Drawing in the dark
Posted: June 16, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 12 CommentsLast evening I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Opera national du Rhin performance of “Der Rosenkavalier” by Richard Strauss. Knowing I might have a bit of time to sketch (it’s a long opera with two intermissions) I brought along my drawing book. I sketched the loge to the cacophony of the orchestra tuning their instruments. And then since I had an aisle seat I tried drawing during the show. The costume design was comedia dell’arte, so lots of fabulous masks and interesting characters. In the third act one of the female leads came down the aisle next to me and stood only a few feet away. I drew her there and then again later when she reappeared on stage.
Wow! I’m impressed. Did the other opera goers react to what you were doing or were they too engrossed in the opera?
I was sitting on the aisle with my friend next to me so I didn’t disturb anyone. I only turned the pages of my sketchbook during loud orchestral parts so I was discreet. It was really fun and a great way to stay awake during a long opera.
Nicely captured ! I often do this but drawing in the dark is really really hard. Sometimes looks more like blind-drawing ! 🙂
There was a tiny bit of light from the stage because I was sitting in the fourth row.
I’m impressed too! When you say you were sitting on the aisle, I am assuming you are telling us that so we will understand how you could set up the folding easel that you used in the workshop.
Yes, I set up the folding easel in the aisle and when the singer came up behind me I told her to wait while I moved everything to the side so she could pass.
In Australia, before performances, they usually make an announcement “Please turn off mobile phones. And, no videos, cameras, recording devices or Moleskines are to be used during this performance” or something similar. Don’t they do that over there?
They said exactly that! Luckily I was working in a Canson sketchbook so I was fine.
Rescanned! They look so much better, Shari.
I did these a long time ago. You clearly have not been keeping up Ross : )
There are too many new things to keep up with… new “Press” page, new photo on your “About” page, new illegible super-small photo next to every one of your comments, new posts on USK, new USK Montreal website… you’re right, you’re moving too fast and I’m not keeping up! How do you keep up?
I’m not quite sure how I keep up. I can now potentially post in five places simultaneously (counting Usk Facebook) if I want to but that is a bit much.