Melanie
Posted: September 21, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized 22 CommentsIt was with some trepidation that I went back to life drawing sessions today. We’ve had six months of staying at home, in our own bubbles, except for occasional visits to grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, etc. But this weekly session is run by the City of Pointe Claire, and I feel that they are quite diligent with the hygiene of the room, which is in fact a huge space, and the reason I feel comfortable in it. Plus there are only a handful of us drawing — fewer than ten I think — plus the model. Once we are seated in our distanced spots we can take our masks off but most people leave them on anyway, including me.
After such a long break I was feeling rusty with life drawing too. I brought along some inexpensive Canson watercolour paper and decided to paint with just two pigments — Prussian Blue and Lunar Black. The black is a weak pigment, so the blue takes over, but the black has wonderful sedimentation, which seems to give an interesting effect on the Canson paper.
In the three hour session our model Melanie did lots of short poses, but these are the last two longer ones of twenty minutes each. It really was a joy to be back in that room drawing live people. I’m already looking forward to next week.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Very nice! I like the Prussian blue and black figure and the inclusion of another masked artist in the background. Very nice for a 20 minute pose!
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Thanks so much Bernadette. It felt great to be drawing the model!
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Really nice and relaxed. I love what your blues are doing.
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Thanks Chris. She was a great model.
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Sadly blank for your drawings. Sounds fun. Have just completed Salvia…a very good lesson. Thanks A
Adrienne Stanton TheUKlady@Yahoo.com
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Glad you liked Salvia!
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Got it now…false alarm! Thanks
Adrienne Stanton TheUKlady@Yahoo.com
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Now I get it. I didn’t know what you meant by “sadly blank”!
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How exciting – takes me back to life drawing classes in Ottawa
some 25 years ago. We used to use newsprint pads in those
days – no watercolour on them of course. Lovely work Shari.
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I used to use newsprint too but I decided to work smaller this year.
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Sounds like you were taking the right steps for safety. I like the colors you used for the model. Nicely done! It must have been nice to be back doing “normal” things.
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Thanks so much Joan!
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You even took time to paint the student behind the model!!! You are so free in your painting here
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Thanks Donna. It was one of those days when I felt like drawing everything! Including the students!
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These paintings feel so calming with the blue…I’ve never taken a figure drawing class (no formal art background here). I recently discovered Quick Poses online which is really pushing me to work on my drawing skills (they have landscapes and urban scenes in addition to a wide variety of figure options). Not the same as real life, but a decent pandemic/winter option.
I like the inclusion of the masked artist as well. It really does establish the time and place.
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Thanks so much Tracy. I’m glad that you are doing Quick Poses online. I think that anything that gets you drawing is valid, no matter where the inspiration comes from. Good for you!!
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Beautiful use of Prussian blue.
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Thanks Betsy. I think I may venture into colour next week.
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until I can life sketch in person I am going to vicariously enjoy the experience through your weekly sessions, so I’m looking forward to next week already!
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Suhita, I just hope that Covid doesn’t get worse. If it does, I fear that they will shut down classes again. But until then I will not disappoint you!
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Beautiful work
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Many thanks Helen!
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