Portraits with pencil

We've learned a technique to draw occasional grid marks to reference certain parts of the face - the bottom of the eye for instance, and then reference the same line on our drawing - which is larger than the photo we are drawing.  This is my completed drawing - not the best (especially after taking a photo of it ... looks much better in person!) but the good news is I finished it.

Seems that I have a fear of failure.  In class we draw part of the portrait and then when I get home I don't want to touch the drawing for fear that I'll ruin it.  Have to let that go, and just have fun.

The shading is the most amazing part - using stumps (I now know what they're for), and cheesecloth.  The drawing comes to life almost before your eyes.

The next medium we are working with it charcoal.  We're going to draw this cute little dog.

Here is my attempt - part way through (after my last class.  We did all this in 3 hours).

Now to finish it.  Overcome the fear!! 

3 classes in …

I’m not as freaked out as I was before the drawing classes began. In fact, I’m kind of enjoying them.  Time flies by when I’m drawing.  Surprisingly, it takes an amazing amount of concentration.

At the first class our instructor took out a bag of old sneakers, told us to pick one, and put it in front of us on the table.  We were to draw it – fairly quickly – and without instruction.  I thought I did a pretty good job.

By the middle of the class, we were asked to draw the same show again.  After 1.5 hours of instruction this is what I did.

Its seems that, as a student, I need to change how I see things.  The more time I spend looking at an object, the more likely I am to notice aspects of the object that make it unique.  Apparently, an artist notices visual elements that others overlook.

Class number 3 is all about portraits.  I have no desire to draw portraits.  I’m more about trees and streams and sunsets, and maybe an animal or two.  Regardless; we’re drawing portraits.  By the end of class 3 with the help of some loose graphite, the special tiziano paper, an eraser and some stumps, this is what I did.

The exercise wasn’t about proportion, but about shading, and the shading happened so quickly.  You can actually see the face come to life right before your eyes.  Very cool.  Not sure where we’re headed next, but so far it’s quite a ride!

Back to school

Summer has come and gone, and the first day of my “drawing for beginners” class is looming. I've signed up for a class through the City Arts Centre and had to settle for the beginner class when what I really wanted was “drawing for the absolutely terrified”.

My class supply list arrived by email today: lots of pencils and charcoal, sheets of different types of paper (Tiziano or Artagain?  Sounds more like the name for Aztec gods or a traditional Italian appetizer than paper stock) and for some reason a large number of cleaning supplies are required including rags, paper towels, soap and a scrub brush.  “Be prepared to get dirty”, it says.  I’m not.

Am I looking forward to the class?  Sort of.  Looking forward to it in the way that you look forward to your dentist appointment being over.  Perhaps that’s a bit extreme, but I’m just hoping to be able to draw a slightly better stick man, or a house that looks somewhat more advanced than a 5 year old which is the age at which I stalled in my artistic development.  I don’t necessarily feel the need to create masterpieces … just some basic rules on perspective would be fine, thank you.  Certainly not prepared for owning a set of Conte sticks, some vine charcoal and a few blending stumps.  Is there an aftermarket for slightly used blending stumps when this is all over?  Cheese cloth I have – I wonder if it matters that it’s been used and machine washed?  The selection of erasers will no doubt become my favourite tools.  And the last item on the list I actually own and can use quite well.  A ruler.  That gives me hope.