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It is time to play with life drawing again... We are going back to a dear subject of mine, the self portrait. Some of our fine models have expressed that they like to see what we look like so I think this if really fun for them and us to do another one! Especially since we have many new members (models feel free to join in too) .
Here is what I suggest... Work life size or larger than life, any style any media. I would suggest if you are going with pencil, to also use a thicker or broader media such as charcoal or graphite stick to help with filling in larger areas of dark along with the pencil. The side of the this kind of media can make beautiful lines. The drawing should be a portrait, from the neck up, from the chest up, or from the belly up. Any bigger you will need to get a really big piece of paper. one last criteria, make sure you place your self in a place. Use a mirror might be fun and I think is the best way to do a self portrait, but working form a photo is ok too. Side note, if you don’t have the room to do a larger drawing, do what you can. Our dead line is 10 Aug, 2003
What to thick about... Don’t forget to think about composition, do you fall off of one side of the paper, two, three? How is the negative space being utilized? What colors are you using? What kind of marks are you making? Is there a feel you want? Will you add someone else into the drawing? Don’t be afraid to experiment a bit.
How to draw a large portrait... You will need larger paper, there are many at art stores that are good. I like arches 90# paper (the soft and smooth stuff) it is heavy and can take a lot of abuse (I even paint on it) 24"x36" can run $4 (usd), canson makes thinner paper for drawing and comes in tons of color, great for pencil and charcoal and runs $1.15 (usd) to $1.55 (usd). Water color paper is also good to draw on. just ask staff at the art store if you are not sure what is right for what you want to do. If you have a drawing board with the handle and built in clips you can use it for support, if not a piece of smooth masonite (sp) board and fold back binder clips works well (I use this) or tacks and the wall works well too.
If anything I said does not make sense, please ask since I often confuse my-self! I think I will post some technique stuff soon too for some of you newer art people (and if you models who clam they have no artistic talent may get the bug to try since trying and practice is the key to doing art work (can you tell I want to convert one model, or even Ben, heehee))
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