Last night I went to figure studio and for once I felt “on” from the start of the evening. Usually my first few sketches feel sluggish and awkward, but this time everything seemed to flow easily. Maybe it’s because I’ve painted this model before (and recently), maybe it’s because the afternoon was productive and peaceful — I don’t know. As with “fat days” and “skinny days,” on days and off days, the difference is mostly in my mind; I don’t notice that last night’s paintings were markedly more stellar than last week’s or those of the week before. But I had a heck of a lot more fun doing them. (I also felt more tired by the end of the session. Related?)
As always, click on the images below for larger versions and more description, or visit flickr to see all eight sketches. By the way, my flickr scans used to all be lumped into a single set called Art, but I’ve divided it now into separate sets in a single Art & Crafts collection. That’s the one linked at the right side of the blog, or you can access it here.
Sorry for the wrinkly paper. I did these pictures on so-so-quality watercolor paper, on the back side of other paintings. Saves paper, but doesn’t look so hot.
Two-minute gestures
Five-minute poses
Long Day, 20-minute pose
Bloom, 20-minute pose and my favorite picture from the evening
Day's End, 20-minute pose
Looks like fun and I quite like the wrinkles 😉
Now that you mention it, they do add character. I was thinking of them as flaws because I didn’t intend for them to be there, but you’re right, there’s a more positive way to see them!
I LOVE Long-Day 20 minute. I think the paper texture adds to your work. Neat stuff – loving the socks! 🙂
Thank you for coming by and looking! 🙂 I love the socks too — somehow the color and the stripes add so much to my experience of the model (who was fun to begin with). 🙂
Me, too!
One thing I enjoy about these posts is the time frame you put under each photo. I like seeing the difference more time makes in each painting. But I still find the short, two minute ones my favorites as it facinates me, not being a painter, how you can convey so much with a few lines.
The model commented on that too, saying she liked what I was able to do in two minutes. Time is so interestingly fluid, isn’t it? When I’m painting it’s like I really feel every second and can tease out every bit of time from each — or maybe ti’s more that time doesn’t seem to matter or exist. I feel like that in yoga poses too sometimes, or in other activities. Yet at other times, like when playing a computer game, two minutes is nothing.
I’m fascinated with the two minute poses, too, and I’m very drawn to what looks to me like freedom in these.
Thank you, Ré! I think they are really helping me to see the essence of a figure in a very short pose. I was drawing people on the train yesterday (I’ll post scans tomorrow) and those quick sketches were much improved from similar ones I did earlier this year.
I think it’s really cool how you’ve captured the gestures in just 2 minutes! Love how you share your drawings with us 🙂 Keep up the good work…..look forward to more!
Thank you, Munira! I love sharing my drawings and hearing how everyone responds to them. 🙂 So glad to know you’re enjoying them!