Pencil study

I need to start drawing on different paper. This laser paper stuff doesn't allow much flexibility. Anyways, here's a study from a gal in a clothing magazine. I've been trying to figure using only 5 shades of values that was suggested in one of the books I've been reading. I'm starting to get a feel for it... kind of.

Library Books

My cute little wifey picked up a few books for me at the library yesterday. My kids can't stop talking about how amazing it is that they have library cards. It's as if someone has handed them stacks of money and they can't stop dreaming of where it will take them. Anyways, Nat picked up "Sketching for Dummies"... hmm, "The artist's complete guide to drawing the head," and "Dynamic wrinkles and Drapery." They all seem to have great advice, especially the head book. I can't figure out why all of these principles weren't taught to me in the few art classes I attended. Either I wasn't listening or the faculty should have been teaching something else... like algebra.  Here are a few sketches from the last few days. I can already pinpoint many things I did wrong that go against what I've just recently read. I will have to see if I learned anything next time. It's hard for me to resist going into auto pilot when I draw. That's when all of the bad habits shine through.

A few sketches in pen.

A few sketches done last night in pen.

My values

I realized the morning after I drew this that something I struggle with more than anything is values. I guess I just need better values... The picture I referenced had a distinct difference between her leg and her gymnastics top that didn't seem to translate to my drawing. Don't you hate when you have a specific goal you are shooting for but in the end you just give in to your bad habits? I do, 'cause I do it consistently.

A sure way to destroy a drawing is to go in afterwards and make corrections. That is what I tried with this and it just got worse and worse. It was fun though. Maybe I'll try it again and keep it under an hour to see if I learned anything.

Remember kids, keep your values!

More ski jump.

My awesome Mom took me to an art store yesterday and bought some art supplies along with lunch afterwards. Thanks for your support Momma!

Here are a few I've done in the past few days. I sketched Natali while she was watching t.v. and afterwards she said, "I thought you said my nose had a ski jump at the end. That looks like your nose." Sorry dearie, I'll be more observant next time. For some reason, the picture I took made it all grainy and it's missing a lot of the values. I guess that's a good excuse. The other sketches are quick sketches from a magazine. I really should be out doing gesture drawings of people but it's hard when it gets dark so quickly. I guess I'll have to go to (shutter) the mall.

My wifey... kind of.

I did this with a graphite pencil. It wouldn't allow for dark areas but it was nice and smooth to draw with. I need to check and see if there are different shades of those pencils.  I'm also drawing on newsprint and so the quality of a more rendered drawing never looks all that good. I kind of went crazy on the shadows on her face because light was coming from behind her but I guess I could have made that more apparent in the drawing by actually showing signs of a light source. I'm finding that you have to remember a lot of principles while actually drawing... that's hard for me. I can't even remember where my wallet is half the time. Don't start looking for my wallet... it won't take you far.

Sketching in Pen = Intimidating

I had a co-worker suggest that I start sketching in pen to help improve on accuracy and speed. It's intimidating knowing that you can't use an eraser because it records your mistakes in your sketchbook -  but I guess that is the definition of a sketch. I took advantage of the half hour I am required to wait after getting my allergy shots this morning to sketch the ice skater above. There is plenty of resource in the magazines at a Dr.'s office so it makes a good place to throw down some sketches.

School of Hard Knocks

So Neal... check out the rib cage of fury on my drawing. I made her look about 15 pounds heavier with my crazy shading and her calf is a little low on her left leg - sorry if I hurt your feelings computer generated lady. I had a really hard time with this one and here is why. I pulled out all of my old drawing tools from when I was in school and found a few chalk pencils that hadn't been used along with a chamois and one of those gummy erasers. I was all excited and started drawing but the pencil was acting very strange, almost like it had aged or something. Finally, I looked at the description of the pencil and realized it was hard chalk instead of the ext. soft that I'm used to. It was tearing holes in the paper, no wonder I didn't use them back in school. Anyways, I dug around and found a soft pencil and started to sharpen it with an X-acto which broke the tip of the pencil off four times and I eventually wasted the whole blasted thing. My last resort was to pull out the chalk vine (which I was never good at using) and I found myself attending the school of hard knocks. In the end, the sketch I wanted to finish in 15 minutes took me 45. I've added a few more sketches that I did on Sat. and Sunday. A few from the Ensign and a few quick sketches of my kids (who were hard to sketch because once they realized I was drawing them, they would look at me every few seconds and pull faces).

As you can see, I'm trying to post everything even if I think it is downright horrible. Hopefully to see some improvement in the future.

Yes, my son had a large shirt on but probably not as big as I drew it.

Faces are hard

So I have a problem with drawing faces but I can't say I have ever been trained or have taken the time to learn the art form and so I have a bit of an excuse. I noticed that her arms are a little short too. It was pointed out to me that when drawing a dancer like this, you should always make the arms longer than you see them to add to the gracefulness. Anyways, I drew the ballerina last night and the others a few nights ago from the Ensign magazine. I figure a ballerina is a safe reference to draw from since they are draped and they show gesture. I need to get myself a chamois because using my fingers to blend makes it look a bit rough.

Neal - I am going to email this to you to see your take on it.