Today, from the front.

Whereas last week she was facing away from me.

Changes through the morning of 5 drawings

These are my five drawings from the five 30 minute poses at 'Extreme Poses' in Stroud. We had a half hour coffee break after number three. There are so many variables which can influence the outcome of a particular response, none less so than the pose itself. But in noting any differences or any evolutionary changes as the processes followed each other I have focussed on the mark-making. I intend to return to this posting later and indicate my findings once I have had chance to take a good look at the drawings.

Making connections

It can be considered to be very pretentious to place one of one's own drawings alongside the work of a recognised artist, but when a connection is made between the two a sense of wellbeing, fulfillment and confidence arises. My drawing is a very early one perhaps eight years ago.

Recalling images

Every so often I become conscious of a connection between a drawing I have made and some recollection of a previous experience. Then going through a website or perusing one's personal archive of images up pops the analogy. Now the debte here is about the relationship between previous experience and original ideas. I know that my engagement with a pose is the start of a rapid journey into a personal meditative world suspended from the realities of few moments ago, but a world that must be partly made up of recorded images which are subconsciously drawn upon.

My anagramatic process

I came across Hans Bellmer many years ago and this quote helped explain the deconstruction and consequent reconstruction of a pose that had become a recurring theme in my life-drawing. The model in my drawing is Penny who was one of the first and who I regularly modelled at a number of venues, and perhaps the most inspirational. In retrospect I can see that my process selected her key characteristics, then by separating them I am drawing a greater attention to each of them, but I also feel that the essence of the whole pose has been highlighted, I.e. the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This drawing is Penny. And those who know her recognise immediately her iconic and particular features, and her gestural presentation.

At 'Extreme Poses' again on June 21st

When Paul Fowler sets up a plinth in combination with the harness of suspended straps there is a greater opportunity for the model to create a diverse range of poses. So the third drawing is from a pose fairly rare at 'Extreme Poses', quite simply 'a seated pose'. But I do believe that one responds quite differently to a conventional pose when it is presented within the ambiance, philosophy, concepts and approaches of Paul's unique life-drawing studio. These days I rarely do whole poses, and seem to focus on hands and feet quite a lot, so exploring the back only is rare. I recall doing a few in my early days using pastels. In fact the first drawing I sold was of the model's back and she liked it so much her mother bought it for her.

Drawing Andrea on June 19th in the Wye Valley

At the start four 5 minute poses in the first two drawings. Then on to the main pose which we wll be returning to next Tuesday. I was attracted to engage with the foreshortening of the lower right leg. Then for the last 20 minutes with a chunky willow charcoal stick I wanted to engage with the full pose. The angular forms were mapped out, then rubbed back with my hand, then mapped out again, then rubbed back, then mapped out again, each time getting nearer and nearer to a representation which I felt held the essence and the proportions of the pose. The side of the charcoal stick then recorded the contrasting tonal points.

At 'Extreme Poses' on June 14th

The first drawing stands out for me. Minimalist, considered, confident, and I believe presents a synopsis of the pose by selecting the main elements.
Two-handed, fine-liner pens, on A1 220gsm cartridge paper. From a 30 minute pose.

Today, a more flowing expressive line.

Some diverse explorations

A cubist and morphing delight

Third of three sessions this week

Second of three sessions this week

I am drawing Paul at 'extreme poses' in Stroud.