The Artist's Toolkit: Drawing - Final Submission

The Artist’s Toolkit: Drawing - Final Submission

Life Drawing: 25/03/2015

Today was our last life drawing session of the term, and we did some much faster poses. We did, however, begin with 3x 5 minute poses, which is obviously an exercise we're used to, and i a good way to "warm up". I really like my drawings as they are all well proportioned and have no clear error within them. As it was an exercise to get us used to the model, I kept it simple and stuck with my thin black pen. 

We then did 5x 1 minute poses. I tried not to look at all the detail and just got most of the shape and stance right. I then added colour where there were dark patches on the model. I quite like these as they are quite interesting poses and the colours work well, as both the colour of the lines/detail and the tone are similar. In the past, I have used completely different colours, and so I now think similar colours work much better.

After managing to do 1 more 5 minute pose, we got a bit faster by doing 30 second poses. I didn't have time to add the tones and so drew the body as fast as possible and added detail, if I had enough time. Sure, they're not proportioned correctly, but that's expected, however I think I got the overall stance right and positioning correct.

We then got a whole lot faster, by going down to 10 second poses. At first, I was going to do a load of full body drawings on a page then move on to another page, but as soon as the first pose was finished, I had only drawn the head, shoulders and left arm. I therefore decided to keep going as fast as I can, switching pens after each pose and sticking with the same page. It got more and more complex as it progressed and so the page looks very weird. I do quite like this page, though, a it has a sort of pattern to it and all the different colours look quite strange.

We then ended with 2x 20 minute poses. I drew them out in pen and then used a coloured pencil to add tone. For the second pose, the model was wearing clothes and so was a little different. Having got used to the model, I drew it out first as if she had no clothes on, then I drew the clothes over the top. This allowed me to get the proportions correct and for it to make sense. I really like these two drawings as the coloured pencil works with the pen outline well, and it is clear where the light is hitting the model.

3x 5 minute poses

5x 1 minute poses

1x 1 minute pose & 5x 30 second poses

10 second poses

20 minute pose

20 minute pose

Life Drawing: 18/03/2015

Following on from last week's, almost, fully self directed lesson, this session was also a bit more free, as we could either work on the big sheets or continue making post cards. I chose to go back to working on the big sheets throughout this session. We began with 4x 5 minute poses. I had a few proportion issues here and there, and some of the positions of the arms/legs were made up, slightly, as I couldn't see too well from the position I had at first. 

We the did some 3 minute, 2 minute and 1 minute poses. The first one I did went wrong completely and so I drew over some of the wrong areas and made it look like shading (Top right). I do quite like the composition of this page, as it is all over the place, which I think works well. I could imagine if I were to continue working on that page, a strange pattern might be created.

We then did a 20 minute pose. As I really liked how it was going I spent more time on it and so I probably spent around 30 minutes on it. At first, I wanted to do a very detailed line drawing, which I think I did to some extent, but as I did it very quickly and began to think that too much detail would look strange, I instead chose to add colour. I didn't chose any abstract colours and chose the closet coloured pens to the real thing. I tried to experiment with how I used the pens and it has mixed results. I really like the colour style on the model as it is very abstract and, almost, "trippy" looking. The colour of the sheets do not have a unique style as I didn't manage to work into enough before we had to clear up, and so it looks a little rushed and takes something away from the model.

4x 5 minute poses

3 minute, 2 minute & 1 minute poses

30 minute pose

Life Drawing: 11/03/2015

Today's life drawing session was different than usual as most of the session was spent making post cards for the "Postnude" exhibit. We did, however, begin with 4x 5 minute drawings as a way to warm up. I kept it simple as I wanted to use my line drawings in the postcards and so no experimentation was required. They are all reasonably well proportioned although there are some odd parts here and there, and I didn't plan out the page layout too well. 

We then got going on our postcards. There wasn't a set length of time that we had to complete them in so that meant we could do how many we wanted, as long as we only submit a maximum of 5 for the exhibit. I am very happy with all 5 of my drawings as they are all well proportioned and detailed. I introduced more tones by using dots for the first, and I really like the effect that it has made. It really shows the light and dark places on the model. For the second, I went back to using the type of shading with a pen that I used in the past. I do quite like this one, although I don't think it's as effective as the dots. I, therefore, used dots for tone on the rest of the drawings. I wanted to make the last one different as it looked the same as the previous one, so I added some red in it.I think it works quite well, although it does look like the model has some serious skin condition.

4x 5 minute poses

1st Postcard

2nd Postcard

3rd Postcard

4th Postcard

5th Postcard

Life Drawing - 04/03/2015

In today's life drawing session, we were being a bit more experimental and were even able to work on other people's work. We began, however, with a 10 minute pose. I think the arms a bit too small, but I do like the overall drawing and it's detail. We then did a 5x minute pose, and as it was quite a basic pose, it was fairly straight forward. 

The next task was 2x 3 minute poses. As I was getting paper ready, I probably only spent about a minute on the first, but I think it looks quite accurate and well proportioned. I rushed the second drawing, also, in order to finish the first, but I think this one looks fairly accurate also.

I can't remember the duration of the next task, but we were asked to use ink or paint. I began by using a thick black ink, as my original intention was to do a black and white image with no outline. As it looked a bit strange, I decided to add colour. I used a marker pen, chalk, ink and paint for the colour, and I didn't focus on the colours that I was using and just went crazy with them. I quite like this one as the colours work really well with the black blocks, despite the torso being a bit too circular.

For our 4th and 5th tasks, we had to attach a brush to a long, thin stick and do the painting standing up. It was very hard to control, especially as I had a very flimsy stick that had a large heavy brush attached to it. Our 4th task was to do 3x 1 minute poses, I believe. The page is very obscure and is hard to tell what is going on. I did manage to create some interesting tones and it was quite a fun task to do. Our 5th, and final, task was to work for 1 minute on our own piece of paper, and then move onto the next. It was fun seeing the development of everyone's work, and so this was quite a fun task too. The outline of the model is reasonably clear, and the tone and background really add something to the painting. Sorry if I ruined anyone's.

10 minute pose (Left), 5 minute pose (Right)

2x 3 minute poses

Black ink with a series of colours.

3x 1 minute poses

Group pose

Life Drawing - 25/02/2015

In today's life drawing session we were back to a male model. We began with 3x 5 minute poses. They were fairly simple poses and so were quite straight forward. I was doing them in my line drawing style, but used a thicker pen for the outline. It created an interesting effect, which is why I continued with it in the other exercises. 

Our second exercise was 5x 2 minute poses, I think, it may have been three minutes. Anyway, the poses were a little more challenging, and so I struggled to draw the big red ball - hence it's egg shape in the top left. However, apart from the odd out of proportion section, they all work really well, and the use of only the bolder pen looks quite effective. 

The third exercise was the same as the previous, except they were 1 minute poses. I got them down really quickly and was surprised by the results. They are all quite accurate and the overall page composition works well.

The next task was a bit of a challenge. We were asked to collage. I decided not to go for the paper and PVA that was recommended and instead used pens, chalk and charcoal. I wanted to use yellow (Pens) and purple (chalk) to represent the light and dark areas, respectively, and it creates a unique effect, but is one that didn't work very well. I then, for some reason, used blue pens for the sheet that the model was on. It looks very rushed and not thought out, which is an obvious shame as I had imagined another style that could have been produced. I then used white chalk and charcoal to add light and dark areas, but I think this was an experiment that went wrong.

As I wasn't too pleased with this previous drawing, I went back to just line drawing and used the thicker and thinner pen. I really like this one as it is well detailed and accurate, despite the odd head shape.

3x 5 minute poses

5x 2 minute poses

5x 1 minute poses

20 minute pose

30 minute pose

Life Drawing - 18/02/2015

In today's session, we were introduced to a new model. For the first exercise we did 6x 3 minute poses. It took me a while to get some of the proportions right, and some of my drawings are a bit strange in places. I think the reason for this is because the new model was a lot different to the other female model, and have got used to drawing her. Some of the drawings work quite well, but there are, as I have said, mistakes in places.

The second exercise was to do 3x 10 minute poses, and include colour, if we wished. I chose to go back to marker pens that I used a couple of weeks back, but I tried to use them a little different. I wanted to stick to the same colour for each figure, but using different shades. I quite like these drawings as the colours have created an interesting style.

The third, and final, exercise was a 45 minute pose. It was quite a complex pose, so I had to plan it out quite thoroughly. As I was planning it, it start to remind me of a diagram that you'd see on steps to draw a a person, so I worked with that idea and used my sketchy style to make it look more illustrative. I really like this one as it was a difficult pose, but I think I did it well.

 6x 3 minute poses

3x 10 minute poses

45 minute pose

Life Drawing - 11/02/2015

In today's session as there were less people there, we allowed to be a little more free with what we wanted to do. We did start, however, with 5x 3 minute poses. I used my trusty felt tip pen and I am happy with the results. They are all accurately proportioned and detailed.

We then did our first of two 40 minute poses. We were again asked to try and include colour. As a change from pen, I used ink, and am happy with how it looks. It clearly shows where the light and dark areas are, and the ink worked really well with lines as it smudged them slightly, but not too much, which helped me to do the darker tones. 

As a change from the first 40 minute pose, I used more than one colour. I started with the blue of the sheets, then added the green over the blue and the body. I then added the red to the body, and I then continued to add more green, and red, to it. I am very happy with this one as the colours work really well together, and so create an interesting effect.

Overall, I am very happy with the work I produced today. Hopefully, this progression will continue. 

5x 3 minute poses

1st 40 minute pose

2nd 40 minute pose

Life Drawing - 04/02/2015

We started off the day with 2x 10 minute poses. I had a few little issues at first, as I couldn't get the proportions right, and the head isn't the very well done. However, the body is reasonably well proportioned. The second 10 minute pose was an improvement on the first. I didn't include detail on the head/face as that was the main issue with the first one (On the left). It is very well proportioned, I think, and I like the detail that I included.

We then did a series of 5 minute, 2 minute and 1 minute poses. I used coloured pens instead of black, and I tried to not use the same colour twice, which is what I did. I quite like this page as no drawing is majorly out of proportion. Sure, there are some things I could have done better, but that would be if I had more time. This page, and it's layout, reminds me of a circus. With all the bright colours and props, it looks like some sort of event.

We concluded the day with 2x 20 minute poses. I used different shades of blue for the tone and outline, for the first. I like how I used the different shades as it makes the drawing have an interesting style. I do, although, think it isn't very clear how he's sitting, and his head maybe a tad too big, but my main aim was to experiment with the colours, which work well. For the second, I used my normal style with black pen. It may look a little out of proportion in places, but I think I moved a bit so I have two different drawings merged into one. However, I think the foreshortening is well done. Maybe it could have done with more detail, though,

2x 10 minute pose

5 minute, 2 minute and 1 minute poses

20x minute pose

20x minute pose

Life Drawing - 28/01/2015

In Wednesday's life drawing session, we were working with the same model we had a couple of weeks ago, which was then I began to see more of a development in my work/style.

We started with 5x 3/4 minute poses. They were rather complex poses and some were fairly challenging, especially the one where the model was bending over. It isn't the best photo as I took it in the session and it wasn't able to see if I got all the picture in, which as you can see I didn't. I will try to get the another photo posted, but my life drawings from that day are at my nan's, at the moment. Anyway, I am quite happy with these as they are accurate and don't have any glaring issues with them.

We then did 2x 20 minute poses, and were asked to include colour. I started by using the same drawing style that I have come used to, and then I tried to experiment with felt tip pens. They weren't the best pens, in truth, and I didn't quite get the effect I wanted. I want to use two different colours that would represent light and dark. I'm not too happy about these, as they almost look like they were coloured in by 5 year old children. Despite that, I do think the one on the right uses the dark tones well.

We then finished with a 40 minute pose. I used my same style, but tried to use the extended time to add more detail. I am very happy with this as it is accurate, and has a the "clean" look that I have come to use. Perhaps in the next session, I could see what more I could do with that style.

40x minute pose

 2x 20 minute poses

5x 3/4 minute poses

Life Drawing - 21/01/2015

In today's life drawing session, we were drawing another model, and we were back to drawing men. after being happy with my previous drawings where we were drawing a women, I was eager to see how/if my skills have changed when drawing men.. 

We started with 3x 10 minute poses. I drew them all in pencil quite lightly, at first, before going over the rough outline/detail with a softer pencil. For the first one, I finished it reasonably quickly and so added a little bit of tone. Unfortunately, we had to move on before I was fully able to add all the tone I wanted. However, I am very happy with this drawing as it is well proportioned. Maybe if I'm really harsh on myself, the legs are a little longer than they should be, but I don't think that's a major problem. I did manage to complete the second pose with some time to spare, but I instead chose to try and fix the left leg, which I wasn't able to do. The left foot should be higher than the right, but I wasn't able to do it without making the leg look too short. Despite that, I am quite pleased with it as it is quite accurate, and the legs aren't too long. The third pose came out a little strange as the edges are a bit too straight, as they needed to be a little more curved. 

We then did a 30 minute pose, which as I have previously said, I enjoy doing. I used the technique that I have become comfortable with, which is drawing everything roughly in pencil, before going over everything in a lot more detail with pen. I am very happy with the style that I have adopted. I have always liked doing line drawings with pen, so I'm glad that I can incorporate that into life drawing. I am very happy with this drawing, as all the proportions are corrected and it shows where the body is applying pressure. I like how I don't add much detail and that I leave it to look quite simple/clean.

The model then moved into a more challenging pose. We had to really focus on the fore-shortening and change in proportions. It took me a while to get going, as I couldn't get the foot and the legs correctly in relation to the body. I perhaps didn't see as much of the torso, that I have shown in the drawing, but that was the only way I could get it to work. As you can see it is in the same line drawing style, and I am very pleased with this, also. It was a challenging pose, and I am pleased with the result.

We then ended the day with a sitting down pose. I can't quite remember how long the drawing was meant to be, but I managed to complete mine, in 15 minutes. There isn't much detail, as most of the time was spent getting the legs accurate, which I think are done well. 

3x 10 minute poses

30 minute pose

20 minute pose

15 minute pose

Life Drawing - 14/01/2015

Today was our first life drawing session where we had to draw a woman, and I found it easier to get the proportions correct, or almost correct, compared to drawing a man. I think the reason for this is because men have a rougher outline and have more wear to their skin, where as women tend to be smoother and more curved, if that's the right word. 

We started off with 4x 10 minute poses, and I think I started off by making the first drawing have long legs, but I manage to make them more accurate in the following 3. The 3 drawing is it a bit too straight on the edges and looks like it was drawn using a ruler. 

We were then asked to do a 30 minute pose. I started off by roughly drawing out the proportions and rough outline, using a pencil, then I used my trusty pen to draw it properly using the rough drawing I did with the pencil. We were asked to incorporate some colour, so I chose blue....because I like blue. I used a light blue and dark blue piece of chalk, the dark blue was used to show tone and the light tone was to build on the dark blue. I then used a white piece of chalk to increase the amount of light being shown on the figure. I then used black chalk to really show the darkest areas. I am really pleased with this as it uses the light well, and the chalk was easy to use and show tone. 

We then ended the day with a 15 minute pose. I did the exact same technique as the 30 minute pose, but as it was a shorter length of time, I didn't add colour. I really like this as it reminds me of colouring books, as all the line are smooth and crisp. The figure is well proportioned and there isn't any glaring issue with it.

I believe there was significant improvement in my life drawing this week, although it seemed like everyone's work has improved.

 4x 10 minute poses

 30 minute pose

 15 minute pose

Life Drawing - 07/01/2015

Today we had our first life drawing session of the year, but with a new model. We pretty much did the same exercises that we did in the previous term. However, I think the poses were a little more complex. With the model being more defined, it made different shapes where he was holding or leaning on a broom.

At first, I started off a little dodgey with a massive head, but I think the body looks fine and the second drawing is ok, just unfinished (2x 10 minute drawings).

We then did some 5 minute and 2 minute drawings, and the compositon of the page looks very organised and looks like something you'd so on an ancient shrine. I really like that page as all the drawings are reasonably well proportioned, especially the three at the top of the page.

We then had to speed up and do 5x 1 minute drawings and these didn't start off too well. From my position, the pose was quite complicated as it was all about perspectives and foreshortening, and that is something I find difficult anyway. The first isn't on the page because it wasn't working well, so I rubbed it out and as soon as I was about to restart we moved onto the next pose, a silly mistake really. The other drawings, though, do have good shapes and are well proportioned. I especially like the one in the bottom left because it is at a good size and accurate.

It was then time to do a long pose, which I prefer. I tried to do the proper measuring technique using the size of the head and the end of the pencil, but it has gone wrong slightly because the body and legs look a bit too long. However, I like this drawing because it is well detailed and shows a lot of tone.

The final exercise was to do 2x 10 minute drawings. I was bored of charcoal, and so decided to use pencil, I quite liked using the pencil because it is easier to do the lines that you want, where as charcoal may crumble into a new position and create a wobbly line when you want to draw a straight one. These two drawings are pretty accurate apart from in the first one I had a few issues with the shoulder, but I think the second one doesn't have any clear problem.

 2x 10 minute poses

5 minute and 2 minute poses

4x 1 minute poses

1x 30 minute pose

 1st 10 minute pose

2nd 10 minute pose