't rub it out, and Tipp-ex isn't really the done thing!

Then we had to do some sketchbook drawings of building in a town. Trying to get a sense of the buildings and structure.

Then I moved on to doing a limited palette study from the sketches.  I don't know why I chose purple, mustard and rust.  I think the pencils looked good together in the tin.  On the paper, not so good, but you get the idea.

Project- Perspective

This was a really frustrating part of the course.  Not only did I have lines going everywhere across my drawings, but none of them seemed to meet at the right place.

The first exercise was parallel perspective- drawing a doorway straight on. Then we had to do a drawing using angular perspective.  I chose the side of a house. 

I then stuck the drawing to a larger bit of paper to try extending the lines and seeing if they all met on the eye level line. This proved to be a major headache as I just got really confused about which line should go where.

Not a very good photo but you get the idea.

I was glad to move on to the next project.

Another go at plotting space through composition and structure

This is another try at dividing the foreground, middle ground and background in a drawing.  I used watercolour pencils for this one as it was easier to get a better contrast between light and dark.