Module 5 - Chapter 5

Colourful faces

5.5.1 Adding colour

I decided to use gouache for this exercise and did manage to feed a heavier weight of paper through the copier. This time I was working in the conservatory, so a very good light, but couldn't discern much in the way of extra colour on my usual pale face.  Perhaps I was expecting to see some colours that van Gough might have seen.

EA Playing with Picasa

This is something I do a lot especially with the grandson aged 5.

Where has picture 4 gone? Heaven knows, but it has completely disappeared.

5.5.2.

I thought I would like to do this exercise in fabric.  I couldn't face going off to the barn, fighting to unlock it (whilst standing on a chair) and then rummage for my Bondaweb, so I used lots of spray starch on the fabric.  The neck started off more normal than this, but I accidentally  cut bits off it for the eyebrows etc.

I must have been an old woman for the last 15 years as I love wearing purple, but not usually on my face. I haven't got around to running a walking stick along the railings yet, but give it a few more years. I enjoyed this exercise and it will give me the confidence to do it again.

Module 5 - Chapter 4

Your own face

5.4.1.
I used a soft sketching pencil for the following, but in case they are not dark enough to see very well, I then photocopied on the darkest setting and scanned. I didn't see that the examples had open eyes and since mine were shut, that is the way they have been drawn.

5.4.2
Well after the above, anything has got to be an improvement. This was drawn more heavily, so hopefully shows up better.

5.4.3
I did this one on a large square piece of good quality paper, so that if I can't get thicker paper to go through the copier for the next chapter, then I can use the original. I took a copy on ordinary copier paper though to keep.

Well it was very interesting to do, but I don't think this would pass muster for an identikit picture.

Module 5 - Chapter 3

Artists Self Portraits

5.3.1

My local library was not very helpful but found lots of self portraits on the internet. Having read up on some of them in more detail I printed off notes to keep with my selection, for future reference.

Of course I knew from the beginning I would go for Vincent van Gogh, but which one, as there are so many. I have loved this artist since my teens and have an excellent book and a few very good prints of his work "somewhere in the barn"! I chose this one done in 1887-1888 with its strong and controlled variation in brushstroke.

I found an article by Margaret Drabble from The Guardian, Saturday 5th December 2009 which sums up all that I feel for this lovely, brave and talented man. I have a copy with my notes.