Self-Portrait (and other figure drawing)

The midterm assignment for my figure drawing class is a self-portrait done in nupastel or graphite and we are supposed to be making a distinct expression in it. This is my "Really? You just said that?" face. I don't really know how else to describe it. Haha I chose graphite which was nice using but it isn't really photogenic so sorry about the poor quality picture.

The other drawing is that one figure drawing I did a couple weeks ago that I couldn't upload because I had turned it in to the Student Life Drawing Show. Well I got it back today so I thought I would put it on here! :) Enjoy!

Okay it is very unusual for me to like how the feet turned out in a drawing of mine. So since this was one of those rare occasions I thought I would do a close up of the feet/lower legs.

Figure Drawing: Week Six

So I don't think this week was my best. On Thursday we started focusing on the anatomy of the arm so we spent a while just drawing arms. And arms look weird by themselves! I was having trouble with it. Oh well! Learning is good. :)

In the last couple minutes of the pose I decided that I didn't like how cartoony my drawing had turned out (the one above) so I did a quick drawing of it again in a different, looser style.

(I only really liked how the torso came out on this one, so that's what you're getting!)

Photoshop fun: Old Lady

So weirdly I had a bunch of free time this evening. So... I decided to use it to break out my tablet and play with Photoshop! Hooray! It's great to draw for fun sometimes rather than just for class (although that's good too).

This is a drawing I did at the beginning of the semester and posted on here (so it might look familiar) but now it's colored! Enjoy!

Figure Drawing: Week Five

Hello friends! This is the weekly figure drawing update! There are fewer images this time for a couple reasons. 1. I didn't like as many of my drawings this week(and as the author of this blog I only have to show you ones I like haha) 2. We had a couple REALLY long poses-- like 1 1/2 hours for one pose (which is crazy-long in my opinion) 3. One of my pieces (and probably my favorite from this past week) is currently being reviewed by the Illustration department for the annual Student Life Drawing Show! I don't know exactly when I will find out if my drawings were chosen (the open house is on Thursday so I will know by then at the latest) but if they are I will definitely let you know. :D

Also, we were focusing on the anatomy of the back so that's why there are several studies of the models from the back.

I actually thought there was more time left on this pose than there was so this isn't quite finished. So you get a sort of "in process" picture I guess!

(sorry for the blurriness of this one-- I didn't feel like going back and taking another picture of it haha)

Figure Drawing: Week Four

Here are some more figure drawings that I have done this week. We did more head studies on Tuesday and then moved on to focusing on the torso on Thursday. The format of this class is that on Tuesdays we spend the whole time drawing from the models and then Thursday we spend about an hour (it's a three hour class) having an anatomy lecture on a specific part of the body. This is the first figure drawing class I have had that actually incorporates teaching about anatomy and I think it is really interesting and is pretty helpful.

Anyway, here are the drawings!

I am providing a slight close up not because it helps you see it much better, but just because I really liked the way his face turned out and I wanted to emphasize it by showing it as its own image. :)

(I am the artist and so it is my prerogative to decide that I really didn't like the way his head turned out so I am only showing you the body. Ha.)

This was my first attempt at doing a sustained pose with GRAPHITE! It was odd to have my dear old friend graphite be so difficult! Apparently graphite doesn't work well on Newsprint. But it was fun and interesting to try a different medium.

I was late to the open drawing lab this morning and so there weren't any open drawing horses. So I had to try to hold my huge pad of Newsprint on my lap. It was difficult. But I got a few gestures that I liked alright!















Also, I wrote a sonnet for my Creative Writing class and since it is about how I feel about Figure Drawing I thought this was as good a place to put it as anywhere!


Figure Drawing

The darkened class with solitary light
Casts shadows soft. The form, anatomy
Unbroken, curves and muscles pull—the sight
At which I stare and set in memory.

As cautious lines from charcoal smooth the page,
My hand is marked by smudges black. The dust
That clings to fingertips serves as the wage
In which I, student artist, now must trust.

To me it seems impossible to draw
And not to fuel a wond’ring sense of all
The skill in hands that take a substance raw
And with an artist’s touch create us all.

What challenge—more a wond’rous privilege sweet—
Is mine to draw His masterpiece complete.