Charcoal powder vs graphite printing ink

Some inconclusive experiments. At this stage, I really don't know what I'm after. But I'm in Symposium mode, so I won't get back on track until after I'm back. 

Life Drawing - Beatrix

Who would have thought I'd be going back to charcoal? But these fast-paced poses from Life Drawing Barcelona required me to adapt. I can't say that I'm happy with the result, but at least I was able to keep up! And you wouldn't know it from the way I drew, but the model had really expressive hands. I need to practise hands! Next thing on the list!

Life Drawing - Paul

Another anatomy lesson. Another excellent model, Paul. Again, I was on edge at the start, but relaxed into it. And I got to play some more with the PIQO projector (it holds in the palm of my hand, literally - and no I don't have any shares in the company that makes them, but I wish I had). A good way to spend a Wednesday evening.

Life drawing - Trixie

Back at life drawing last week. I was worried that I hadn't gone in over three weeks. I was a bit shaky at the start, but I got into it pretty quickly!

Lovely model, Trixie. And we covered the anatomy again, but every time, I learn something more. Or you could say that I forget so much that it feels new every time!
 (And I got to play with the dinkiest little projector I've ever seen, called a PIQO!!)

Life Drawing - Anuta

My second life drawing session of the week - with Anuta who was standing in for someone else. She's such a pro it's always a pleasure to draw and paint her!

Most times, the initial short poses are really just a warm-up to the second half of the evening, when we move to 10- and 15-minute poses. My favourite is often the last pose of the evening, when the model lets her haird down (literally) and uses a prop or costume. I did this one in direct watercolour, only using a watercolour pencil to hint at the chair and reinforce some of the creases and patterns in the dress.

I'll spare you the one-minute poses, but here are a few 5- and 10-minutes. Interestingly, the fives are better than the ten I think. It's a balance between having enough time to get the shapes and proportions and having too much time to start doubting myself!!

Life Drawing - Cindy

I didn't have much time for art last week, but I did go to two life drawing sessions, to make up for the two weeks I had missed! I was a little bit apprehensive, feeling that I would need time to get back into the flow of drawing. And yes, while a few of the drawings were painful, I did eventually get into the zone and started enjoying myself.
Cindy is statuesque and it was wonderful to have time for a longer pose (a total of 70 minutes).

Here are a few of the shorter poses:

Life Drawing - Anuta again

This was the best way to get over that life drawing class that didn't go so well. And I couldn't believe it when it was the same model, Anuta - she's so poised! We were in a new location, which is much handier for me, but I think that was a one-off. It had pluses and minuses - being closer to home a definite plus. But the lighting wasn't great, which was quite tiring on the eyes.

Life drawing - Anuta

We all have days like that - when nothing seems to work, when you feel like you just can't draw, when you doubt yourself and it paralyses you. Normally, at the end of a life drawing class, I'm on a high, and I want to share my drawings with the world. This time, I just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear forever. Well, sure, it's not very encouraging to be told that your drawing looks like a Frankenstein!!! But I always pick myself up and get back in the saddle!! I think the main issue was that there weren't that many of us there, so he had time to come around and check what I was doing too often. So I got a lot of useful feedback, but it was more than my sensitive soul could take in one go! The more feedback I got, the more uptight I became!! Plus it was quite an intense session, with rapid dramatic pose changes, and constantly going from short to long and long to short!