Saturday 12 October 2024

Wanderlust 2024 - weeks thirty-three to forty - Drawing

 The Drawing theme has been an interesting one, with some weeks I enjoyed much more than others.  

This first week in the theme was about choosing a painting and then removing parts of it to add our own mark, tracing over the shapes.  I chose this Waterhouse girl and kept her head, hands and feet but then added to her sleeves and dress.
Week thirty-four found us drawing with different pencils - H through to 6B in my case, although I used 2B most. We looked at the work of Francoise Gilot, who was a muse to Picasso as well as his partner for ten years.  A blending stump (which I hadn't really used that much before) was used to create the shadows and shading and I was pleased with my results.
I loved using photographs and drawing with a waterproof pen in a loose style, before adding watercolours.  Haddon Hall on the left, my front door on the right.  This was a lesson from Kate Crane, who I am a fan of.
We had to draw a self-portrait in pencil crayon for the following week and I did not enjoy that at all. I don't like seeing myself in photos and then to have to draw myself too - ugh!  I wasn't happy with the end result, so covered it with gesso and then covered that with tracing paper and marks.  It is there on the left hand side, but you can't really see it anymore, which is a blessing!  It's my 'Branwell' portrait (the famous one Branwell Bronte painted of himself and his sisters and then painted himself out. You can see it here.)
Drawing a tree using inks and a bamboo pen and sticks and then adding in crayons was the next week.  Not one of my favourites.
Illustrating a list of things we could choose from various prompts was much more up my street.  We had two colours and could layer them up to add shadows as needed.  
We gathered leaves and flowers from our gardens, or went on a walk and then used repetition of shapes in different sizes to create these botanical-looking things. It was all about being loose and not over thinking.  I like the swirly background I made.
The final week was the 'Artful Musings' where an artist talks about their life and art.  They usually show a piece of their art which can be used as inspiration.  However, this was botanicals again, so I decided to keep with the drawing theme and try an exercise from Sketchbook Revival this year.  We used a viewfinder (2 x 2 inches) to locate interesting images and text from a magazine and these were cut out and stuck onto the journal page.  We then turned the page upside down and drew what we saw.  We could then add colour to the images. It was very freeing, as I was looking at shapes and lines in the images, so didn't get hung up on trying to make the drawing look like a coat or whatever it was.  
Here it is the right way up. 
We now move to the final theme this year, which is Alternatives.  We shall see what that brings...

6 comments:

  1. I avoid photos of myself whenever possible and even if I could draw would be very reluctant to try that one. I really love that your love of the garden inspires your art work as wll.

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    1. Thanks, EC. I do enjoy seeing artists' self portraits but do not enjoy my own at all! Unfortunately, self-portraits in different styles/materials keep coming up during the courses. Perhaps a collage one (and therefore a bit more abstract) might be better? I shall bear that in mind for next time.
      The garden is a constant inspiration, as is nature generally. I shall be out there later today - lots to do to prepare for winter.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. How absolutely fascinating Ellie ... your drawings are just wonderful - I would be lucky to be able to draw a stick figure!!! I would hate a self portrait just as much as you do so I think I would've covered mine up too - that is a very creative way you have done so!!!
    Have a lovely week Ellie ... its Monday morning here. xx

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    1. Thanks, Julie. I enjoyed doing some of these very much, others less so. I was pleased that I had a go, even with the self portrait. I was even more pleased that I could cover it up again!
      Have a lovely week too.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. I love your door pictures they are wonderful, as is your own front door. As you know I always love these posts, your process is so interesting to me and so inspiring. I have bought myself a copy of the Kate Leach book you recommended recently and am really looking forward to using it as inspiration.

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    1. Thanks, sustainablemum. It was a real surprise to me how much I enjoyed the door pictures. I think partly it was because the emphasis was on loose drawing and painting, so I didn't have to aim for perfect. I think too that I am more confident with watercolours, which also helped.
      I hope you really enjoy the book - there are so many projects I have earmarked to try, I just need to make the time to do them!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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