Drawing Georgie on 08/07/2010 and 15/07/2010

EXTREME POSES
I had heard of 'Extreme Poses' many months ago and so with the summer break in my usual programme of life drawing I decided to head over to Stroud and see what it was all about. It was amazing! The model is suspended by a series of knotted ropes hung from the overhead beams. She can sit upright, lie horizontal, or take up numerous other positions. Each pose lasts for no longer than 30 minutes. What is different?

FIRSTLY: the issue of gravity, with the weight being seen to travel to the ground, is suspended (excuse the pun). So the bottom firmly seated on the chair, or the weight travelling down the legs to the floor, or the head perhaps resting on the hand with the elbow transferring the load on to a table, are all absent.

SECONDLY: the model is at eye level (which for me being almost two metres tall is a rare if not unique experience), which means that one is looking up into the space(s) created by the model's body. In Drawings 3 to 6 the arms are above my eye level. I am standing no more than 2 metres from the nearest part of the model.

THIRDLY: there are the ropes. What to do with these in the drawing. Well, in my first drawing they are included, and the model is clearly suspended by them in air. And they can be used as a sort of framework to help proportion the body. But one soon forgets their existence and there is only a slight suggestion of them in one or two of the other drawings. This results in what I believe are some very exciting images, and poses with an added dynamic to them.

Drawing 1 (charcoal and pastel on A1 cartridge)
Drawing 2 (conte crayon, pastel and charcoal on A1 cartridge)

Drawing 3

(charcoal with white pastel highlights and yellow conte background on A1 beige newsprint)

Drawing 4 (conte crayon, charcoal and white pastel on A1 beige newsprint)

Drawing 5 (charcoal on A1 cartridge)

Drawing 6 (red and blue conte crayon with an orange pastel background on A1 cartridge)

'Extreme Poses' Life Drawing is run by Paul Fowler at Pegasus Art, Griffin Mill, Thrupp, Stroud, GL5 2AZ [www.pegasusart.co.uk]

Drawing Penny at Ross on 13/07/2010

As most classes stop over the summer months of July and August an extra day of life drawing was organised at Ross-on Wye (a second is planned for the middle of August) with one of our favourite models. A favoured format was followed with three 10 minute poses at the start of the morning session and again in the afternoon. Firstly the morning ones, each A2 in pastel and conte crayon on a beige sugar paper. I felt very relaxed doing these, not at all anxious as to how they might turn out, and wanting the activity of making marks on paper to be purely a loosening-up exercise. However, I rather like the carefreeness of approach and the delicacy of execution. In the middle drawing the model has a yellow scarf draped over her shoulder. Below are the two afternoon quickies. Firstly a typical Penny gesture, arms stretched overhead with breasts and bottom celebrated. Then a seated pose which I particularly requested in which the challenge is to understand and capture the triangulated forms created with the arms and legs. Within the short time a line drawing seemed most appropriate.

The rest of the morning and afternoon was taken up by the following three pieces. Issues of 'perspective' and 'sculptural form' were for me uppermost in the exploration that took place. Both are A1. The first on white cartridge using charcoal with a little conte crayon. A soft white pastel drew out the highlighted areas.

This first drawing suggested to me fairly tall model. Her back is long, and the right leg also appears fairly long and slender. In the drawing below I attempted to correct this impression by particularly increasing the thickness of the thigh and calf. Penny is not a tall model and this drawing represents a fairly true likeness. Charcoal and soft white pastel on beige newsprint. However, I was still not happy with the shape and proportioning of the bottom so my third drawing attended this issue. And I was pleased with it. Charcaol on A1 cartridge.

Drawing Glenda on 26/06/2010

Firstly one of three quick poses in which the model, who was new to me, strode forward. This is an A1 conte drawing. I'm not turned on by standing poses very much these days and I don't think the other attendees were as most of them produced quite lovely renderings of the cast iron Victorian radiator which the model was resting against. I ignored the radiator's sculptural properties and attempted to focus on the 'sculptural' qualities of the body of this model herself. This is charcoal on A1 cartridge, and with this drawing I feel I captured many aspects of the character of this particular model.