I'm trying to think

Life Drawing - Week 7 (Don't laugh!)

Yes I know she looks like a mutant pixy with one leg - I haven't got my eye back in yet. Looking back over the life drawing classes so far, this is where we're at:

Since a high point in week 3, the trend has been decidedly south. As I said in week six, I am not a quitter and I will once again walk into the arena of truth, stand at the easelof possibiliy whilst sketching the breasts of frustration. I think the main problem I'm having is no time to practice due to the new job - which is also the reason for the lack of activity on this here blog. Never mind. Laugh yourselves silly at the picture below and let's see how we get on next week.

Life Drawing - Week 6

It's the first post for two weeks and you'd be entitled to think that after the week 5 life drawing wobble (plus a life-in-general wobble) that there would be no more life drawing posts. I may not be able to paint, draw and think like Damien Hirst (famous name drop for search purposes) but I am not a quitter. I got back on my metaphorical donkey and galloped along the metaphorical beach of destiny looking like a proper nana.

So week five was all about tone and light. Every time I mentioned I was doing life drawing to friends who had themselves done some life drawing, the laughter would slowly die down and then they'd ask me if I'd done the thing with the rubber yet. Well, this week it was the thing with the rubber - you effectively colour in the paper with charcoal to create a black canvas and then draw with the rubber, picking out the light in a Rolf Harris / Art Attack fashion. It's a lot harder than it looks. As someone who has trouble drawing with a pencil, drawing with a rubber was slow going. Rub a bit, clean the rubber a bit, rub a bit more until slowly a figure emerges from the blackness. I guess this is what film lighting must be like - finding the light areas, building an illusion from patches of white out of black. I'm not crazy about the results, but it was a fun week.

The Science of Sleep

After a crazy goats cheese fuelled night's sleep - I got up early (for a Sunday) and headed off to the wonderful Hampstead Everyman Cinema (similar to the Electric in Portobello Road) clutching my Free Preview voucher from the Guardian Guide. Much to my surprise, we actually got tickets (the last two in the place), settled down in our armchairs and watched what we've all come to expect from Michael Gondry, a masterful journey through the subconcious mind of both the director and the characters. It's not often I see a film that I know nothing about - but how refreshing to go in with an open mind 11am on a Sunday and have the whole way you look at the world turned on its head. I recommend you just go and see it, don't find out anything about it, just go. This may be a new plan for the weekend - nothing more toxic than cheese on a Saturday resulting in a hazy Sunday where dreams linger all day, followed by a high intensity cultural experience before lunch that results in a flood of ideas for the rest of the day.

Life Drawing - Week 5 Walkout

Last week was a washout due to life overload - builders trashing my flat (and clothes due to lack of dustsheets), a bit of new job stress and a stag do - so that's what happened to week 4. There was a lot of catching up to do in week 5, unfortunately Andy our usual inpirational teacher had to attend a funeral - leaving us in the hands of the kind of teacher that made me give up art at the age of 14. After asking if there were any beginners, she launched into a series of fast poses - a bit like asking someone learning tennis to have a few quick games with Andy Murry. After that barrage, I was disorientated, frustrated and on the road to defeat. We then went to a long pose, and by this time I couldn't make a mark without it feeling wrong - I had the drawing equivalent of writer's block. Teaching is not walking around the room counting down the time left of the pose, layering pressure where there is already enough, seeding doubt where there is plenty and casting a critical eye where one is used to a calm voice filled with wisdom and support. After 20 minutes, I grabbed my coat and walked out - I was furious with myself, but I couldn't stick it out. Next week, it's back on the metaphorical horse and I will be hanging on for dear life until I get my nerve back.