3rd Shell Project

This past week our third shell drawing was due (out of class assignment). 

This project was definitely a learning experience for me, having never worked with the medium of ink before, as stated in a past blog. It was beneficial to experiment with its qualities before I began work on the final piece. I found I really enjoyed the uncontrolled aspect of absorption and the different colors that appear by revisiting portions with a wash. There is an element of control but there are little moments throughout the piece that could only occur by chance (as stated earlier) that I am really happy with. I am most happy about the area where the larger lip meets the first spiral. I need to work on the opening of the shell because it comes across as being a little flat due to the heavy outline. In the next piece I will need to be mindful of outlines as well as working from a new perspective.  

This past week we had the advantage of working from a male model. It was beneficial to see the differences between the male and female form, for instance the male hips appear square and are set perpendicular to the ribcage. In contrast the female hips are tipped slightly forward and appear more rounded. The male also had a pronounced muscular system, which in all honesty was hard for me to depict. Due to the fact that I have been solely drawing the female form in the past few weeks, I had gotten used to seeing a long and lean muscular structure. Viewing the male model I could decipher the fleshiness of the muscles, but when I tried to draw them a bulky quality came across. I need to practice drawing the male form. 

 

Ink Shell:

Last class period was more exploratory than usual because I was trying a new material; Ink. The study of the shell in charcoal was done first and is only about a half hour drawing.  Then I spent time exploring Ink and it’s qualities. I have enjoyed this process because there is an element of chance, depending on the amount of liquid used. I usually have a very controlled style of drawing but have always appreciated the sketchy quality a drawing can have and with this drippy medium I have no choice but to be more gestural. I think I will continue to use this medium. 

In the past few weeks we have concentrated on the lower limbs of the human form. We were to sculpt the lower leg muscles on to our mannequins and then use this new visual knowledge while drawing. Once one has an understanding of the muscles that make up the leg, it becomes much easier to draw it.  I can see now how the thigh protrudes forward and tapers in towards the knee and then the calf extends beyond the knee joint in the opposite direction (dorsal) and tapers towards the ankle. 

More recently we have done a longer study of the foot and ankle.  I spent a lot of time trying to figure out toes because there are so many different planes on one toe it can be confusing.