Black and white and grey all over
Posted: April 27, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 12 CommentsI stopped at the art store today to buy some sheets of toned paper because I haven’t been able to obtain the results I want with watercolour in life drawing studio. I’ve been struggling with volume, depth and highlights. I don’t have a lot of practice with pastels but I bought some black and some white compressed conté sticks and this pad of paper that has different colour sheets of pastel paper. We did 30 minutes poses today and in each one I tried to focus on Christian’s face — in particular his deep set eyes which I have struggled with in the past. He is a tremendous model. I’m not sure you can see from my drawing but in the middle pose he is holding his arm up in the air, something he managed to do for the full half hour.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Shari-They’re all wonderful. I think you’ve achieved what you were after. The composition/cropping in each case is very effective and, along with the detailed finishing and highlighting, draws attention to his face. The middle one with his arm up was also a challenge for YOU-drawing the face in that position!! It’s clear that, not having to worry about color, you really concentrated on values and form. Beautiful!
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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment Jeff. You’re right about that middle one. When I first saw the pose, I wondered how I would draw that upside down face, but then when I just looked at the shapes and the light on the planes and tried to forget that I was looking at eyes, nose, mouth and cheeks, it was much easier and I really enjoyed trying to make it work.
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Great job on Christian! I know how hard to draw he can be with all his angles, but what a fantastic dynamic model, an excellent challenge. Sharing your drawing experience reminded me not to forget to hire him for May.
Best
Dominique Gaillard
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Thanks for writing Dominique. Christian is a very hard model to draw so I’m glad I used my pastels. I hope you enjoy drawing him too…
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These are wonderful, his face is very nice. charcoal is such a natural medium for figure work.
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Thanks so much Rebecca.
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Superb studies.
By the way, can you recommend an art store in Montreal. Ottawa is a desert for art stuff.
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Sure I can recommend a great store. Avenue des Arts on Victoria Avenue in Westmount is the best place in the city. Full of treasures that you can buy nowhere else.
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WOW, your sketching of this figure is dramatic.
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Thanks so much!
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It is wonderful to see your growth artistically. I too love life drawing and get great pleasure in working on mid tone paper. I would love to see what you could do with oil paints.
Are you teaching in Anacortes this summer? I have wonderful memories from our last class.
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Tricia, it’s great to hear from you. I would love to be in Anacortes this summer but I will be in Southeast Asia and that doesn’t leave much time for other workshops. I have wonderful memories of the class too and I hope to be back there next summer. Are you planning another visit? I hope all is well with you.
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