Lunch slump
Posted: November 28, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized 36 CommentsWhen I have the opportunity to do some drawing, pencil and very smooth paper are my tools of choice. And if I am at school, students always make the best models. At this time of year, as we near the end of the semester, they don’t move that quickly — they are either studying or napping in the cafeteria, and almost always have their hats and coats on. I’m not quite sure why that is. I have students that will go through a full two hour class in a heated room with a parka on. Do you get that?
Contour drawing is the best method for me to capture gesture quickly. I think Charles Reid says it best: “Ideally you’ll concentrate on shapes, connections and the angles and distances your pen will travel to create a new shape.” He also gives three tips for his kind of modified blind contour drawing: Keep your eye on the subject, keep your pen on the paper and use a single line. I took some liberties with this wise man’s advice, but I still enjoyed the gliding motion of my pencil on smooth paper as it followed the contour of the subject. Sketched in a Stillman & Birn Zeta softcover book.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Love it
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Thanks Paula!
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These simple drawings say so much about the students’ moods! they are remarkable! As for wearing outerwear, I often wear a hat all day so that I don’t lose it, especially if there is no secure place to leave it with my coat. Also, it serves as a “security blanket”!
Thanks for this demonstration of expressive line drawing.
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Many thanks Jean, for your wonderful comments. I really appreciate them. As for wearing a hat all day, I have to admit I do that too on a bad hair day!
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Hi Shari, I admire your daily discipline of sketching. It’s very cold and raw in Chicago but I’m going to sketch in my car like you do. I will forward my results. Bill Fagan
Sent from my iPad
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Bill, I’d love to see what you sketch from your car. Are you planning on going to the Urban Sketchers Symposium in your beautiful city this summer?
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Lovely expressive drawings. Whenever I try blind countour drawing people they end up looking like muppets…
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That’s funny Michael. I think mine look like muppets too! I always hope people won’t ask to see what they look like if I draw them.
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So simple but so evocative. The last one is my favourite. I’m a great fan of Charles Reid. Somewhere he suggests leaving more of a dot everytime the angle cjanges.The work of a great British watercolour artist Thomas Girtin has that feel.
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Anne, I’m a great fan of Charles Reid as well. I love watching him draw in his videos for exactly that reason — it is where he puts the dot with his pencil. It’s always so right.
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Great sketches – I’ve recently found the joy of drawing with pencil on very smooth paper. Makes the process much faster and ‘floaty’
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Thanks Gemma. Drawing is so much more enjoyable with the right paper, isn’t it?
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I love contour drawings. I used to do that to keep from getting bored at discussions, but mine never looked this good. Do you lift your pen up or not? these are great-especially the student with his head on the table.
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Hi Judy, I do that a lot at meetings too. Always hoping that no one sees me. I do lift up my pencil occasionally but just to make sure I am at the right starting point.
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I agree with Judy..I try..they never look so good:(I even took Marc’s class online.
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Practice, practice, I guess. Mine don’t always come out well either.
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PS And I bought Lynne Chapman’s book..
I think I need someting simple simple to begin with like “Sketching for Dummies”.
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You’ll love her book. She is a very vivacious person and I think her book reflects that.
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I can feel the weight of finals bearing down just as sure as if I were back in college studying for them myself. These are really expressive and perfectly capture the time, place and subjects. 🙂
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Thanks so much Janine. The weight of finals is a good way to describe it. There is not much energy in a roomful of my students these days.
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Zeta is the best slip-and-slide paper to draw on! and I love how you lightly move across spaces without lifting the pencil.
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Thanks Suhita. I’ve never used the Zeta before. I always use the Beta for washes but this paper is really nice for pencil work.
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Wonderful sketching Shari.
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Thanks so much!
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Good contours of the students! I guess if you wear your parka then you don’t have to worry about leaving it behind or losing it.
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I guess that’s true Joan, but I would be boiling if I left a parka on. I guess it’s an age thing.
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Ah, such lyrical linework. I should heed this advice from the maestro also 😊
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Many thanks Ros. I never get tired of reading my Charles Reid books. Each time I pick one up I absorb something new.
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Alas, I have only 2 of his books, but a few DVDs. Now I think I’ll get one out to kickstart me 😀
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You remind me to draw each day 🙂
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I have to remind myself to do that too Carla.
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I think theses line drawings are lovely. To be able to capture posture and mood so well in a ‘simple’ line is envy making! I must practise more!
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Thanks so much Ivana. Yes, keep on drawing!!
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Hi Shari – are there any particular Charles Reid books or DVDs you’d recommend?
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I love your blog – very beautiful pictures!
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Thanks so much. And welcome!
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