Tonight I start a another class in figure drawing. The class is basically the same thing I've been doing for about two or three years and is my way of studying with Glen Thomas. By taking the same figure drawing classes consecutively I finally am nearing accomplishing my goals. Eventually, I plan to turn from charcoal to oil painting but I have no illusions, I'm not quite ready to do that for a good reason. I'm still not making art; I want complete control.
Although my drawings have steadily improved over these classes and the accuracy of the proportions, the balance and the motion in my gestures are correct 85 percent of the time, I'm still far from creating art.
I've accomplished a lot. In addition to these skills, my drawing overall is quite fast now. Like practicing scales on a piano, this rote discipline of drawing gestures in 60-30 seconds is creating speed. As a result, I am seeing the whole figure and large shapes and like a puzzle that fits perfectly, I learning to put it all together but do it swiftly without sacrificing the quality of line or accuracy. There is no other way than rote practice for some things.
In this fall class, other than practice, it is art that I will be after. In contour drawing, varying the pressure of my hand and releasing the line is a skill I've become proficient in resulting in a line that is quite beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. Glen has commented on and appreciated that progress.
Another goal I have is learning to do wash drawings in watercolor washes, a thing Glen is a master performing with nearly a 98% perfection on every figure.
On my own, I will be studying fabrics and folds, lighting and textures in view of beginning to clothe the figure.
I am making great progress. I'll post some recent photos soon.
First one is overworked and am thinking I'm going to abandon it . . . but it is a beginning in pastels. I really don't know what I'm doing with pastels. My first attempts in full color.
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