funny looking drawing

When I drew this in open drawing last week, I was fairly pleased with it.  I was amused that the drawing was really skewed.  This may be because the right deltoid is huge while the left deltoid is absent.  The jaw is a little too far off center too.  Oh well, its only practice.  Im happy with the line pressure and the variation is thickness.  Also, I think I was able to get pretty detailed for a 45 minute pose.

45  Minutes

Its Done

I feel that this drawing is visually appealing and meets the requirements of the assignment.  I was not sure whether or not it was a finished drawing Sunday night.  The decision of when to stop has become difficult for me.  I was afraid of drowning a decent drawing in unnecessary lines.  Monday after work I felt some inspiration to forge ahead with final details.  Im glad I did.  The drawing isn't overloaded.  There is still space to let planes fall into the background, and allow the "knobs" to come out at the viewer.

Some comments made in critique were that I had interesting line quality, yet the bottom of the shell drawing seemed flat and confusing.  With this comment I agree.  I am dissappointed in that area of the drawing.  Once you draw it on this paper though, its written in stone... henge.  yeah, corny, I know.  Amy applauded my restraint in blacking out the background yet wished that I had placed the entire shell in the middle of the paper.  This idea wierds me out.  It seems to go against all my notions of composition.  An object floating in a blank space, in the middle of that blank space, is not something that excites me.  Since she's the teacher, I'll trust it and try for that composition if we draw these shells again.

Is it Done?

Heres my attempts so far at the huge shell drawing due Tuesday.  I first noticed a view of my shell that somewhat resembled a turkey.  Thinking this was amusing, I began my drawing with much enthusiasm and giddiness.  I even had a turkey portrait theme song thanks to my cold medicine.  Damn Robitussin.  It didn't turn out very well.  My turkey drawing was flat and boring, much more so than the song, much more.  The endevor needed a new course, so I ran to PenCo, traded my gold tooth for a new sheet of Stonehenge, and chose a new view of the shell.  This time there were no festive themes, less enthusiam/giddiness, and iTunes took care of the music.  Should have stuck with the winning combination in the first place.  The second drawing is faring much better.  Less lines and a less confusing view point.  However, I am struggling with part of the drawing experiece where you decided to stop drawing.  I seem to go too far and pile on lines until the contours are confusing and ugly.  Maybe this time I should err on the side of being almost finished.  Yet, I spent much less time on the second one.  So, is it done?

First Attempt

T-T-Turrrkaay!

Second Attempt

Rollercoastering skills

Im a bit frustrated with a couple of my drawings this last week.  Every once in a while I would make a hidious tangle of clumsy lines which could not be called a drawing.  It seemed that I would just go into gestural fits/siezures whilst holding onto a stub of conte.  Cathartic perhaps, but ugly definitely.  Here's the evidence from my awesome evidence-taker.

This is a mess

Horrible

Thankfully there were some highlights for the week.  I was able to make a couple nice drawings when I calmed down, focused on structure, slowed down, and reduced the number of lines I used.

10 Minutes

20 Minutes

1 Hour

Closer view of the former

75 Minutes

Shell Drawing Numero Dos and Others

Progress has been made in my cross contour line drawings.  My figures are getting more spatial and proportionately accurate.  I find more and more cross contour lines in my regular in-class work.  To bring it a step further, I think I need to be not so heavy with my line work right away.  Having all those lines crossing one another can suffocate a drawing.

Specifically, my shell drawing turned out to be quite interesting.  My first attempt at the assignment had me in Como Park last Saturday.  It was gorgeous outside, yet cold enough where I had difficulty keeping my muscles warmed up.  I decided to hold off and wait until I could draw my shell in my warm house.  I'm glad I decided to quit at Como.  I was rushing through the compositional stages because I was afraid of getting too cold.  When I got home I could look at my new shell from all angles and thoughtfully compose my drawing.  Looking for human forms in the shell, I discovered an area that looked like a female torso.  The theme interested me, which is important when doing a long drawing.  The piece turned out well I believe.  It is very dimensional.  Below is said drawing, followed by in-class drawings from the last couple classes.

Shell Drawing #2, 2009, conte and charcoal on paper

In-Class Drawings Nov. 5th

Cross Contour, 1 hour

1 Hour

In-Class Drawings Nov. 10th

20 Minutes

20 Minutes

Highlights from mid Oct. to early Nov.

Here are some of my highlights of the last month (mid. Oct. and late Nov.)  in Life Drawing I.  They are generally 5 minutes to 20 minutes in length.  I have labeled the ones where I remember the length.  I'll fill in the blanks soon.  I have tried to draw more of what I imagine to be the bone structure underneath what I see.  I hope that it will help me with proportions.  Im also trying to make my lines not so "jiggly", and a little more graceful.

5 Minutes

5 Minutes

Maybe 5 minutes

Maybe 5 Minutes maybe longer

This is actually from Sept.  I put it in here because it wasn't allowed for Mid-term review

aprox. 15 Minutes

Another Sept. drawing that wasn't allowed for Mid-term review

aprox. 15 Minutes

5 Minutes

5 Minutes

5 Minutes

20 Minutes

Maybe 5 Minutes

5 Minutes

5 Minutes

20 Minutes

10 minutes

1.5 hour