Abs

Here are the abdominals for my mankin.  They were quite challenging to make, especially the obliques.  I think it was just because they cover so much surface area and have a small area to attach to the manikin.  As frustrating as building in clay can be, it is a good thing to practice.  People in general retain little of what they hear, but can remember well what they do with their hands.  Knowing the attachments and bellies of muscles will make my drawings more dynamic.  I'll be able to bring a more realistic tension to the correct areas as I draw my lines, as well as showing relaxation without things sagging out of place or looking flat.

Lateral View

Anterior View

In Class Drawing Progression for September

Here's my progression in Life Drawing 1 for September '09.  As you scroll down you're going through them cronologically.  The pairs that they are grouped in don't mean anything.  It was just easier for me to post all of them that way.  I'm not a blog ace yet.  I've labeled underneath how long the timer was set respectively.

30 seconds

1 minute

2 minute

5 minute

20 minute

10 minute

20 minutes

30 seconds

1 minute

2 minute

30 seconds

1minute

1 minute/5 minutes

5 minutes/10 minutes

10 minutes

12 minutes

15 minutes

5 minutes

30 seconds

2 minute

5 minute

15 minute

Goal for Fall 2009:  Become a Life Drawing samurai.  Maybe someday I'll be a shogun.

I improved once I started drawing the spinal column first.  I usually get the rib cage oriented in the drawing next followed by the pelvis and a femur bone.  The shoulder blades are helpful to add as well so I can get the arms placed in more efficiently.  Usually the buzzer sounds by then if the drawing is timed to be under a minute, however every once in a while I will get a spare five seconds and thats when I throw in a long axis line that is most informative about the overall gesture of the model.  I've been attending as many of the open drawing sessions as I can, and I think it helps a lot.

All nine muscles

I just finished sculpting the homework assignment.  I guess I'm living up to the name of the blog since its almost 2 am and Im still in the life drawing studio.  The all-nighter is an old habit that will die hard.  I'm learning to front-load the all-nighter instead of waiting until the night before.  This way I have the whole weekend without any obligations.  I better get home and get to bed though.  I get up at 5 am for work 5 days a week so my body's alarm clock is set pretty early.  What good is a homework free weekend if your dragging you feet without enough sleep?!  Catch 22.

I'll take pictures of the muscles tomorrow.

Lateral

Dorsal

Dorsolateral

Here are the photos as promised.  I messed with the contrast and such in iPhoto for didactic purposes.  I've never taken university level sculpture so I'm not sure my rendering with the clay will pass.  I hope it does, since Im getting the heck out of Dodge for the rest of the weekend.  Its my littlest brother's birthday party in the T.C.

Homework - Cross Contour Line Drawing

Untitled, 2009, charcoal and conte on paper

This one was close to catastrophe a couple times, and it did need one emergency alteration.  All mostly because of my rusty techniques.  I am becoming more and more comfortable with the end result.  This is dramatically different than what I had planned but it may be better this way.  It is more yellow in this photo than in natural light due to the lighting I set up.  iPhoto can only go so far to fix it.  Anyway, blah, blah, blah.  I'm probably being too critical since my first critique in 2.5 years is tomorrow afternoon.  Regardless, I'm pretty sure that I'll eventually forget the struggle I had with this piece and simply enjoy it for what it is.  It'll grow on me.  I'm glad that I don't indulge on the impulse to tear into shreds artwork that isn't going well.  I just wouldn't let myself give up on this thing.  Things went better once I put the Tool CD in.  I'll just start with that next time.

Life Drawing fall 09 post 1

Almost There, 2005, charcoal on paper

Untitled, 2007, charcoal on newsprint

Humpty George, 2005, mixed media

Not My Boots, 2007, mixed media on paper

I have always had a painterly style of drawing, and I knew I am in for a challenge when Prof. Fichter told the class that she is looking for the exact opposite style for her class.  I think it will be good for me though, and I must admit that I have felt the need for more structure and better line quality in my work.  Sometimes my drawing is bland because all of the marks have the same size and weight.

The art that I have posted is a good sampling of my curiosities.  I enjoy collage and experimenting with unusual media.  Honestly, my favorite art supply store is Home Depot (Menards closes too early for artists).  I think its because I am process oriented and I am always thinking of a new material to manipulate.  The brownish “painting” has the subjects made by lemon juice.  It’s a fun process and I love the tone of the end product.

I am taking life drawing this semester because I felt it would be a good place to pick up again.  It has been a couple years since I attended college in Duluth at UMD, and I’m afraid my drawing skills are rusty.  I’m hoping that this class will give me a good foundation as I transfer to a new school and a new major.  I was in Art Education until an urban middle school broke me.  You have to be in it for teaching the kids, and not just to be an artist with a weekly paycheck.