meldrum art
I wasn’t feeling very well on Saturday but I was determined to get out of the apartment and meet my life drawing buddies. I just didn’t have the energy to perform well so I said to myself, “Relax and enjoy yourself”. So I did and I actually liked the result. It’s better to try a little than not to try at all.
I went to Basis on Folkkungagatan (147) here in Stockholm, it’s an art school and every Saturday my old gang of life drawing enthusiasts meet and sketch like crazy under the eastern-European guidance of Gabor.
He starts with a 5 minute pose but the rest of the session is 1 – 4 minute poses, everyone is pretty exhausted afterwards.
What’s nice about going to life drawing on a Saturday is that everyone is relaxed and a big group of us go for a coffee afterwards and have a light-hearted post analysis of our sketches. It was the first time for me this term and it was the last session before Christmas. Next year I will be able to join my friends more as my own life drawing class will be on Thursdays and not Fridays as it was this year. I have been pretty tired on Saturday mornings this term because of working late on Friday evenings.
All features sketches here were sketched between 2 – 4 minutes.
Saturday’s life drawing just gets faster and faster. I am enjoying the fact that I am starting to understand that what you do not draw is as important as what you do. All drawings were 1 to 2 minutes long. Sketched with charcoal on A3 paper.
It really is crazy at Basis each Saturday. 1,2,3 and 4 minute poses. One gets through a sketchbook pretty damn quick and I feel I am improving because of it. It becomes very instinctive.
Life drawing at Basis means lots of quick sketches, one is quite exhausted afterwards. I use a half A3 sketchbook each time. It’s very good of course for me, my drawings become more instintive and I have to econemise which my lines otherwise it is impossible to draw much in one or two minutes. The model is one of my favourites, Katrina is her name. Very expressive poses and at angels that make perspective drawing a challenge to say the least.
Sketches from Saturday’s life drawing. Great model with long legs and wonderful poses, I only wish I was in better form. Poses from 30 seconds – 4 minutes. A3 paper.
I have been so busy at work and also preparing for an exhibition. Two big deadlines that are now finished with, I’m so happy to be able to relax again – post some drawings on my blog, go to life drawing and paint for fun. Freedom is heaven.
These pencil drawings are on A3 paper.
I decided to try something different last Saturday, I used my old Chinese calligraphy pen, brand name “Hero” and I used watercolour pigment as a wash. I was pleased with the result although I think I will use my 2B pencil instead of the pen next time. The poses were 30 seconds, 1, 2 and 5 minutes long. Painted on cheap watercolour paper, Calson 200g A4.
Another Saturday and another burst of 1, 2, 3 and 5Â minute poses. The organiser added 30 second poses to the grinding session. He thought we were having to much time with the 1 minute ones! I can see his point though, all you can do is capture the pose, nothing else when time is so short.
