Friday, February 18, 2011

Faces on Friday: Figure Study



Sincerest apologies to my friends, who hopefully can't recognize themselves because the drawings don't look anything like them anyway. No - you really don't look like that. I promise.  



If you ever get the chance to go to a figure study session - DO IT! The people there don't care how good or bad you are. It is a fantastic way to get better. I'm finding quite some improvement in just a few sessions.

It begins with 30 second poses. They go by so fast I feel like I barely have time to get marks on the paper. Fantastic warm ups!

Next are the one minute poses. I've improved enough that I can get the form. I just can't get the whole thing on one piece of paper yet. I'm going to go get a really, really BIG sketch pad before the next time.





Five and ten minute poses give enough time to work harder on getting lines and proportions right.


After a break the 20 minute poses seem like a treasure. Unless things start going wrong - then it's an eternity. When that happened I simply chose a really hard feature like hands and feet and switched to working on just that.




This is my favorite. Roughed in with a pencil then lines laid in with a japanese brush pen. It occurred to me the other day that I could fill a waterbrush with india ink at half the price of the refill cartridges.

So which is your favorite? And - have you been drawing faces too? Put your links in the comments and I'd LOVE to come take a look!



7 comments:

Shirley said...

I really enjoyed seeing you figure drawing session - from the 30 min. to the 20 min. So few people post these on their blogs - I'm glad to have company.

Jeannie said...

I love the one with the model's back to you. They are all good and you are so brave! I can't even draw my cats when they are sleeping. LOL! Have a wonderful weekend, Lyric.

Lyric said...

ah yes Jeannie - but if you drew a picture of your cats once per day while they were sleeping - you WOULD be able to by the end of the year! You can do it!!!!

Fibreartist said...

Wonderful Lyric, I've seen the benefit of figure drawing classes!

Melly Testa said...

What a progression of ease. Fabulous post, Lyric.

Carol Sloan said...

I like the one with her back to you also - must be the nice shading on it that is catching our eye.
Great job! I might have to go and try that here in Greenville SC.

Jane LaFazio said...

you're doing so good!!!