Here's last night's most successful figure sketch translated into a Japanese woodcut-style image via Procreate app on iPad. I had a lot of fun working on this print. It's very loosely based on a print by Ishikawa Toraji that I found in Modern Japanese Prints 1912-1989 by Lawrence Smith, a book I've come back to… Continue reading Last Night’s Figure Sketch
Category: Drawing
How I Quick Sketch
Above is the last drawing at last night's quick sketch session at the Palette and Chisel. In this post I'll describe how I create a drawing like this using my evolving procedure for half-hour quick sketches from the model in charcoal. My materials are: 1. 18 x 36 inch Strathmore Drawing Pad (80 lb. off-white… Continue reading How I Quick Sketch
Curves, Blocking, and Values
The following are Ideas about how to draw that I'm just becoming acquainted with. I put them to use as much as possible when I draw, but it's a struggle especially the concept of making up my own light. In general, I use the light I see which at this point I can modify somewhat… Continue reading Curves, Blocking, and Values
Never Give Up
Two drawings from last night's quick-sketch at the Palette and Chisel. I was tired: I get up in the dark and travel over a hundred miles to make it to the morning session and now it was dark again after a long day in Chicago and the model was late for the evening session.… Continue reading Never Give Up
Shadows
From “The Practice and Science of Drawing” by Harold Speed: “Nothing is more awful than shadows darker in the middle and gradually lighter towards their edges. Of course, where there is a deep hollow in the shadow parts … you will get a darker tone. But this does not contradict the principle that generally shadows… Continue reading Shadows
Backs are tough
My last drawing today was this back study from a posespace.com photo. Luckily there wasn't too much going on other than some suggestion of scapulas (scapulae?), the spine, the sacral triangle, and a couple hips. I've seen well-developed guy's backs that would drive you crazy with all the lights and darks. I'm using vine charcoal… Continue reading Backs are tough
Avoiding the Christmas Blues
I woke up with one of the worst cases of the Christmas blues I've ever had. I often get down around the holidays, but it usually goes away on Christmas Eve. I suppose it's because I know it's almost over. Some of it has to do with being lonely as a kid at Christmas because… Continue reading Avoiding the Christmas Blues
What I Do When I’m Too Busy to Draw
Because I'm working a seasonal job this year, lately I haven't have much time to draw (or blog). To make up for it, I've been rereading Robert Beverly Hale's “Master Class in Figure Drawing” on my breaks. I also have audio copies of his 10 lectures that I listen to on my 40 minute drive… Continue reading What I Do When I’m Too Busy to Draw
Got My Charcoal Working
After much searching and experimentation, I've found a good working combination, using compressed charcoal on Strathmore #400 18 x 24 inch paper plus a really hard eraser. I've been forcing myself to get the whole figure down in one minute before refining. This drawing is 25 minutes, the longest I can handle without getting bogged… Continue reading Got My Charcoal Working
Charcoal from Photo
My first charcoal drawing from one of my own photos! I've been doing a lot of copying from Internet photos—a lot of nudes from the site http://artists.pixelovely.com/practice-tools/figure-drawing/ for quick sketch practice, and some figures from Garry Winogrand photos. Copying the Winogrand photos gave me the idea that maybe I could use my own photos. I… Continue reading Charcoal from Photo
Ken Crocker Artist 