Drawing Friday LifeDrawing 24th October

A Change of Plan 24th October

As soon as I stepped through the door of my Friday drawing class I could tell something was wrong. We had been told that today we would be doing print making. I could see this was definitely not the case as there were easels set up and a male model was standing in the centre of the room. We were then informed we would be doing life drawing and not printing today.

We quickly went over how to start a life drawing properly; how to measure and scale what you want on the paper. Starting with measuring the head, we were told to see how many head lengths went into the body, making sure we had our arm straight to make sure that we always had the same point to measure from so it didn't change.

With the talk over, it was right into drawing the model standing in a normal upright pose. First I had to make sure my starting point was correct. I had to fill as much as the page as I could with out cutting any parts of the model off. This being my first life drawing, I was a bit apprehensive of what my drawing would turn out like, but I had very little time to think about that. With a little help I mapped out the proportions on the paper and was ready to start drawing the figure. As quickly and lightly as I could, I sketched out the model, constantly going back and checking the measurement against the head size, not only for the length, but for the width too.

I found it a lot easier to draw the longer I was doing it. I got into a rhythm, and was getting quicker as time went by. The only thing I had to fight against was the urge to add a lot of tone. The first drawing was to be more of a study on line and proportion than anything else and adding lots of tone would detract from that.

With the minutes racing by, it was time for a break before I knew it and I had to stop drawing. We then went to the other room for a group discussion. Mostly we talked about how we felt about our drawings and what we found difficult. Almost everyone said getting the proportions right was something they found difficult and I was the same. With a quick recap of how to make sure we were doing the measurements correctly, it was back into the room for the next drawing.

This time it was a different pose with the model sitting on a stool, having one foot up on a box whilst twisting to the side. It was a lot more interesting to draw if nothing else. Also, we were using an off white coloured paper which meant we could the add some tone into the drawing. This was something I was happy with, not only adding the shading, but also using a white pastel pencil to add some highlights. I took all the things I did from the first drawing, measuring and scaling it to the paper, while still keeping the proportions right. This drawing took a lot less time than the first one. I found it a little easier because I kept checking and measuring all the time.

With most of the model mapped out I could then move onto adding a bit of tone to the figure. I started with the head and worked my way down to the feet. I also added a little tone to the stool he was sitting on, but I wasn't really worried about that. I wanted to finish the figure before spending any time on the objects around him. I used crosshatching to add layers of tone. I went over it again for the very dark part of the drawing, then with the white pastel I gently added a little light to some parts.

I was so busy concentrating I forgot about the time and before I knew it, the lesson was over. Most of the drawing was done. I didn't get around to finishing the stool, but I wasn't too upset about that. I was happy with what I'd done considering it was my first attempt at life drawing. I look forward to improving in the lessons to come.

Drawing Monday One thing in many ways 20th October

One thing in many ways 20th October

This Monday we were starting a new subject in drawing, and I was interested to find out what we will be asked to do.

Today's class was focusing on natural forms while concentrating on tone and texture. We were given a variety objects to choose from, and a range of media to use.

Before starting we had a short discussion about how to present our drawing on the A1 page. We were asked to make smaller studies that were to take no longer than twenty minutes. We also looked at some design sheets from 3D. This was so we could get ideas on how to lay out our page.

With the talk over with, I picked my object. I started with what looked like a plant of some sort? I chose it because of the interesting centre it had; many different lines that looked like little veins.

I started my first drawing with a side view of the strange object. I did this so I could include a view of the intricate veins inside. I drew in pencil as it was a starting point, as well as a good way to familiarise myself with the subject. I concentrated on tone, and tried to work quickly, aware of the 20 minute time limit for each drawing. This limit was so we could have time for more than three drawings in the lesson.

After a little over 20m minutes had passed, I'd nearly finished my first drawing. I moved the object so I could only see the top. With the interesting web like inside, I quickly mapped out the outline using a pen. Capturing the intricate details without making it look messy was difficult. I started at the centre and worked my way out from there, slowly building on the lines, trying to keep the flowing winding feeling. I decided to keep the top half unfinished, partly because the 20 minutes was up, but also because I thought the composition was more interesting that way.

Moving swiftly on to the third drawing, I grabbed some white and black charcoal and started sketching out a detail of part of the inside; layering the black and then the white on top. This wasn't as successful as I would of liked. I wanted to get a feeling of depth in the drawing; one of the main reasons I started this sketch.

During a short break, I walked around the room looking at other people's drawings, asking them why they chose their objects and what they found difficult. I got mixed comments, but most people chose their object because of one or two parts they found interesting; either the feel, texture or tone, or a combination of these things. A lot of people were doing ink washes and using paint. This is something I haven't done much of yet, seeing as colour is in the last section of our drawing lessons .

When the break was over, I started on my fourth drawing. This time I decided on a soft brown and white, focusing on the textured outside of the object. I wanted to capture the contrast of shadows on the bumpy skin.

I moved onto my final drawing of the day; a view of one side, as well as the inside of the object, using an ink wash. I focussed on the negative space and used cross hatching to cover the outside of the object. I then filled in the space in between the intricate veins on the inside, using a small amount of water to keep it light.

At the end of the lesson, I had done more than I initially thought I would. I later found out that the object I was drawing was a part of a natural loofah. This made me look at it differently in some way. I think if I knew exactly what it was before I started, I might have drawn it differently? However, I'll never know for sure.

Drawing Architectural forms Building Layers On Black Paper 17th October

Building layers on black paper 17th October 

As Friday was the last time looking at architectural forms, we were given a task of producing a sort of final art work by the end of the day. Before we started we were shown some different ways artists have drawn buildings, as well as the materials they used. We could then develop some new ideas on how to look at the building we were drawing, and understand we don't have to follow the photo we had.

We were sent off to start. In my head I already had an idea of what I wanted to do as I'd taken an good photo of the outside of Lichfield Cathedral. As I looked at the photo, I found the angles and all the lines interesting. It would be a challenging drawing with all carvings, windows, and the spiral right in the centre. However, as I had not yet done a drawing of the outside of the cathedral, it would make a nice change.

I decided to draw on black paper as the white would make the drawing stand out. All the details would also allow me to create many different tones. I grabbed a pencil and started lightly mapping the outline. When I started drawing, I realised this was a good exercise for perspective. With many lines going to different vanishing points, I had to make sure they were all correct before I started adding white onto the paper.

It took longer than I thought to map out the sketch; there were so many columns to draw. I took out my white pastel pencil and went around the outline of the Cathedral first. I then took some white charcoal and filled in the sky by pressing hard at first, then pushing upwards, gradually getting lighter closer to the top of the page. The white sky now made the rest of the black page really stand out.

I added some highlights with my pastels, keeping the white lines sharp because I wanted the texture of the paper to come through. As I worked my way down the paper, I added a bit of black to the darker areas to create more contrast. This worked well because the paper wasn't a very dark shade of black. One of the hardest parts was drawing the windows. There were so many and as they were leaded, I had to draw them carefully without making them look too 'messy'.

Unfortunately I didn't get to add all the detail before calling it a night. I would have to finish this off another day. However, I was very happy with what I'd done. It was a big improvement compared to last Friday.

Monday Drawing Composition Placing things on the page 13th October

Placing things on the page 13th October

Today's drawing lesson focussed on composition; a continuation from last week. We started with a quick talk about the handout on composition we were given last Monday. This was to make sure we all understood how composition works and the methods some artists use to achieve a unified and interesting composition.

After the talk was over, I was set the task of completing two drawings from the large scale setup that was in the centre of the room. I had to draw one large A1 drawing and one smaller A2 drawing. This was different from last Monday's lesson as today the subject was already there, but I had to pick a section draw.

Starting with the smaller drawing, I considered the assembly of objects in front of me. In my mind I tried to frame each part as if it was already a finished drawing. With composition in mind, I searched for a visually pleasing arrangement of shapes and lines. There had to be a focal point and an structure of elements to lead the viewers eye around the work. I looked at symmetrical balance, and the flowing lines and patterns in the objects. These can help or hinder the composition of the drawing. The elements within the frame must be arranged in a balanced compositional way.

There are many things to consider when starting a drawing; one should be the arrangement of objects, as well as what's surrounding them (the negative space). Is there an even or odd number of objects? An even number gives the viewer a calmer feel, as does symmetry, but it can be boring. When we look at a drawing, painting or photo, or any group of objects, our brains automatically pair things up. This give a sense of order and calm, but doesn't necessarily create interest. However, when faced with a odd number of objects, our brains can't pair the objects up, which gives a more dynamic feeling, making our eyes move around the work. In nature there is very rarely an even number of anything, so to draw an even number of trees would give the drawing an unnatural look. We would instantly notice something odd about it. This is something to bear in mind when drawing a natural landscape. There has to be variety of shape and size to create interest.

I made a start as I wanted to get both drawings finished by the end of the lesson. I chose the dry bit of wood as my focus. I thought this would be a good starting point because of it's interesting shape and the surrounding objects. I restarted a couple of times to rethink what was going to fit within the frame. I wanted enough objects in there for it to be interesting, but there also had to be a balance of space.

While I continued measuring and adding tone, I had to think about what points of my drawing the eye would be drawn to and if it fitted in thirds, or the "visual grid". I also had to think about how tone, especially contrast of tone, can visually draw attention and make the viewer move their eye.

I finished my first drawing then moved onto the second one; the larger A1 piece. This time I decided to focus on the negative space. I moved around viewing the objects from different angles, keeping composition in mind.

In this drawing I would work quickly, and concentrate on the outline of the negative space. Once the line work was done, I added texture and tone to the areas of negative space. I added darker tones near the outlines of the objects, then had it gradually fading further away from the positive shapes. This was a good exercise for adding tone and texture to the negative space and making the positive shapes appear.

At the end of the lesson, we had the opportunity to look at everyone's work. Each artwork showed a different style and technique. The interesting variations gave me several ideas on how to represent the same subject in different ways.


Drawing Lichfield Cathedral Learning the Hard Way 10th October.

 
Lichfield Cathedral - Learning the Hard Way 10th October

Today's Friday drawing lesson was about having a close look at the drawings and photos from the trip to Lichfield Cathedral. It was also about why the Cathedral was built.

We started by talking about what we took away from last week's trip and what we focused on in our drawings. I personally was amazed by the detail of the sculptures, in fact all the details in every inch of the building. I'd made a lot of sketches of the stone sculptures and their different styles, trying to capture their solid and smooth feel. I also tried drawing the vast expanse of the main space. This was a good exercise on perspective, as I sketched the sides of the Cathedral inline, showing how they gradually appeared to get smaller in the distance.

With the talk over I had to print out my photos from the Lichfield Cathedral trip so I could then start my drawings. We were then given a choice of different size paper and materials to use, as well as a choice of working on a table, easel or wall. As most of my work up until now has been on the wall on big pieces of paper, I chose to stick with that as I'm still getting used to drawing that way. The more practice I get, the better.

I looked at a photo of the top of one of the arches. It had some great detail I wanted to capture. I made a few sketches concentrating on different aspects of the same photo. Sadly it didn't go very well. The first drawing was using black and white charcoal. It was a bit messy and I couldn't get the detail in. The problem was that I'd drawn it too small for the amount of detail I wanted to add. I left it unfinished and moved on to another drawing. In this one I concentrated on a detail of part of the first one. It was a little better, but I was still unhappy with the outcome. I just couldn't get the detail right. Aside from that, the tonal work wasn't the best I could do. The charcoal wasn't behaving itself. I tried to smudge it, but it didn't create the effect I wanted.

This was not some of my best work and I didn't know why. I was concentrating on what I have learnt the past few weeks, but nothing seemed to be going to plan. The last of my works was by far the worse. For some reason I wasn't getting on with the charcoal today, so I tried my hand with an ink wash. It was my first time using ink in this way and it went horribly wrong. The only positive thing I could say was that I'd tried a new technique. At least I now know how not to use a ink wash. I also learned not to use bright purple just because it's the only one left, and that I should map out my drawing a bit better before I put the ink on the paper. After trying to make it work, and failing, I called the tutor over to ask his advice. He gave me some brown ink which helped tone down the bright purple. After lunch he showed me how to layer some different colours on top of it to achieve more variety in tone and texture. This helped a lot and made it match more with the other two drawings. I did attempt layering the last drawing with different media; ink, charcoal and pastels, which at least was another good thing I tried. However, I was not happy with the overall end result. It wasn't the look I was hoping to achieve. I was annoyed and frustrated in the end.

In five hours I did three drawings that weren't finished, and I wasn't happy with any of them. On Wednesday I finished four drawings in just two hours. One of the tutors even commented on them being some of my best work he'd seen me do. It was quite a contrast.

One thing I thought about, and now realise, is that not every drawing I do can be a great artwork. I understand that days like today are a time for me to learn from my mistakes. I have to see what doesn't work in order to know what does, so the next time I try something like this, I have an understanding of what I could do better.

Wednesday Drawing Night 8th October

Drawing Night 8th October 

With Wednesday's visual communication lesson over, I stayed behind with one of my group to catch up on some work. There were lots of things to write up and stick down from today's visual communication. After a while a different group of students came into the room. While they were talking we overheard them discussing tonight's drawing class. This was something I completely forgot about, but having heard it was starting soon, I quickly packed up and searched for the room where it was held.

I found the room, sat down and got ready for the class to begin. It started with an introduction on what we will be doing for the next two hours. After hearing exactly what, I started to worry. What had I got myself into? We had to pick an object and stick with it for the whole two hours. We would have to draw quickly, focusing on capturing the feel of the object, not getting hung up on making sure the line work was perfect. We were given twenty minutes on each drawing and had to have at least three to four A1 drawings by the end of the night.

Getting so much done in a short time worried me a little. The main things I find difficult are all the things we had to do, drawing in a large scale on the wall, working quickly, and not focusing on the line work of the drawing. What had I got myself into? There was no time to think of that now. No time to worry about anything because the 20 minutes had already started. I had to quickly grab an object, paper, a bit of wall and something to draw with, or I wouldn't have time to finish anything.

There was a wide selection of objects on the table to choose from, from plants to bones. I found a interesting shell that had been broken and allowed you to see through it. I decided on the shell, picked up some charcoal and was ready to begin.

I started with drawing the shell on white paper, making sure I filled as much of the page as I could. With no time to think about making everything perfect, I had to go with the first lines I made on the page. Working quickly, I had to get as much tone and texture onto the paper as I could in the 20 minutes. With time ticking away, I found it easier to make faster and freer marks. With the first 20 minute up, I'd completed my first drawing. I was surprised I'd finished it. I could of done more, but it was done. You could see it was a shell and I managed to even get some shading done.

However, there was no time for examining my work, I had to quickly move onto the next piece. I chose black paper this time and took a closer view of the top part of the shell. I liked the way you could look through it and see different areas of light. The contrast of the smooth inside with the rougher outside was interesting. I had no time to worry about getting the texture exactly right, but I did have to rework some areas as I went along. Sadly, I didn't get time to finish the texture of the rough part of shell, but overall I was happy with the end result.

Once again it was time to start a new drawing and I wanted to use some brown paper. I had to cut the paper myself and there wasn't much room to do that. It took some time out of my 20 minutes, but I got there in the end. I could now start. I turned the shell around to view it from a different angle. I added a little colour. I worked quickly, trying to capture the various tones and the feel of the shell. I would of liked to have done the shape a little differently, but there wasn't enough time to be picky.

Now for the last drawing of the night. The minutes were passing so quickly I'd hardly noticed the time. I couldn't reflect on that now because I had to start my last piece and I had to make it work. I grabbed one more piece of black paper and positioned the shell, turning it to face me so I could see the inside and outside spirals. I quickly sketched the outline of the shell and shaded like my life depended on it. I moved swiftly from one part to another, smudging the smooth inside part of the shell, but keeping the outer lines sharper to depict their rougher texture.

The final 20 minutes were up. I stopped and reflected on what I'd done; I'd finished four A1 drawings in 20 minutes, and was happy with them. This was something I didn't think I would ever do. Having only a short amount of time to draw, made me worry less about the lines I was making. There wasn't time for worrying about decisions. I couldn't be indecisive. I had to go with my feelings and draw quickly and instinctively.

Last Friday I spent a long time trying to finish my feather drawing. However, in the last two hours, I did more than all day Friday. This class showed me I don't have to take so long to draw. I can capture the feeling of an object without taking hours. I was happy with each one of my drawings. Of course there were some parts I would like to change or do differently, but overall it was a good result. I was amazed at the end of the lesson at what I'd achieved. I left feeling excited and pleased.

Drawing Composition 6th October

Composition  6th October

Today's Monday drawing class was about composition; an important aspect all artists must think about. It doesn't matter whether it's drawing, painting or photography; composition is a key element of them all.

The class started with the group being split into threes and fours. Each group had to create their own composition to draw, using what was around the room and some things the tutor had gathered.

It was an interesting exercise thinking of the composition on not only one side, but all the way around. It's difficult to achieve interest in every direction, as well as making sure it's balanced with no large gaps or space on any one side.

The group all voiced their ideas and arranged the objects we were all going to draw. This made it interesting because of the different ideas of what to go where, and how it should look. We all had to come to an agreement before starting. Luckily it was settled quickly and we were able to get down to the drawing part of the lesson. This was where the other parts of the decision making took place, but they were decisions I normally make whenever I start any drawing. However, this time composition was at the front of my mind. Having to stop and think of something you do naturally makes it harder to come to a decision. Firstly, I had to decide whether to have the layout in landscape or portrait. This seems like a simple thing, but it has to be considered carefully because each choice will give a different feel to the drawing. It depends on what you're drawing and how big you want to make the objects.

The next thing to consider was the position of the objects; where to place things on the page? How much negative space will there be? What will be the centre point? These are some of the questions you have to ask yourself when focusing on composition. Symmetry is one solution artists sometimes use to a composition problem. It gives artworks a calm feeling because of the visual balance.

There are many different ways to draw and paint, and there are many rules to take into account when composing an artwork. Some are mathematical, such as the golden section. This is about achieving harmonious proportions and relationships using a specific mathematical ratio that is "pleasing to the eye". Most accomplished artists who have studied great artworks, and made their own works, instinctively know how to create the right composition.

I started with drawing the eye line and picking my centre point of the drawing. This was something I found difficult. I took the long bottle as the centre and worked around that, putting what I've learn so far from the other drawing classes into practice. I worked slowly trying to get everything in proportion.

The time went too fast and I had to stop working before I was completely satisfied. The speed of my drawing is something I have to work on. I hope I improve in this area as I continue through the course.


I had a quick break before starting the second of the drawings. This exercise was about focusing on the negative space around the objects to make us more aware of the importance of this space as part of the overall composition. It also ensures we are looking at the object in a different light or point of view. I was much quicker with the second drawing, as well as being a lot freer. Concentrating on negative space, I focused more on the outline than the object itself.

With the class over, I was happy to get two drawings done. However, if I had the chance, I would do them differently. The first drawing was lop sided and unfinished. I would of liked more time working on it.

Drawing Lichfield Cathedral 3rd

Lichfield Cathedral 3rd October

Today's Friday drawing lesson was a field trip to the beautiful Lichfield Cathedral; a massive Gothic style cathedral with a long history.

We started by walking around the outside, taking photos of the whole building, as well as capturing small details of the carvings and figures on the exterior walls. It was hard to pick which parts to focus on as it's such an ornate building. All the stone carvings had been lovingly crafted with such skill that each one deserved to be individually admired. Everything about the building showed how important this cathedral must have been to the whole community. When the cathedral was built, the church was the heart of the town. If that is true then this would be a good example. Each of the three stone spires are heavily engraved with a gold crosses on top. They appear to be reaching up to the sky towards God. Back then it would of been the tallest building in the area, so no matter where you were, you would be able to look up and see the spires and be reminded of God.

As I walked inside, I noticed just as much detail as the outside. The high ceiling, stone walls and the stained glass windows made everything feel grand. I couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in such a setting. The people who came into the cathedral all those years ago must have felt the same, or even more so, as this was a house of God and they were humble people wishing to renounce their sins and be accepted into heaven. It must have been an overwhelming experience entering the cathedral for the first time.

As I walked around taking photos, the feel of the Cathedral never escaped me. I thought about the time it must of taken to build and all the upkeep. A lot of care had gone into everything. While I was walking, the organ was playing. The music was echoing throughout the space, filling the large room and every inch of the Cathedral. It added to the awe-inspiring atmosphere.

After taking some more photos, I sat down and started drawing. The first thing to catch my eye was a small leaf like carving on a stone pillar on the edge of the wall. I noticed that even the corners, which can be easily overlooked in a normal building, were embellished here. I continued spotting small details, drawing them, and moving my eye onto something else. It wasn't difficult finding something to draw as there was so much to look at that captured my attention. However, there was so little time. My only regret was I didn't stop outside to do any drawing. If I didn't have a head cold, I would have done that. I think I'll be going back to Lichfield Cathedral at some point to do more drawings.