Art Class
Crusher
The gal was well rounded and full figured, which made drawing much easier
since the curves are more pronounced than with more slender models. After
nine 3 and 5 minute charcoal warmups in as many poses we got to the final
drawing, which was in my case white and black charcoal on brown colored
paper. After an hour and a half I had a presentable drawing. Using the
brown of the paper as a midtone, charcoal white for the highlights and black
charcoal for the shades and shadows made a striking drawing. This was fun,
and the whole class seemed to enjoy the exercise, with no embarrassment or
problems of any kind. These young folks are great!
One more day-Friday- with another very slender nude model (she sits by me in
the composition class) and the quarter ends. This drawing will be more
difficult as it will be a "charcoal ground" drawing where white paper is
first covered with a medium gray layer of charcoal rubbed on with a cloth,
which serves as a midtone. The highlights are created by erasing to show
the white paper. Black charcoal is then added to create the shadows. The
result is a somber, somewhat mysterious look- and very, very, dirty hands.
But the result is also a striking drawing if properly done, which is easier
than one might think since the drawing is so easy to correct.
In the spring it will be Figure Drawing class- more nudes no doubt, and this
winter a lot of practice on what I've learned so far.
This weekend it's the "Winter Fair" art and craft sale in Columbus. About
350 artists displaying work of every medium and craft imaginable in a five
acre building. What a delightful relief from the mundane stuff in the
malls!
--Bob--
Arch (TX)
guess you could say was art long ago. I have always been into
photography and a lot of my earlier photos were in black and white. I
read a article about this and decided to try it. I put a black and white
negative in my enlarger and a page of white paper below the lens and
then with a soft pencil I started covering the various areas with the
pencil until the image looked all one tone, black. It turned out great.
I still have it here and would be happy to send a copy of it to you if
you care to see it. I have it on the computer. It was a portrait of my
my wife's mother. I think it looks very much like a charcoal drawing.
--
Arch (San Antonio, Texas)
My Photo Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/aanzjr
gruffydd
now, but at least I have learned enough not to be put off.
there is nothing to be fussy about with the nude body, male or female
dae
"Crusher" <nospam...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:APGdnZh1WYavkRPe...@adelphia.com...
>
> Well, the day finally came- drawing a nude female model.
>
> The gal was well rounded and full figured, which made drawing much easier
> since the curves are more pronounced than with more slender models. After
> nine 3 and 5 minute charcoal warmups in as many poses we got to the final
> drawing, which was in my case white and black charcoal on brown colored
> paper. After an hour and a half I had a presentable drawing. Using the
> brown of the paper as a midtone, charcoal white for the highlights and
> black charcoal for the shades and shadows made a striking drawing. This
> was fun, and the whole class seemed to enjoy the exercise, with no
> embarrassment or problems of any kind. These young folks are great!
clipped for brevity
Crusher,
Are you using chamois for erasing, blending? If not, get some and you will
find your blending more even and your erasures cleaner. Sounds like the old
days for me.
Don
gruffydd
dae
"gruffydd" <gr...@dinner.com> wrote in message
news:58pjf.7090$LO4....@newsfe5-gui.ntli.net...
>
> Don. Blue Tak is ideal for lifting shades
gruffydd,
I'm not up on the new stuff I'm afraid. I studied Art at the American
Academy of Art in Chicago in the 1960's and we had two classes,
"Fundamentals and Life Drawing". Fundamentals made you an artist and Life
Drawing gave you tonal values and shapes along with flow. The hardest thing
for me was doing a darn color wheel:-) But I didn't go to school to be an
artist full time, just to learn how to understand color and design.
But that was then, it was a long time ago.
Don
NHun...@aol.com
I had an older cousin who was a really talented artist and I always
envied him. I do some drawings for the stained glass but they are very
plain and simple. And I once did a black and white finger paint
drawing that I was proud of but it was lost.
Norma
Jean B.
So, these models are class volunteers? Males and females? I
did some modeling--but WITH clothes.
I wish we could see some of your works, Bob. It is nice that
you have taken up art after your retirement.
Our local Arts & Crafts Society's sale starts tomorrow. It
does make sense for them to do this now. I also see that a
local church is having a sale that is somehow connected with
10,000 Villages.
--
Jean B.
Crusher
"Jean B." <jb...@rcn.com> wrote in message
news:3v8dfsF...@individual.net...
> Crusher wrote:
>
>> Well, the day finally came- drawing a nude female model.
>>
> So, these models are class volunteers? Males and females? I did some
> modeling--but WITH clothes.
Models are accepted from everywhere. I had been asked to find some of my
retired friends to pose for head and shoulders modelling but was
unsuccessful. Models are paid $50 by OSU for a three hour session.
> I wish we could see some of your works, Bob. It is nice that you have
> taken up art after your retirement.
I've been dabbling in art since my teens and sketching is of course
essential in engineering work. Since OSU has a free studies program for
seniors and they have a branch here I intend to take courses in a number of
subjects that interest me, in addition to art. Three semesters of Art
history, one of figure drawing, maybe anthropology or political science.
We'll see as time goes on.
> Our local Arts & Crafts Society's sale starts tomorrow. It does make
> sense for them to do this now. I also see that a local church is having a
> sale that is somehow connected with 10,000 Villages.
No better time than the holidays for an arts and crafts show- and no better
place to find really interesting gifts.
> Jean B.
Crusher
"Arch (TX)" <aan...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:elojf.3792$A23....@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
Your Mission Espada pictures would make excellent subject for the "charcoal
ground" technique. Why not try it?
Looked at your pictures and was interested in the variety. I had a darkroom
in the late 80's but took it apart when I moved to Marion and haven't put it
back together. Took both 35mm and 120 photos for several years. Macro
photography is interesting. I used bellows, reversed lens and plus lenses
for insect and others subjects. Lighting is difficult for these subjects,
and securing adequate depth of field is a real challenge. One exception was
some closeups I took of the insides my grandfathers engraved Elgin
pocketwatch. A tack sharp 8x10 enlargement was quite striking.
I have a 6" Newtonian telescope (equivalent to a 1000mm lens) I used with a
T-ring adapter for 35mm photos of birds in the yard. A robin at about half
frame at about 50 feet was possible.
Ohio has four big zoos, at Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo, that
all offer excellent photo opportunities. A 35-200mm zoom works wonderfully
at a zoo. I have whole trays full of animal slides from these zoos I will
now use as subjects for artwork.
I'd like to see the drawing/photo you made. You should be able to figure
out my e-mail address if you look closely.
--Bob--
Crusher
> glad you are enjoying it, and making something of it. mine had finished
> now, but at least I have learned enough not to be put off.
> there is nothing to be fussy about with the nude body, male or female
Well, the fussy part is getting all the parts in the right proportions on
the drawing. When I looked back at the drawing I did yesterday I found the
head to be too small, the knees off by a noticeable amount and the hands and
fingers needed major surgery. <g>
--Bob--
Crusher
"dae" <d.e...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:MI6dnXOu2b_ehhPe...@comcast.com...
>
>
> "Crusher" <nospam...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:APGdnZh1WYavkRPe...@adelphia.com...
>>
>> Well, the day finally came- drawing a nude female model.
>>
>> The gal was well rounded and full figured, which made drawing much easier
>> since the curves are more pronounced than with more slender models.
>> After nine 3 and 5 minute charcoal warmups in as many poses we got to the
>> final drawing, which was in my case white and black charcoal on brown
>> colored paper. After an hour and a half I had a presentable drawing.
>> Using the brown of the paper as a midtone, charcoal white for the
>> highlights and black charcoal for the shades and shadows made a striking
>> drawing. This was fun, and the whole class seemed to enjoy the exercise,
>> with no embarrassment or problems of any kind. These young folks are
>> great!
> Crusher,
>
> Are you using chamois for erasing, blending? If not, get some and you
> will find your blending more even and your erasures cleaner. Sounds like
> the old days for me.
>
> Don
I don't have a useable chamois but I am aware of it's usefulness from
several of my drawing books. I found som soft felt that works well, though.
Some paper doesn't cover smoothly and some charcoals go on in streaks that
can't be easily removed or smoothed out. This technique requires both the
right materials and some practice.
--Bob--
Crusher
> Don. Blue Tak is ideal for lifting shades
>
Not familar with the material. What is it?
--Bob--
Crusher
Haven't gotten to color study yet, except for painting on occasion here at
home. I've done some mixing studies with different watercolors and have the
very interesting book "Blue and Yellow Don't Make Green," which is a book on
color mixing theory describing the need for dual primaries.
--Bob--
mj
<NHun...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1133400847.8...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
carry a tune and need little kids to help me draw. :-((
mj