Sunday, August 10, 2014

2nd entry for July 28, 2014



These are two 15-minute studies and a 35-minute one. All three are done with water-soluble graphite on 18 x 24" sheets of Canson Montval watercolour paper.
The top one is moderately strong, but it was not a good night at all for getting Shel's likeness. I think it's true of many visual artists that for each person some faces are easy to `get' and others harder. For me, Shel's likeness is one I have a harder time with. The last pose, a long one, was a semi-reclining pose leaning back and staring into the distance, and that night I couldn't think of anything to do with it. as a full-figure study (which I ultimately lay the blame at my feet for a lack of any creative compositional solution- surely they exist). I tried more of a portrait focus, but was too far away to accurately read details, and the best I could come up with is what's here, after a bunch of post-session reworking. It's still awkward and unsatisfying - not a keeper.
Some nights are like that.
(and my drawing has subsequently been bouncing back, I feel.)
Works that I do like I am now selecting and posting on a new Tumblr blog I started. It's up over 100 of the year's best studies, and has no whining or other extraneous details. just strong figure drawings, fast and extended. You can see what's posted here, at From The Stream.

1 comment:

Brenda Clews said...

I don't agree with you on the last one, a portrait. It is quite amazing and there is a look in her eyes that takes the viewer into perhaps thoughts of her memories or their own. Maybe it's not what you sought, but wow, what a beautiful, evocative, thoughtful drawing.