Wednesday, February 16, 2011

GESTURES AND BLOBS

Dancing Movements Exercise:  Apply brushstrokes (I used watercolors) rapidly with a free motion, capturing mass, line and structural elements.  Stop.  Switch to a water soluble crayon and draw into the wet wash, adding just enough overlapping contours to bring out the position of the body.






I used the stills from a movie for the top two but too much blur when I paused the tape so...

went to the book and copied the one below, trying to see more what he was trying to get us to do.








Again, for me, it's a matter of putting in too much information.  Something I'll just have to keep working on.










This one is a copy of his demo:  Gesture Drawing with Black Pastel Chalk.

You were to create the mass of the body first with the chalk on its side, then draw around it, reiterating the shapes and edges. 

I found myself a bit frustrated with the gesture drawings and think I need to do a lot more than these to get the hang of it.  Hard for me to leave a lot out - which is one of my goals. 







And since I really wanted to play with some color today, I started a large painting.  But I already see where it's overworked and I can feel the frustration rising...!!!  (It's the figure at the top of the page with her red dress on.)

I think I need to spend more time on these gesture drawings, getting the angles of the body correct but also leaving out everything - stopping and letting it be after just a minute or less. 






Next exercises and information is about Mass.  Mr. Buchman says that "it is much more crucial to be able to render mass than intricate details (again, less is more!!).  Accurately sensing mass greatly improves the chances of creating a successful figure drawing."

9 comments:

mimi torchia boothby watercolors said...

your last painting is a trip. I looked at it and saw the back of a red cat (his ears are the top of the dress) he is being approached by a black cat whose tail is gently curving towards him. Behind them is a pond or body of water with the remnants of the sunset's lingering glow.
Then I read about what it was ... thought you'd like to know anyway

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

You are such a keen artist doing all these exercises. I like the look of the lady in the red dress.

Nick said...

Good to be doing all of this, Rhonda. I'd say the main technical thing I encounter with workshop enrollees is general lack of drawing ability. Little time to get into that aspect in a painting workshop, even though it probably is the most important foundation. People want to paint! The ones who make it are those willing to tough out all of the other depts. Keep eating your greens!

Vicki Greene said...

I admire your studies with figures! You are getting better and better.

RH Carpenter said...

I like what you're seeing in there MimiTabby :)

Thanks, Joan. I like that word, "keen." I'm trying, that's all I can say. I've started the figure in red and black over - I think I'll take it slowly this time.

Nick, if you can draw it, you're halfway there - nothing worse than a painting that's badly drawn because the artist can't draw. I know a lot of painters don't want to spend time drawing but it's fun to explore - just more art! Greens and reds and yellows and... :)

Thanks, Vicki! I hope I'm stretching and learning more that will come through in future paintings.

Jan Yates, SCA, Canada said...

I so like the fresh feel of these studies-your lines and shapes and approach are dynamic!

I admire your self discipline and integrity.
I think you are right when it comes to drawing--especially with the figure--a landscape we need the underlying structure but can take artistic licence and move things around--the figure has to be proportionate no matter how one embellishes with colour and brushwork.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Jan :) I do hope the studies will help me draw more freely and also accurately - learning how the body parts fit together. I hope you're doing well.

JANE MINTER said...

these are great blobs and gesture dwgs ... sounds an excellent book ..hope your neck feels better soon .

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Jane. I am getting much better and back to more drawing and blobs :)