Life Drawing Class - No. 5

I seemed to pick up the pace a little better today.  My sketches were a little more fluid, and I think I felt a little more relaxed in front of a naked stranger, - my modesty and sensibilities being formed from a behavioural schema I had acquired from my childhood, and no doubt, one that many older students in a similar situation may have cause to be reminded of.
Helen, the model, was completely un-fazed as usual, and her professionalism was gratefully acknowledged.

Drawing Transformations - Life Drawing Class No 4

Today prooved to be far more challenging for some reason.  I had been reading the book "Drawing on the Right Hand Side of the Brain" By Betty Edwards recently, and my attempts today seemed to be way off course for some reason.  Nevertheless, I will persevere!

Drawing Transformations - Life Drawing No. 3

I'm still rather tight in my arm movements in my Life Drawing today.  I think that I need to practice larger freehand drawings more often, simply because I am usually confined to using an A4 Sketchpad.  However, my attempts today have been created using shade and light, Chiaro e Scurro as I think the Italians might say...  Thanks to Helen again, the model, who is extremely patient with our (especially mine) attempts, and to Jill for her ongoing patience in tutoring our group.

I need to flex my arm rather than my hand, and I must practice using proportionate representation in these sketches.  Jill also suggested that I might try to use pencil to create an initial outline and then continue with Charcoal once the form is appropriately measured and represented.  I'm still rather embarrassed at my attempts of life drawing, - the other students have natural skill, but I think my efforts are way behind in both skill and fluidity.    Much to do ....

Drawing Transformations - Life Drawing Classes - No. 1 & 2

So today heralded my first experience and attempt to draw the female form.   It was a nervous experience, not only because of my natural inhibitions, but also because I would be drawing a subject that I was generally not confident to do.  This would have also the additional demand of being critiqued in real time whilst I was in the process of drawing the model, by my tutor Jill.

we started with a quick succession of 5 minute poses, to get our eyes synchronised and our arms and hands in to the mode of rapid freestyle drawing.

 Here are my first attempts, there's nothing for me to be proud of here I'm afraid;

  

And again the following week...