Sunday, October 18, 2009

OH, THEM BONES, OH, THEM BONES, OH, THEM DRY BONES!

In our Life Drawing class Saturday I was tired from watching a 17-month old. And you can't do anything BUT watch him because he's on wheels, running around, checking things out within reach and wanting your attention every minute. Tiring but loads of fun.


Anyway, so even though I was tired and knew a migraine would be in my near future (every time my rigid schedule changes, I get a migraine), I loaded up my stuff and went to class and we took a vellum overlay, put that down over the figure drawing we did last week, and began working on - the bones. Did the whole skeleton within the body we had created, using good anatomy books and a smaller-than-lifesize (unless you are about 5 ft tall) skeleton in the studio. At times, the teacher (Charles Frymier) would hold out the arm or foot to show you how the bones would look from the position you had drawn the body = very helpful. I did not get the ribcage correct and was working on revising that when the 3-hour class ended. And there was no whining or cussing or throwing things at CF, either, so I guess the students are all either very dedicated or very masochistic! ha ha

Using a red/pink pastel pencil on the vellum laid over the original drawing, this is what I came home with. I will revise the ribs, using the anatomy book the teacher said was one of the best (Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist by Stephen Rogers Peck). Not elegant, by any means, but I did it. And I'll work more on getting the ribcage correct today while the Bengals are on TV.
Next week we do another overlay and put in the musculature - whew!!! CF is making us earn our right to be in the class!

And I did get a migraine - but not until after loading up all the grand's bags (he has more stuff than a diva on tour!!) and getting him in the carseat (a chore for someone not used to doing it on a daily basis) and taking him home. And he chattered and sang and was great all the way and smiling and happy when we left him. He has such a great personality! But don't take my word for it - just look at this face:




9 comments:

Christiane Kingsley said...

What a happy looking young boy! He does seem full of energy:-)
I am so impressed by the serious work that your teacher is making you do and by the results that you achieved. This hard work is sure to really pay off in your future figure painting.

Cathy Gatland said...

I don't know which sounds more exhausting - your figure class or your gorgeous 'grand', but both worthwhile and wonderful.

RH Carpenter said...

Christiane, he is such a pleasant kid - no tantrums, no fussiness, just grins and giggles and laughs :) Yes, the work is not easy but it will benefit me, I'm sure, when I get to painting the figure (and more drawing, of course)
Cathy, I think that day it was a tie! ha ha But you're right - both very worthwhile.

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

That was some life drawing class! And what a cutie! I agree with Cathy!

Vicki Greene said...

What a beautiful face! I also admire your life drawings. You are doing so well.

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Rhonda, what a blessing he must be for you all. He truly does look like a happy boy!

I can only imagine how difficult a task the bones overlay must be. It would really make one think, though, about how the skeleton must tilt, etc. when the model is in that pose. Very interesting.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much, Pam, Vicki and Susan! Pam and Susan, wait until next Saturday when we do an overlay of...the muscles!! Eeeekkk!
Yep, he's a doll baby! I hope he continues to be this happy in life.

Deb Léger said...

What a gorgeous smile on such a sweet little boy! Wow, you're really doing serious work in your drawing class. Great stuff, Rhonda!

MB Shaw said...

What an interesting technique. You are doing really nice work, such detail!
Love the grandbaby, what a doll.
And yeah, I get it about the migraines, I've been plagued with them forever. So sorry you have to go through that too :-( Acupuncture has helped me immensely.