Block In 3: Entire Figure 1

My first attempt ever at drawing a person from life. Well, my second attempt. I did draw a girl named Jamie in the 7th grade. I bet that drawing is still with Mama's things back in Oklahoma.

Darling Bill has agreed to sit for me for 30 minutes every day til the class in January. I have to confess I do think this looks a bit like him.

Block In 1 & 2: Cat 1 & 2

Blocking in: Using the least number of lines, straight lines, to simplify and capture the gesture and likeness of the subject.

If a few lines do not capture a likeness of the object, more lines will not help.

Promise 100: Orchids, Finished

Not much to say about this. It looks fairly nice in this pic, much worse in person. I am not happy with it at all. But it does end my 100 Promises which started as only 30 back in June, remember? Maybe there is some progress in here somewhere. But I am getting older fast and running out of time to ever hope to be really good. And that my dear friends, makes me sad.

I have registered for a life drawing workshop in January with Julliette Aristides at the Gage Academy in Seattle. From now til then I will be working on learning to block in figures and studying human anatomy (both from books and up close and personal, i.e poor Bill :-)....more to follow about that...

Promise 99: Succulent

Here's one of the two things I did while we were in La Jolla, early September. I took about five minutes, on purpose, to draw without thinking and just keep moving. I was sitting in the sun with a nice rum and coke. Seems like a long time ago, here in the gray days of fall in Seattle with Lilly meowing sadly in the other room, wanting my attention....

Promise 98: Single Orchid, 1

My first attempt at a single orchid blossom and all its details.

Promise 97: Larger Orchids, Study

So here's a larger version (about 8 x 10") of the tiny orchid sketch, and the work I've done on it over a few hours, just sort of playing around and not worrying too much. Next I'll trace it on tracing paper and copy it onto 'good' paper, then begin work on the drawing. But before that, I think I need to practice just on each individual orchid bloom, giving each one texture, depth, substance, form, shadows...or at least trying to...

Promise 96: Orchids, Finished

Am calling it quits on this tiny little drawing. I think I will try it again, a little larger and with something else of interest in the picture. I feel like I'm getting back in the swing of 'art' every day. Finally.

Promise 95: Orchids, Day 2

What started out to be a tiny thumbnail sketch has obsessively turned into a teeny tiny little full blown drawing. So now I'm doing miniatures? I kind of like it, except for the fact that it looks just like what it is...an orchid standing up against a blank wall. Maybe a book beside or underneath it with a little bowl beside it, and some cloth draped around? Whaddaya think?

Promise 94: Orchids, Day 1

So I'm starting again after so many days off--days that have somehow turned into weeks. I won't let that happen again...it's too hard to start again and get back into the routine of simply drawing everyday, no matter what.

Promise 93: Ten Apples, Day 16

Here's yesterday's ending sketch and above it is the finished drawing as of today.

Finished. At least I am finished working on this drawing. It's not the best drawing, but it's the best I could do at this point. I feel just 'okay' with it. Not great. But ok. The picture was taken with my iphone but it does represent the drawing fairly. Please feel free to critique!

Now I start on my work with an artist in Great Britain! Very exciting.

And special thanks, again :-) to both Karen Appleton--for her invaluable help and insight, and to Sadie Valeri--for taking the time to offer guidance and advice. Both of you are really appreciated by me!

Promise 91, 92, 92: Ten Apples, Days 13-15

Well well, things seem to be at least moving forward instead of backwards :-)

Promise 87, 88, 89, 90: Ten Apples, Days 9-12

I know, I know. I work sooooo slowly. But even though I am STILL on the same drawing, I learn something new every day. And I keep reminding myself, learning is what this time of sketching and drawing is all about.

So here's my progress for the last four times I've worked. I am so glad I take these pictures. It really helps me see my forwardly progress (as well as seeing my mistakes more clearly too!).

I'm off to draw an hour or so. I think I'll leave the front right apple for later and start on the bowl...what I've really been waiting for! I do hope I do it justice. It is such a beautiful and simple bowl with wonderful lines.

Promise 86: Ten Apples, Day 8

Got the background done today. At least the first pass at the background. I may darken all or parts of it later.

Promise 85: Ten Apples, Day 7

It's hard to see, but above is the initial line drawing from the traced copy of yesterday. I'm trying to go slow and be really careful and thoughtful.

Promise 84: Ten Apples, Day 6

OK. Now that I got the bowl and apples placed and I think I understand what I see before me, I am starting over on the 'real' apples drawing. Above is the trace I made of the practice sketch. I made corrections to the symmetry of the bowl so that it would have 'integrity,' a very, very helpful suggestion from Sadie Valeri. I'm excited. And scared.

Promise 83: Ten Apples, Day 5

Here's today's work, still on the practice sketch...I solved the over crowded apples-in-the-bowl situation by taking one apple out of the bowl. Maybe cheating a bit, but I think it looks better.

Promise 83: Ten Apples, Day 5

Sweet Bill gave me some much needed and very helpful feedback on the size of the bowl in yesterday's sketch. So I enlarged the bowl and then the apples which had begun to look more like plums, and here is the result.

Here's what's working pretty well for me on this one. I took the original line sketch that I liked (liked it a little anyway), took a picture of it, printed that picture out on the computer, and then sketched over it to correct mistakes and to practice. Above is the result. So it's sketched over a sketch that was printed in gray tones on the computer printer. But wow, is this practice helping me to get it right--well, better anyway.

Today or tomorrow, after some more corrections, I'll trace just the outlines to a fresh sheet of drawing paper and start adding values again. Amazing. This 'rehearsal' is helping with knowing how to do the real drawing. Guess that's why they call this kind of work a study. Duh :-)

Promise 82: Ten Apples, Day 4

I've started the whole drawing again because the apples in yesterday's sketch look too big for the small bowl...they looked more like oranges and even at that I'm not sure they would really fit into the bowl at that size. The relative sizes of the bowl and the apples was out of whack! I think today's work is much better, don't you?

Promise 81: Ten Apples, Day 3

Refined the drawing and started with shading. I'm never happy at this stage of any work. The challenge is to slow down and not rush it. I already rushed the drawing, so I really need to slow waaaaay down and breathe.

Promise 80: Ten Apples, Day 2

First try at blocking in the bowl and apples...yesterday.

Promise 79: Ten Apples, Day 1

Took me forever to set up a still life with ten apples and a bowl today! It's much easier just to copy someone else's wonderful composition! But it's time for something all my own and drawn from life, not a copy this time. So here is the tiny thumbnail. I'll block in the drawing tomorrow. Just taking a few days off this week seemed to make it harder to get back in the groove quickly.

We had a redecorate of our tv room this week. How fun, but lots of work! The furniture arrived last Monday so the rest of the week was spent getting the room organized and put together--then all day yesterday setting up the tv, sound system and Blu-ray. Good grief! Now the room is 95 percent done, all but the cleaning up and a few final details (just like a drawing :-), and cleaning can wait til after tomorrow for sure!

Promise 78: Cherries & Bowl, Day 6

Finished. Please let me know what you think. And thanks to Julian Merrow-Smith for the lovely painting from which I made this drawing.

Promise 77: Cherries & Bowl, Day 5

Here's Saturday's work...

Promise 76: Cherries & Bowl, Day 4

Working, working...

Promise 75: Cherries & Bowl, Day 3

I know it's not perfect, but I don't think I could have done this copy at all three months ago.

Promise 74: Copy of Cherries & Bowl

I decided yesterday to try to copy the entire painting by Merrow-Smith. So here we go, from the start yesterday, to today's work.

I still need to slow down and look more and draw less. I know I would see more if I would just slow down, stop and breathe--often.

Promise 73: Two Cherries

This is my sketched copy of part of a beautiful painting by Julian Merrow-Smith. The whole thing got too dark, but I still like my little effort. Actually this part of his painting is almost all in shadow, so if I had sketched the whole painting then this portion probably wouldn't look so dark. Click here to see the 'real' painting and all his wonderful work.

Promise 72: Eyes 11

Today's work. From a lovely drawing of a young man's face I saw in a book. I'll post the credit tomorrow. It's late and I'm pooped.

Promise 71: Two Apples, Again

Here's today's effort on the same two apples. Much improved I think, thanks to Karen, again! :-)

Learning 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

11. I learned that when I've been using one kind of paper for a long time, it takes time and practice to get used to a new kind of paper.

12. I learned, as per number 11, that I should practice on a new paper before expecting any real results the first time I use it.

13. I learned to make wrinkles or waves in a fabric napkin that look slightly real, using gentle, soft strokes, shading just like I do on a nose or an eye or a face. I think of Sadie Valeri saying to make soft light gentle marks that reach for the light.

14. I learned that I constantly have to re-learn to SLOW DOWN. I rush the drawing far too much, consistently! I have to remind myself repeatedly and continually to slow down.

15. I learned to put color or value on the ENTIRE drawing before darkening darks or working on any values at all! Working next to an area of white distorts all my value perspective.

Promise 70: Two Apples

I used the actual apple set up along with the thumbnail to do this drawing today. It's ok, not great. The edges, half tones and shadows are all poor. I like the wrinkles in the napkin...I spent a lot of time on those and should have stayed with that part of the sketch.

I used some new paper, supposedly better than the cheaper paper I've been using. But it was hard to make the change. I've been using the slicker white paper and grown used to it. That, and the heat of 90 degrees made the day a little difficult! Double click on the image to see a larger version.

Promise 69: Apple Thumbnail No. 2

Yea, another good day. I decided to to what you're supposed to do with the thumbnail sketches and draw a second one trying another composition, just a slight rearrangement. I was really ansy and anxious when I started, so I went over to the side of my paper to 'play' again, just like yesterday. Once I start just messing around and drawing and not trying too hard, it seemed to flow.

When I had it almost finished, I thought that the two apples looked lonesome and that a third apple tucked back completely in the the shadow would be nice. AND I was able to do what I was trying to do! I erased a spot, stuck in a third apple, and viola! How exciting to be able to actually DO what I intend to do!

So once again I'm happy and motivated. I think I'll try this version of the thumbnail on a slightly larger scale this week! Here we go....

Learning 8, 9 and 10

8. I learned that it is usually easier the second, third and fourth time I sketch the same thing, especially if I don't wait too long between sketches of that thing.

9. I learned that all the stuff I've been practicing and focusing on is paying off. I AM learning it.

10. I learned to use thumbnail, quick, five minute sketches.

I learned a lot more, but I gotta save it. Can't tell it all in just one day, now can I?

Promise 68: Apple Thumbnail

I am so excited! After working on the cast's nose, I went up to the studio, set up two apples with a cloth hanging over the table and decided to do what everybody recommends...a thumbail sketch...to see if I liked the set up at all. (I also studied some of Paul Foxworth's still life drawings this morning and read more material on composition, lighting, etc.) So then, when I started the thumbnail, I went off to the side of the sketchbook to just play around...and lo and behold, it started working.

So now I have something ALL my own to draw. And I like it. AND the tiny thumbnail will be so helpful in doing another larger study. I can see how important that can be. I learned so many things today. Holy mackerel! Thanks for hanging on with me and offering your support and suggestions to my distress call the other day. I am not a manic depressive artist. Yet :-)

PS. We went to the antique store yesterday and I found the most beautiful, simple bowl to use for sketches of bowls of fruit. It's called a McCoy piece. Lots of info when you google it. But I liked the shape and lines. I feel like I'm moving forward again!

Promise 67: Nose 4 Again

Worked some more on the nose of the cast. And here's a picture of this crazy cast so you can see that it really does look something like what I am drawing! See the guy's nose on the right? I was sitting on the floor drawing, so I had a different perspective than the photo, but that's his nose!

Learning 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

3. I learned to look more closely at what I am trying to draw when I am having trouble making it look 'right' or real on the paper. If it looks strange on the paper, it's because I'm drawing what I think I see instead of what is there in front of my eyes. My brain keeps getting in the way.

4. I learned to go back and read my blog and see the things I've already learned and already forgotten (like a promise weeks ago to STOP using the same cheap, slick, white, hard paper that I've been STILL using this week!)

5. I learned that darks and shadows can get VERY dark very fast if I'm not patient and that sometimes I can't 'undo' the damge.

6. I learned that I draw my best when I draw gently and when I keep thinking to myself 'gentle, gentle, be slow and gentle.'

7. I learned that I need to leave my sketch every 15 minutes and go in the other room and breathe.

Learning 1 and 2

1. Yesterday I learned that it helps to talk to myself and to you all about what I am feeling.

2. I also learned--again--that my friend Karen can be the most helpful and inspirational person I know with the things she says to me when I'm in trouble. I don't mean to embarrass you Karen, but honestly, you DO keep me on track. Thank you so much.

Promise 66-67: Noses 4 and 5

Here's the first nose, which I didn't post, and then the second sketch, same nose, today.

Promise 66: Nose 4

Ok, I did sketch yesterday, a nose from the cast we have. But I'm not posting it because I need to talk...

I'm feeling like I'm flailing about, just all over the place. Sketching legs, eyes, lemons, faces, seemingly random 'items' with no real direction other than this nebulous goal to 'learn'--whatever that means. There seems to be no real direction or coherence to what I'm doing.

Originally I was thinking along the lines that if I want to paint still life, then I should learn each part of that still life, i.e. the bowl, the cherries, the cloth, etc. then draw them all together. So that was somewhat of a start, thus the lemons, limes, bowls. Then I grew tired of those and felt limited and bored. And setting up a still life where I like the composition is so difficult that then I think I need to study composition before setting something up. Then I always feel rushed so I just sit down and sketch whatever is available or that I have easiest access to. I know, I even sound flailing as I write this...

So, I just don't know what to do. Which book to read, which 'thing' to draw, which part to focus on....lost and floundering...again. I know, I know, you're thinking 'why doesn't she just enroll in a class?' Well, cause I am lazy and scared and do not want to be in a group with others and I know I am just plain not going to do that. So any other ideas?

My idea is to think more, rethink more, establish some direction, and to not be so focused on posting sketches but on posting LEARNINGS. Bill and I were talking about my problem this morning and he helped me see that whatever I sketch, leg, arm, eye, that I LEARN something from that sketch.

So here for a while, I am going to keep track of what I learned each day. I think I'll be sharing that with you, because this blog is like my 'art journal' and I enjoy having it to look back on.

Thanks for reading all this rambling. You know if you click on the WORD 'comments' below this post you can leave a comment, signed or anonymous. I appreciate all your input and opinions and ideas.

I'll be back later, but maybe tomorrow. Company for dinner tonight.

Promise 65: Copy of Michelangelo's Drawing, Day 5

I got up at midnight to work on little Andrea. And today, thanks to Karen, I've decided to leave well enough alone and to quit.

I googled Andrea because it occurred to me that maybe he was a girl, not a boy. Here's what I found. Incredibly interesting:

Michelangelo Buonarroti
1475-1564

"Portrait of Andrea Quaratesi" a drawing - Around AD 1532

His only surviving portrait drawing.

According to Giorgio Vasari, one of Michelangelo's biographers, he was most reluctant to make portrait drawings 'unless the subject was one of perfect beauty'. This is the only surviving portrait drawing by Michelangelo. Drawn in black chalk, it shows the head and shoulders of a young man, Andrea Quaratesi (1512-85) who was one of several noble youths much admired by Michelangelo. Though from a noble Florentine family, it is possible that Michelangelo tried to teach this young Florentine how to draw, as the artist wrote on a drawing now in Oxford: 'Andrea, have patience'. The young man wears contemporary dress, a cap flat on his head, as he looks out to his left. The drawing is lit from the left so that the delicate shadows are formed by small, careful parallel strokes of chalk.

Michelangelo rarely gave his drawings away, other than to close friends or pupils. He presented these carefully finished 'presentation drawings' only to those whom he admired and loved. In his own words, they were carried out 'for love rather than duty'.

Information provided by the British Museum.

Promise 64: Copy of Michelangelo's Drawing, Day 4

Holy cripes this is hard. Look at the difference when the big white space on the right is blocked out. Adjoining contrasts make such a huge difference. Guess that's the learning for today. I am discouraged.

Promise 63: Copy of Michelangelo's Drawing, Day 3

Oy, here we go again...

Promise 62: Copy of Michelangelo's Drawing

Michelangelo's Portrait of Andrea Quarates, 1528 is so very lovely, it seems an insult to show my attempt at copying his simple and elegant work. Here's the first try at the whole face. I've done the eyes and nose once before...

Promise 61: Leg Two

Same leg, trying again...