I went for my first lesson at Kuhu’s today. We started with a still life and moved on to figure drawing with short duration poses. This was the last one made and since I had run out of newsprint by then 
it is smaller in size and on drawing paper. There is something in it that appeals to me. The rest of todays output you’ll find here. Used the Sanguine Conte Pencil for the first time on a 12 X 14 Canson drawing paper.
This time I tried to be clever and sketch Ramesh from behind. But I think he has a sixth sense that alerts him to the fact that I’m trying to sketch him! After sleeping like a log he shifted positions when I was a few minutes into my sketch and then i had to use my imagination to complete the pattern, shadow effect and I dont have a very good one.
The paper seems to have been affected by the wash that i’d laid on the page above it. It blotted and spread more than usual. I also need to work on perspective. I always manage to mess that up. The headboard and the books all look skewed. I need to do that Betty Edwards exercise of drawing on perspex before putting it down on paper. It helps you see better. I last used it in 2004 and a review is overdue.
I have a whole series of Ramesh sleeping and a couple of earlier posts here and here. I’ve put together a few on Flickr and will add to the set as I locate them in old sketchbooks.
All Indian names have meanings. Keya means a monsoon flower. I was hoping to do one of her from Life but it didnt happen. These are from photo references taken when she was a couple of years younger. I’m still optimistic that I’ll manage to get one done next time I visit Bangalore. We’ve both promised to sit for each other. She is a keen painter and has a great art programme in school.
Update: Recently on a post in wetcanvas I read that childrens eyes are more towards the middle of the face rather than higher up like an adult. I seem to have placed her eyes too high up in the first one making her look much older than in the reference. I hope I manage to keep that in mind when next I attempt to draw a child.
Made in my sketchbook. Approx 8″ X 10″
This time I was determined to visit the art supply store on my own. I did not want to bore the others to tears and nor did I want to rush over what was a big treat for me. I did pick up a few new things to try and one of them was transparent photo colours – warm brown and black. I discovered today that the brown has lovely shades of pink and rose in it.
My niece with her father. She is frowning in this one too but I couldnt capture that. I was worried about using too many dark lines on her face. Used a photo reference. Pen & Ink with a wash of warm brown Camel tranparent photo colour in my sketchbook.
Some babies smile soon after they are born and some dont or so I learnt when I first met my niece. She was a frowner and we laughed at and loved each little one that she chose to share with us. Here’s one of her asleep and frowning. Though this time she had a good reason to what with her trying to sleep and me giving her a bear hug I think she has grown out of this stage now and chooses to smile rather than frown. While I wouldnt want her to frown all the time I’m glad we took a bunch of photos capturing those moments.
8″ X 10″, Pen & ink, brown in my sketchbook. Photo ref from my sister.
It has become quite clear that I’m a night painter. Whatever schedule I was planning to come up with for learning had better keep that fact in mind.
The self portrait was made in Chennai and the last one which is supposed to be of a friend, Annie was made earlier in Bangalore. I was peering into the LCD Panel (2″) of my camera for Annies well that’s my excuse for it not looking like her. The others have been made in Kolkata and for those I can only say that it was quite late at night! Mr Blair’s right eye is out of whack and Mrs Clinton has been given way too many wrinkles. But if I really squint hard they look ok The one I like the most here is the one of the boy reaching out.
Update : These are all from photo references except for the self portrait – TIME, books, my camera and the mirror.
Recent Posts at Blog Schmlog Recent posts on draw the line
