Module 5 - chapter 7

Bodies & Movement

I enjoyed doing this chapter. The idea of dividing the body into 1/8ths makes it so much easier to work out what goes where.

5.7.1
"Somewhere in the Barn" I do have  an articulated figure, I expect I will find it again later this year! Meanwhile I enjoyed drawing the figure to scale.

5.7.2
I made two versions of the articulated figure. The first smaller one, I fastened together with linen thread.  It was really tricky to try and get the thread tight enough and neat.  The result was OK but quite floppy. The second version as fastened with small paper pins, or mini brads as our friends across the pond would say.

5.7.3.
My first thought about 'poses' was yoga, since I did it for 20 years. I should go back to it really.

 

It really annoys me that I still can't put things side by side.  Opps I did it, but it will probably go wrong when it gets to 'publish'

Next I used the smaller figure to get more onto a page and make the beginning of a crowd.

then, blacked them in, cut them out and reproduced them onto painted paper, reversing on the pink.

Then played again, by adding another lot on top. On the pink I think it would look very effective with a bonfire put between the black and white figures, to look like light shining on the latter.

Back to my larger figure, which is easier to draw around without it slipping so much. Figures cut out of magazine and pasted onto paper, gouache added afterwards.

Another lot, some just drawn in outline, and three drawn on stupidly thin tissue paper, coloured, cut out and stuck on top of the drawn figures. Powdered Inktense rubbed over tissue to give more texture.

Finally another play with Picasa

Module 5 - Chapter 6

CHANGING FACES

5.6.1.
Rather than putting loads of pictures on here of masks from around the world, I thought I would just show some from St Lucia and one rather topical one. The rest can go straight in the file.

Quick sketches of some of the rest of them

5.6.2.

I chose two very different masks to draw. With the Maori one I drew half and folded it to copy the second half. The African one is drawn in fine black pen.

Section of both and the African one in different colours. It is interesting how the red/blue one looks completely different as the red is more dominant and changes the pattern.

and other variations, done with stencils, sponged, painted etc. I used acrylic first on the first one with gouache over the top

This time I chose to make my file out of something different. First idea, I had a very large paper sack that had had bird food in it.  I cut up apart, separated the three layers and then decided it was just too big and wrinkly! Next attempt was to use some old manilla files that were going to be thrown away. The old sizes are quite large enough to be turned up at the bottom for a pocket and still take A4 and smaller sheets, stencils, sketches and so on. The outside is masks on painted paper and it is strung together with gold paper raffia, which seemed appropriate.

It is certainly a very sturdy file and will last for a long time.

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.

Module 5 - Chapter 2

 

Hands and Eyes

5.2.1.  What an excellent way to begin hand drawing, going around ones own just as we used to do when we were young. However not being young I got a bit too engrossed in veins etc.

I enjoyed doing the next four as well. All done with ordinary B sketching pencil

I think I am out of practice at loading pictures, they are going all over the place today.

5.2.3

For my design I used Markel oil sticks over a cut out of my hand. It was very noticeable that the Professional oil sticks (brown) are softer than the Student ones (green). The next day I gave it a wash over with ochre gouache.  I intended to use water colour, but couldn't lay my hands on them - again.

5.2.4
I know my eyes are deep set, but I am not sure that I have depicted this well enough in my drawings.

It is good to be back on track again, even if we are only half back in the house and I still have to trudge out to the barn for some of my materials.

MODULE 5 - Figure and Form

Chapter 1 - Making a folder

It has been such a long time since I last posted anything, but we are still not back in the house, well we have the use of the kitchen but that is it and it is really hard work going out to a barn and rummaging about to find cord etc. Still we are getting there and hopefully will have some rooms ready for Christmas when we have family coming!

I liked the idea of most of the folders but because I love origami I settled on that one for my folder which is a bit over A5 size. These as predicted are fun to make.
Here are some of the sheets, two of which are coloured kraft paper with some painted decoration on the white side and the smaller ones are sugar paper.  Although my top corners are not tiny triangles I decided I liked them anyway.

The paper for the cover is painted using acrylics, bubble wrap, collaged paper, printed tea bags and a home made hand block. It is wrapped over a piece of cereal packet on the front cover and card from a pad on the back. The inside is covered in sugar paper.

I'm so sorry I have just realised I haven't cropped these, but if I stop heaven knows when I will get back.

The holes were made with my very useful Japanese hole punch and threaded with thickish purple cord.

For fun I made a few others, but just showing this one, made from an old Molly Makes calendar which has interesting pages.

 The scanner is refusing to work today hence all photos. Mine you with all the dust in everything it isn't surprising, I know how it feels.

Anyway the next chapter of drawing shouldn't require much searching for materials so I will try and get on with that.