Final Reflections

Well the semester is ending and our Life Drawing I class is coming to a close.  In this our final blog of the semester our focus is looking back and reflecting on all we’ve learned.

I can’t speak for anyone else but in reading other students blog entries I have to think most would agree it’s been an educational experience.  I think for me the obstacle I found it hardest to overcome was drawing without outlines.  

As far as what I have learned I guess, after again looking at my sketch pad in chosen images for my Midterm portfolio, this time with a more critical eye, my main expectation then for the rest of the semester was to follow directions, always include the ribcage, pelvis, and long axis in my drawing and work/draw slowly. To this end I think I have followed through with what I expected of myself although the slowing down I think tended to hurt me in gesture drawings.

While not a required class, being an art major with a concentration in multimedia with an interest in 3D modeling/Animation, I’m sure the things I learned will aid greatly in portraying not only my characters in a more realistic form but aid in creating their movements also.

In conclusion, while I found Life Drawing I extremely challenging I throughly enjoyed the class and believe I learned a lot.  I think the total extent of what knowledge I gained has yet to be realized as I’m sure someday I’ll step back from one of my drawings and say in wonder “Now where did I learn that from, yep Life Drawing I. 

Shell IV

Here is the last of my shell drawings, I was semi pleased with the way it turned out but see a lot that could be improved and, as I said at Midterm please stop by my Final Portfolio and I look forward to any comments you care to share,

Field Trip !!!

Well the plan for this week was the field trip to the Walker Museum of Modern Art and Bell Museum of Natural History both located in Minneapolis.  The trip got off to a slow start when there was a mix up in the bus scheduling and instead of leaving at 9:30 as planned it was close to 11 when were finally underway.

On a side note due to the bus mix-up and although it was not Cathy’s fault she felt bad and furnished treats for the class at a later date.

This meant we were only able to spend a short time at the Walker, which was ok with me.  I must just be a traditionalist at heart as I found the majority of pieces at the Walker pointless…  I did enjoy the photographs of a Minnesota native.  These pieces were more up my alley. 

We then moved on to the Bell Museum of Natural History where I wandered off on my own and admired all the taxidermy work.  Being an avid camper I enjoyed seeing all the animals, I have yet to see in the wild, in their semi realistic habitats.

"Lynx"

We were tasked with doing a drawing while at the Bell Museum and I chose the Lynx.  Here is my rendition I’m almost pleased with the way it turned out but wish I’d more time to put him in his environment.

Foot Fetish ? NOT

    I being a red blooded male enjoy the sight of a nicely turned leg as well as the next guy but feet... No thanks I think most feet are ugly and would chose not to include them in the majority of drawings I have done of figures.

  That being said I think once Amy showed us and explained how the bones and muscles of the foot work togather and are in fact are made up of side and top planes my drawings of feet may well go from flat flipper type appenages to perhaps a shaply foot in a nice high heel.  I also think now more of my drawings of people will no longer end at the ankle. I'm sure my subjects will approve.     
Here is a long drawing I did of K's foot and while I'll be the first to admit there is vast room for improvement you should have seen some in the past.

Mid-Term Portfolio Reflections

     Well, here it is the end of October, the trees have shed most of their leaves, and kids are dressing in costumes hoping for a full bag of candy.  These facts can only mean one thing the semester is half over and questions are being raised as to what have I learned thus far.
     As this blog is a of Life Drawing I I'll start there.  As one can see from the examples from my MidTerm Portfolio I am having real difficulty grasping the concept of drawing with lines, not outlines.  I have always been more of a "sketcher" than a artist so I find my first instinct is to look at the outline instead of the form.  This will be the main focus of things I expect of myself by the end of the semester.   Another issue that I am having difficulty with is, like others in the class, in trying to complete a finished drawing whenever the model remains still for a "long drawing" session.  This leads to another expectation for myself the final half of the semester which is to slow down in my drawings.    I also need to work on drawing lighter when starting a drawing.  I think that by doing this I will be more able to insure the proportions in my drawing are correct before the marks are already too dark.

Gesture III

Although it still has outlines I think my favorite gesture drawing thus far in the semester has to be "Gesture III"  I think I did a good job of getting the proportions correct, included the ribcage, pelvis,  and long axis of the thigh. 

       I guess, after again looking at my sketch pad in choosing images for my  MidTerm Portfolio ,this time with a more critical eye,  my main expectation for myself for the rest of the semester is to follow directions, always include the ribcage, pelvis, and long axis in my drawing and work/draw slowly.
      
      Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to any comments you care to share,

Shell Shocked

       This was an interesting as well as shocking week for me. 

       On Tuesday the first of our four drawing of our shell was due.  Amy had set certain criteria for our drawings such as There should be an identifiable diagonal axis with one end of the shell further away.  No outline (the outline should be implied by the contour). Every line should change direction at least once denoting a plane change.   The drawing should include the whole shell while maximizing the paper.   Amy also stated the drawing should take 4 to 5 hours stressing the need to draw slowly, tracing each contour as all organic form varies.  

Shell

  Here is the actual shell in the view I drew it,

Shell I

and my rendition of it.







We spent a short time in class on Tuesday doing peer critiques of our group members shell drawing taking note of  how well we/they had adhered to the criteria set.  Some of the comments I received from my group members were "Nice Line variation", "Diagonal axis present but could be developed more", "Proportion of shell spiral not quite right",  "Drawing shows nice sense of space",  "More outlines than needed". 
    Thursdays class we spent some time doing gesture drawings with the model with the proportions of ribcage to pelvis being stressed.  The class then moved into a prolonged pose while Amy took small groups aside for a more detailed critique of our shell drawings.  Amy further stresses the need for a deeper axis,  less outlines, and explained the easiest way to draw concave curves is to "draw like you are drawing the outside of the curve" 
     I agreed with the comments received from both my small group members as well as Amy and recognize there is great room for improvement in my next shell drawing.

Manfreds got "Back"

    Yep, as the title says "ManFred" now has back.  It was kind of a strange week.  Tuesday Amy cut class short due to it being extremely warm in the studio (workman/chiller line mishap or so I heard) so after a quick lecture on the major muscles/fasciae of the posterior (Gluteus minimus, Gluteus medius, Tensor fasciae latae, and, Gluteus maximus(Iliac and axial head)) we were turned loose to create muscles of clay for our Manikins by Thursday.  Thursday's class came and again I'm sorry to the rest of the class... but class was canceled due to Amy being under the weather.
     A bright spot this week in regards to my drawing/drawing skills.  While not a total "Eureka" moment I stepped back from my easel and there it was.... a somewhat recognizable facsimile of the model and, if I squinted just right I was able to tell myself it wasn't terrible just that I had a lot of room for improvement.  It did make me feel better in relation to my wondering what I thought I was doing in a Life Drawing I class. So perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel that isn't railroad related.

Abs of "Clay"?

    Once again we were given an assignment regarding our Manikins.  Last week, having reviewed the abdominal muscles and their importance in keeping our organs from falling out, we were tasked with placing three of the ab muscles (Quadratus lumborum, Rectus abdominis, and, Obliquus externus abdominis) in clay on our Manikins.

6 pack anyone?

"to be replaced"

    However on a side note, in reference to my manikin "ManFred", after a brief critique of the spinal erector muscles I had constructed, and seeing the level of craftsmanship expected..."Manfred" will be getting an new and improved set of the a fore mentioned spinal erectors.