More dreadful weather, more drawings...

Well, the weather has continued to be pretty stormy and all-round horrible. Although, I must admit that I really like a good thunder storm ... stirs up all those negative ions.

But, I've been enjoying myself inside parked up near the fire drawing. I'm halfway through the book now and really starting to see my progress. I've even started to lose track of time, and finding many cups of cold tea left too long!

This picture (demonstrating the foreshortened view) was copied using a blend of techniques - initially I drew it using the upside-down technique, and then turned it upright to shade and fill in the details and check lines using the sighting technique.

Charles White, Preacher

Here is an example drawing the negative space only (ie not trying to draw a chair or the details, but being able to focus on the shapes that pop out of the picture and then basically put them all together like a jigsaw).

Here was another one I did using the Sighting technique (using my pencil to find the relative lengths of lines and angles). This was copying a black and white photo, so I used the vertical and horizontal page edges as my point of reference.

And another using same size objects set at varying distances. I "framed" it first using my viewfinder and then drew it using the sighting/measuring technique.

I've really found this course a challenge. A challenge more to do with my own thoughts rather than actually completing the exercises. I find that I come across a drawing or exercise I need to complete and I can totally hear my head telling myself that it's too hard, can't possibly get it to look right, I would get bored sitting there for so long (although this has eased off now that my right-brain is really taking the task on board), impossible, etc.

So it's been a really nice eye-opener that I can do this! And a nice side-thing is that the kids have taken an interest in looking at my sketch pad when they get home from school and get inspired to do their own masterpieces.