Apologies that I've not replied to comments this week - it's been a little hectic to say the least. But as always I've read and appreciated every single one especially the kind observations about my drawings... unfortunately my tutor didn't agree! My tutorial started with "
Your drawings are alright but you're a bit outline obsessed... they don't give any information..." There followed quite a lot of "Art School" speak about mark making, energy lines, opinion lines etc. after which I felt somewhat battered and deflated so say the least! But I've come back fighting!!! On reflection I do know what my tutor was trying to tell me and I can appreciate that the whole point of taking the degree is to move on and learn... not just to produce several pages of "
nice drawings in a sketchbook." So there was nothing for it but to return to the lovely Matthew.... and instead of this...
There is this.... (nice bum!)
And I've moved from this....
To this....
And then feeling brave, and given that none of my men would pose in the alltogether I tried a more familiar subject and went from this...
To this... (yes, it is me!)
I think I need a lot more practise but I hope I'm starting to cotton on to what I'm supposed to be doing!
Anyway... moving swiftly on...
Julia of
Marmaladekiss is hosting a seed swap on her blog and there is still time to join in.
I'm taking part and I plan to give away some of the seeds from these lovely yellow chillies.
Toffeeapple gave me these seeds last year and I've grown about ten fabulous plants on my windowsill... it would be good to share them!
There is this.... (nice bum!)
And I've moved from this....
To this....
And then feeling brave, and given that none of my men would pose in the alltogether I tried a more familiar subject and went from this...
To this... (yes, it is me!)
So I have to stop calling your work 'edgy' now then?
ReplyDeleteI think your drawings are wonderful and I wish I had your talent, however you know the saying practice makes perfect and I'm sure you won't mind drawing Matthew again and again!
ReplyDeleteAnthony has grown some chilli plants but unfortunately he hasn't had any chillies.
Gina ... erm .. I think you have castrated that man!! (trust me to notice details like that! teehee) xx
ReplyDeleteGina, funny how art is subjective, I prefer your first lot of drawings, but any excuse to draw Matthew again and I'm happy to look at any further drawings of him you may care to show us ...
ReplyDeleteYour yellow chillies are amazing!
If your tutor thinks your drawings are only 'alright' I dread to think what she'd call mine!
ReplyDeleteGood on you for starting again though.
There's some who think it's rather rude
ReplyDeleteTo gaze on people in the nude.
Your people don't have heads, I see
But even so, it's clear to me
The last sketch, I am certain sure -
Is you - I recognise your jaw!
Incidentally, were you chilli?
Gina, as a layman I think the first portraits are far superior to the second ones. I guess that's why I'm a property manager.....
ReplyDeleteI think your sketches are great, particularly the top charcoal, it has a bold, energetic feel about it, looks like you enjoyed the medium.
ReplyDeleteI love your self portraits, I should get you to draw me!?
ReplyDeletexxx
I suppose your tutor is encouraging you to look and look and look again. But he/she sounds a bit harsh and more power to you for rising to the challenge. I can see that in your second attempts you are actually exploring the shapes with your eye and your pencil, a bit like contour drawing. I would say you have a good eye and both sets of drawings have lots of energy. Did you know that if you draw a line to describe the limits of an object but make it a broken line the brain will fill in the gaps and the drawing becomes more lively. (Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs).
ReplyDeleteI would agree, very nice bum!
i am so impressed with your perseverence. your ability. your honesty. your talent. what a treat for your readers to see the movement through the exercises.....
ReplyDeleteI am with other commenters, I prefer your original drawings.You should have asked him to show you some of his....drawings I mean! One mans meat is another mans gravy.
ReplyDeleteOh - it all comes flooding back - the first (all day) life drawing class at art college. Roland, the tutor, was silent for about an hour. He prowled around behind us, sucking air through his teeth and grunting. Then he bellowed in his rough Belgium accent, "NO_ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY"RE ****ING DOING!!!!! ****** LOOK!!!!! FOR ***** SAKE!!!!"
ReplyDeleteMost of us were reduced to tears at the end of seven hours - even the boys with mohicans (yes it was the early 80s).
By the way - Roland became one of our favourite and most respected tutors. Your tutor is a pussy cat by comparison.
I like both the before and after drawings - but you've obviously done more thinking and looking for the second ones.
Celia
x
I grinned my head off at the tutor/student conversation. I handed in some work and had it looked at from over the top of glasses and the tutor said: "We KNOW you can do that sweetheart, now what else can you do? Hmmm?". I harumphed home and slammed around a bit, but actually, on reflection, she was right. It's an amazing journey........ :O) x
ReplyDeleteI think your sketches are great with outlines and without, and yes it is a nice bum! As someone else said I'll be happy to pass comment on any more sketches you want me to look at. I cant draw but if I lived closer I'd be happy to come along and observe your life drawing class!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGina,
ReplyDeleteWell done, I think your drawing is coming on really well.
I did enjoy our cup of tea with Mary. I shall have to tidy up my work room.
See you tomorrow at the induction day.
Love Jenny
Oh well, I like the first ones best too! I like minimal lines. the others are pretty fab too though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a feeling of deflation you must have felt, but I'm pleased that you have taken the right attitude and will now 'sock it to them'. Both types of sketching are great by the way.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased to see that the chilli plants have produced for you. My cleaning lady managed to murder mine. I know I'll have some seeds around somewhere to start again.
brave lady!! Posing in blogland. I could never get my head round life drawing, I thought it was rude to look! These are really, really good, your first attempts wowed me never mind the second ones.
ReplyDeleteYour drawings look excellent to me - I've seen ones not as good in books on how to draw. I do think some tutors are rather bruising in their comments, but I suppose they must draw out as much skill from you as possible and not allow you to rest on your laurels! I wonder if your model realises he has respectable ladies (some quite old!) admiring his nice bum!!
ReplyDeleteOooh you are brave! These tutors can be so crushing, but I suppose it's all to make us look, look and look again, and then actually SEE.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has never been able to draw, I am still, and always will be impressed by your artwork! Lucy xxx
ReplyDeletewow, I love your life drawings - both before and after. It's a tutor's role to push us to try new techniques and see things we'd not otherwise have thought of - it often makes for work that you're really pleased with in the end, even when you get a bit demoralised along the way. Life drawing was never my forte - I could never get anything in perspective which made for some rather amusing sketches!
ReplyDeleteGina - I think both the before AND after pictures are just lovely. You're so talented. Keep up the great work. x
ReplyDeleteI think you have loosened up a lot in your second sketches Gina. By the time that tutor has finished with you, you will end with work at the Tate! You are fantstic.
ReplyDeleteI think ALL of your drawings are brilliant, Gina! Well done you for taking your tutor's comments and giving it another go.
ReplyDeletexxx
Beautiful drawings Gina, i remember as similar conversation with a tutor about sculpture/wood carving! painful but enlightening. Jane x
ReplyDeleteWow, Gina! I'm impressed...and I actually really like your first drawings too - but it is all subjective. You're making me want to go back to life drawing classes - for artistic reasons, of course!!!
ReplyDeleteJust to say thank you, lovely lady, for your 'In Print...' comment. xxx