"Life Drawing Sketches" - original charcoal drawings from life

I used Strathmore Toned Blue Mixed Media paper and General's Primo Euro pencils for these sketches.  They're timed poses so it's that great training again where you don't have enough time to "finish".  Such fun and so challenging! Re General's Primo Euro pencils, I'm really worried they'll be discontinued.  They have a smoothness that glides across the support which makes them a dream to draw with.  If you haven't used these fabulous pencils before, give them a try!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

"A Quick Painting from a Life Sketch" - Life Sketch and Painting

 I did this quick little painting from the charcoal sketch of the model.  Initially I was going to do the whole thing which would include the chair the model was sitting in etc etc, but I ran out of interest and became involved in doing ink drawings of cowboys playing cards.  And possibly leading to trouble. 👀  

The painting is on 6 x 8" Canson mixed media paper.  Am anxious, though, to use my acrylics on Gessobord because I think I'll be more pleased with the brushstrokes.  This was interesting to do - next time I'll make color notes about skin, eye and hair color.  As always. so grateful to the models.   Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Drawing of a Nude - charcoal life drawing

This charcoal life drawing was quick and needs some "fixing", but I know every time I do that, I just mess it up, so just leaving it alone.  It's on 9 x 12" paper.  Thanks for looking!

Monday's Nude - original charcoal life drawing

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Here's a nude I did a couple of months ago - it's on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of Kerri Looking Down - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This drawing's on Strathmore

drawing paper, 11 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by!

Another Seated Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Here's another drawing from awhile back - I've been hung up on the Mad Men marathon, then the final episode (sob) and have done very little in the way of art.  Now I'll get back to work.  This drawing is about 11 x 14".   It has some lines in the background and a few on the figure itself that are kind of a mystery - a good bit of restating going on, I think.  I always like seeing the original intentions and then what finally happened.  Anyway, it looks like a drawing I enjoyed doing.  Thanks for stopping by!

Nude in Charcoal - original charcoal drawing of a nude

The essence of drawing for me is the nude - humans are beautiful and I never tire of drawing them.  This one is about 11 x 3 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

Nude on Rose Paper - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Here's another nude on some of the patterned paper I've been experimenting with.  I think this is the last of the paper, and I just couldn't resist using the one remaining piece.  I used mostly compressed charcoal with touches of white on this drawing - not my usual, but I feel it worked well.  For me, when working with charcoal, I love the sensitive line that can be achieved with vine charcoal rather than compressed, but compressed was handy and since I'm a lazy artist, I just went ahead and drew with it.  The paper is about 8 1/2 x 11".  Thanks for stopping by!

Two Nudes - original charcoal nude drawing

Here are two more nudes from the latest drawing session.  Done on Strathmore drawing paper, about 14 x 9".  I drew while listening to "music" that sounded like pots and pans banging around.  I am not kidding - but it was a mostly youngish group and since I was the newcomer, I couldn't say anything.  Thanks for stopping by!

One Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Here it is morning and I'm posting a drawing - usually it's late at night or in the wee hours that I post.  Actually, I think I like this better, but one probably can't change one's established ways.  This drawing was done from a seated position, so I was looking upward at the model - my favorite way to draw from life. Well, I don't mean that I like to draw sitting down, but there was no stand for her, so I sat down.  Standing is my favorite way to draw, but that only works for me if the model has a platform. This was a quick drawing, so there's a lot that could be 'corrected', but then I would probably lose a lot, too.  And every time - and I do mean every time - I do that, I ruin the drawing  This nude is one that I cut from a group of three.  There's some shading on the right from the nude that was there.  Just didn't like the others and I really loved this pose, too.  This was done on Borden and Riley Bristol Plate - and as much as I love Bristol, it's just a bit less forgiving for charcoal work.   This drawing is 14 x 5" - thanks for looking!

Nita Sleeping - original charcoal figurative drawing

I love to do sleeping poses, especially when the model actually goes to sleep.  This pose didn't last nearly long enough to suit me, but I guess I accomplished the general idea.  It's done with vine charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper and is about 10 x 10".  Has anyone out there used carbon paper for drawing, lately - or ever?  Not long ago, I visited a drawing show where one of the pieces was done using carbon paper.  I guess it actually works like a monotype, but much less messy.  Anyway, I'm about to find out and am really excited.  I love to make monotypes by putting the paper over the inked plate and drawing.  Now that I think about it, I guess the carbon paper won't be exactly like that, but close enough and should be fun.  Thanks for stopping by!

Three More - original charcoal nude drawings w/touches of white pastel

This is a drawing that I did over several weeks, one model one week, then another model a few weeks later, then the third model maybe a month or two after the others.  Different models elicit different responses from the 'drawer', I think.  Instead of gray, the support is actually light green Canson Mi-Teintes board, which I love, but it's hard to find.  Thankfully, ASW still carries it.  It has the textured side of the Mi-Teintes paper adhered to board and I always find the textured side encourages looseness.  The drawing is 16 x 20".  If I don't post before Sunday, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!  Thanks for stopping by! 

The Participant - original quick portrait sketch from life

This young woman was a participant in a life drawing group I attended recently and I did this little sketch while the model was getting into the next pose.   My subject would have made a fantastic model!  She had a beautiful face that reminded me of a Renaissance painting and it would have been great to sketch her when she turned her head my way, but she seldom did, so I have to rely on memory.  That's one of the things I love about life drawing groups, it's always so relaxed, and between poses, there are people sketching the other attendees, the room, the easels, you name it!  It's a life drawer's fantasy.  I drew her with vine charcoal on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Chaos - original charcoal life drawings

Sort of weird, I know, but I just like to draw the model in really short poses over other really short poses.  Previous poses are often obliterated, but I'm mainly interested in line variety. This is vine charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper, 18 x 24".
More about the knowing people through drawings thing I mentioned in my previous post.  When I said I was looking for line variety in the above paragraph, it's one of the things that thrills me about drawing.  When I was little, one of my aunties - I loved her dearly - would always draw for me 'the old, poor cow' and laugh and make fun of her inability to draw. Well, I LOVED those drawings, but I didn't know why.  Now I understand that she had just naturally and unknowingly used a weighted line.  The 'old, poor cow' was simply beautiful!
Thanks for visiting my blog!

Tuesday's Pose - original charcoal nude life drawing

Oh my gosh, I loved this model - her poses were ones that I'd like to spend a lot of time drawing.  Somehow, I never felt that I captured her the way I wanted and I hope the next time she shows up, I'll be there for another try.  Drawing from life is the very best and it helps me - and I'm sure everyone who does it - in so many ways.  I always think I know how everything fits together, but I always get my comeuppance in life drawing groups when I can observe.  It's all about seeing, really, and I'm still working on it. 
This was done on Strathmore drawing paper and is 24 x about 16".  A note about a new discovery - well, new to me, anyway, is Utrecht vine charcoal - I bought the assorted pack and it's great.  They weren't kidding.  There are so many thicknesses and such variety in the sticks, although they are all a pleasure to work with - haven't found one yet that's too hard or scratchy.  Thanks for stopping by!

3 x 3 - Three Three-Minute Original Charcoal Nude Drawings

I haven't posted in awhile - busy with company and then a short trip, but I'm back.  Here's a drawing of three three-minute poses that I did tonight at a life drawing group.  It's about 18 x 24" on Strathmore drawing paper, using vine charcoal, General's Primo charcoal pencils and also their regular charcoal pencils.  It was such a fast drawing that I just grabbed whatever was handy.  Plus, my trusty kneaded eraser. 
I think this is such good drawing practice - even though the drawing doesn't end up just perfect - it's good to try and get things down in a hurry.  By the time I get through with these three-minute drawings, five and ten minute poses seem like I have forever to work!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Model, Standing - original charcoal nude drawing

I just love back poses, especially standing ones.   This drawing is on Strathmore 400 drawing paper and is about 10 1/2 x 5 1/2".   Thank you for stopping by! Sold

Three Models - original charcoal nude drawing

In addition to the three different models, the interpretation of each is a little different, as well - only the tiniest bit, but still. . . .   I really think the artist always responds to each individual model and this shows in the finished drawing.  This drawing is on 9 x 12" Britol board paper and I used vine charcoal - always so forgiving!  Thanks so much for stopping by - always great to see you here!

Sketch for Josie on the Sofa - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This is another life drawing from my stash of nudes - Josie was the model for this one, which is drawn with vine charcoal on 11 x 14" Strathmore drawing paper.  I plan to do a painting based on the drawing.
While I was working today, I listened (via audible.com) to another Chet and Bernie mystery, To Fetch A Thief.  This series is 'written' by Chet, the dog, and it's so delightful.  There were times when I laughed out loud.  If you're a dog lover, try this series about private detective Bernie Little and his dog Chet.  Can't wait for tomorrow's 'installment'.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Drawing of a Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

Here's a nude that I pulled out of my stash of life drawings.  This one is on 14 x 11" Strathmore 400 Drawing paper and is done with soft vine charcoal - there is nothing so sensitive and forgiving as vine charcoal.  Thanks so much for stopping by!