Category: Drawing

I’ve been drawing from life at the Cincinnati Art Club. I don’t particularly want to draw portraits or figures for my studio work, but the human form is a great way to fine tune my craftsmanship. Working from life (no cameras, computers, Ai) makes it even more of a challenge.

Im noticing that the figure is a bigger challenge for me than a portrait. There are so many things to get right in a figure–one thing slightly ‘off’ and it throws the whole drawing off.

The measurements were so ‘off’ from the first session, I decided to wipe the drawing away and start over

in the second session, the measurements were a little better, but I’m struggling with foreshortening: when parts of the body go forward or back into space

at the end of the third session, i stopped trying to get every measurement perfect, and get the drawing together.

at the end of the final session, I wasn’t completely happy with the figure, but it was a great learning experience!

I’ve been studying the portrait and figure on Mondays at the Cincinnati art club…drawing from life (no cameras, transfers, technology or ai). I don’t really want to do portraits, but I DO want to keep improving my craftsmanship as an artist. With the human form, measurements have to be right—they aren’t forgiving like trees or other shapes in nature.

I didn’t achieve a 100%likeness but it’s close. looking back at my sketches since joining the group, it’s amazing how much I have improved. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity.

If you think you have ‘plateaued’ as an artist, I encourage you to keep pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. There is always something new to learn.

I was late to sketch group at the Cincinnati Art Club today…which means all the good views of the model were already taken.

One of the views left had an extreme amount of foreshortening. That’s when things point toward (or away from) the viewer. The model (Kathryn Hinton–Masks Of The Soul–one of my favorite models) was reclining away from me, with her leg and foot pointing toward the viewer.

No one setup in that spot, because it’s EXTREMELY difficult to draw this amount of foreshortening. (not to mention she was backlit)

I’ve been drawing with the sketch group, because I want to get better at drawing what I see (without cameras or technology) This was absolutely the most difficult drawing I have ever done…EVER.

It’s not perfect, but I’m happy with how much of the foreshortening I was able to achieve. Maybe next time I’ll be late again—the difficult views are what push me into being a better artist!

Lots of character in today’s model. I can tell that with practice, i’m getting better and better. So grateful to have this opportunity to study the portrait/figure.