Figure Drawing 1--the Gesture Drawing

I was going to add to the previous blog entry to expand upon "the gesture drawing" but instead I thought I would just give the topic its own space.

Our gesture drawings are timed.  We have a live model.  The teacher has a timer. 20 seconds or 30 seconds are about the length of the poses.  The model changes to a new position when the timer goes off.  I use vine charcoal on newsprint.  We do this for about a half hour, then we start doing longer poses.

Some of my drawings have the length of time, written on them, but they all should.  A gesture drawing is a loose capturing of the moment of the figure.  Details are omitted, as there is not the time.

No outline is allowed- one has to sort of scribble out a person onto the paper really fast.

I am not impressed with the ones directly below- too stiff

These are a little nicer- more movement is apparent. these are probably 30 seconds.

This might have been a ten second:

I like these below, but a little too outliney!

This one, in my estimation is a good one.

five minute--is below

Printmaking 1- the Monotype

With the wood block project, much effort was spent on getting the block right in order to produce many copies of it.  With the monotype, one only gets a single copy of the finished product.  It can be frustrating to spend a lot of time on an image painted on plexiglass only to have it come out sub-standard. One only gets one shot at a monotype!  I was experiencing such disappointment, so I changed my strategy.  The last time I went in to work, (Friday) I quickly painted up a bunch of botanical renderings. This first photo- I used up some paint--in an abstract expression of color:

These are the flower paintings- I was inspired by a wild flower handbook.

This is the Rieves paper soaking- It costs around 6 dollars for a big sheet.  The sheet of paper must be cut up on the paper cutter--and that is challenging in itself. When ones brain is focused on creativity, switching to the analytical- mathmatical side of the brain is not always that easy! The paper must soak a minimum of 15 minutes.  After it soaks it must be blotted to remove the excess water.

This is the above blue flower picture while I was creating it.  The Linseed oil thins the paint.  The white paint is a little thick at times.

Sorry that this is not the correct orientation--These girls are drawn from a reference photo.  My mother is in the center, as a child.  This print, has a border, which is accomplished by cutting a newsprint mat, which is placed around the image- prior to printing.

These below, are my first attempts.

We have the choice of oil paint or monotype ink.

The final submission for grading is between 5 and 25 prints.  The above chipmunk photo was taken by my former boyfriend and I took the photo of my grand-daughter.

First Painting --the Monochromatic

Our first project in Painting I was the Monochromatic.  We bought a canvas for this project.  First one must understand that there are many steps to undergo in the process of creating a nice painting. (this narrative is choppy as I am tired!;-)    An imprimatura is an under painting.  The underpainting was drawn on in charcoal, and sealed with fixative.  Initially we chose a spot via lottery. Next we drew thumbnails to work out what view would create the best composition.   1.pencil sketch is first.  2. Charcoal rendition on to canvas.  3.  Then the monochromatic rendering goes over the charcoal imprimatura.

This is the monochromatic-one color tone, raw umber.  We were allowed to use white also.  In the pic below the imprimatura shows under the initial applications of value.  (we had to mix a palate of all shades of raw umber with white)

We applied a mixture of Raw Umber, paint thinner and Liquin to the canvas.  We wiped it with a rag to get the excess off. (this is after the charcoal sketch is fixed with fixative)  Next we put in dark outlines with the raw umber of the shapes.

Graphite pencil sketch below--initial effort at communicating the still life.

Charcoal on canvas below.

This is the working of the various values in the objects.

Below, it is nearly finished--

This is the studio!

Update on Ceramics- Pinch Pots!

On Friday at four pm the little ceramic projects came out of the kiln, at Finger lakes Community College.  I am an adult learner art student, embarking on an adventure in ceramics, in case you are new to my blog.

I was interested to learn that the kiln has to run at a very high temp--1600F or so for 24 hrs to change the chemical composition of the pots so that they are no longer "greenware".  I am unsure of the exact temperature, but fortunately the temperature can be monitored and the professor can control it via a computer.   There are different types of ceramic ware. There is earthenware, stoneware and porcelain, and all require a different temperature for firing.  We are working with stone ware.  My pine pot and the little bears came out of their second firing, post glazing.  I have yet to see how they came out.  But here is the prior to the second firing photo.  Tomorrow, on Sunday, I am going to go in to work on my coil projects and I intend to check on the pinch pots.


Pinch projects prior to glaze application: "bisque ware"

I applied a coat of blackish copper oxide on this also to darken it.

These are the glazes.

Update on pinch pots one year later!

The Arm--In Pastels

Every week we receive an assignment to draw a body part.  This week I handed in my drawing of an arm which I drew (painted) with pastels.  I flipped through my library book and found an arm.  The book is about Florentine art, Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy.  I rendered my drawing and then, when crediting the original artist- Vivarini from the 1480's, I read that he did his drawing from Model books, rather than from a living model.  If I had searched further, I would have made a better choice with Michelangelo's arm on another page of the same book.

 I found that pastels are fun and difficult.  I liked my limited pallet choice.  I had recalled that my daughter in law- advised creating shadow with a complimentary color..so I went with orangey yellow and a blue background and blue for value.  I also learned that what I created is actually a painting not a drawing, because I filled in the whole page.  I probably should have left a border and will for the next.  I drawing in pastels is considered a drawing when the pastels are used just for the subject.

Pastels are so difficult because they don't erase well.  The task of creating this image was not as terrifying as working with ink, but there were a few moments where I was unsure if I would be able to fix an area of color.  The shadow on the biceps was not curved correctly and at one point I moved his hand upwards.

 My instructor told me to make sure I covered the piece which I did with tracing paper.

I really do like the final outcome of pastels!  Much more interesting than graphite!

Into the First Few Weeks of the Fall 12 Semester!

I have a heavy load this fall.  I am taking more credits than I have ever taken at once before!  The grand total is 16.  I have four studio classes. ( I started my college career at Ithaca college- then William Smith- then Flcc nursing..)

Figure Drawing:  She is a great teacher.  She is organized and she really cares.  She photo catalogs all of our work.  I have Sarah for 3 of the 4 classes.  We are learning the body and have a weekly assignment to draw muscles and bones.  So far I have tackled the clavicle, scapula, and shoulder muscles.  I copied Michelangelo's back muscles last night.  We are learning gesture drawings.  I am very happy to have her as my teacher.

this was timed- can't recall- from now on I am going to mark with time. I think it was 20 minutes.

Above- I need to fix his chin a bit- she recommends less outlining.(30 min)

30 min

I was planning on doing a blog entry about all the classes --but it would make for to long of a blog..will have to do an entry for each!

Mona Lisa Smile Day

It was my first day in art history today. If anybody has seen the movie Mona Lisa Smile--my art history class was a little like that. She put up slides and we responded if we knew the work of art. The famous pics were an arc de triumph, the colosseum, a goddess sculpture...and so on, of course early cave paintings!

We were not like the girls at the ivy league school, but we did okay.

In intro to drawing- the prof went over expectations and gathered info about each of us. He is the same teacher who will instruct me in sculpting. In the art class we will be using pencils, sketch pads and drawing pads...big ones. We will sit on this funny benches. I will have to do a photo blog to explain! Prof Barron showed an interest as to where we all were from. I don't think that he realizes that I am fifty! What does highschool mean to someone who has been out for over thirty years!

The professor of the design class--a studio class, went over expectations, rules and regs and supply needs. We have to gather natural forms--like thistles and bring them into class in a bag for Thursday. The class work is all done in black and white. He was not too curious about us as people.

We shall be introduced to color in the second semester!

First Day of Art School

When I grew up, my Mom used to say, "when I was in art school...." "In art school we did...." I am starting art school, Mom, I hope you would be proud. I once thought, "be your own person, Amy....don't reference your mother when you discuss your talent." Do I have talent? I don't know. But my mother was very talented. I thought about my favorite singer song writer Leonard Cohen..his son Adam is a musician and so is John Lennon's son. We cannot change the fact that our parents are a part of who we are. They help form our identity. So, Mom, I thought of you today when I listened to my sculpting professor, Barron, at my new adventure in "Art School." I thought, I bet my mom is right here with me. I will think of my mother, when I tell people. "hey, I am going to art school!"

"Art school" sounds bohemian. I attend FLCC, not too bohemian! Finger Lakes Community College. I am a firm believer in bargains and shopping locally! The college is 10 minutes away, even doable by bicycle.

The great thing about community colleges is that you can redo one's high school years. In high school I was all college prep/ math science. No time for art. The schedule was full. Art was a secret longing. In my twenties and thirties I was a farmer's wife/mom and then a nurse. My mother was alive and she was the artist. I was intimidated to try to even go there! So I focused on my career and motherhood.
Mom passed away 10 years ago this December. I wish I could have shown her more of my appreciation of her talent.

I have just one class on Mondays, Sculpting and Modeling--and this class is usually for second year students. The prof said not to worry, that the class would work along with the other classes that I am taking simultaneously. I am excited to try this out. I already have a plan for my first project, the wire sculpture assignment.

The other students are all young. I am fifty. Mid-life exploration. If I do well enough I might consider doing a double major with graphic arts, as I only have to do about 4 classes next year to fulfill my degree requirements. If I do a double major then there definitely might be career potential.

My plan is to do this web-log and give a chronological account of my education as it happens!