Making a Body of Work
We are asked to experiment and be bold and let our intuitive and emotional involvement influence our approach to this final body of work. Most of all we should let our ambition roam free and enjoy ourselves.
For the most part, I am going to be working in my sketchbook but paying attention to the quality of my drawing to make sure basics are observed - observation, scale, proportions and how light falls. I think I have been of the opinion that the sketchbook doesn't really matter but it does. Sketching doesn't mean work can be sloppy. Sure mistakes can and should happen but not as result of sloppiness. I have been guilty in the past of not correcting my work as I go and feedback shows that progression hasn't always been as evident as a result.
Over the course of this Unit, a recurring theme is that I have work to do in three main areas – observation, anatomy and proportion. I will also add an additional one and that is my ability to draw parallel lines that are not ‘on the wonk’.
Straight parallel lines
I spent a few hours in the studio yesterday looking at my drawing technique. I have noticed so often, particularly when drawing architectural elements either interior or exterior, I have a tendency to draw my straight lines all slanting down to the left, or up to the right depending on your point of view. However when I am drawing, it doesn’t feel that way.
I spent maybe 20 – 30 mins drawing straight parallel lines but wasn’t really making progress. Frustrated, I turned to YouTube for help.
I already had a suspicion that that way I was holding my pencil was part of the problem. I currently hold my pencil for drawing in the same way I would hold my pen for writing, low down, firm hold by the nib or point. I also rest my forearm on the paper, particularly on the drawing board and pull the pencil down. This has unintentionally meant that I draw from the wrist as a pivot and I think in part this is why my lines come inwards.
Ways to hold a pencil
Found a video on YouTube where the presenter offers four different methods of holding the pencil specifically for drawing. This will take time to practice and decide on which suits me but was a good first experiment.
- Overhand
- Underhand
- Tripod
- Brush
Overhand and Underhand enlisted a similar grip between index finger and thumb making movements from the shoulder with the wrist more locked.
I really enjoyed both of these methods and the unexpected advantage was that drawing this way forced me back from the page so I had a much better ‘overview’ so could see mistakes better as they were happening.
Using the Tripod grip, more how I currently hold the pencil, is still relevant but more for detail. I now realise when using the Tripod grip, I am much much closer to the paper so there is no overview and I feel has been a major factor in the areas I need to correct in my drawing. Feel like this could be a major breakthrough.
Last but not least, the Brush method. Similar in grip to Tripod but held much further back towards the end of the pencil shaft. Much looser lines using this technique.
A couple of days ago I copied an image from a magazine as I was thinking about drawing Home. When I finished I realised quite how wonky the whole drawing was.
First drawing from couple days ago. As you can see, top lines slope downwards and verticals come in from the top. I never notice this as I am drawing.
Second attempt using mixture of overhand and underhand grip.
Perfect it's not for sure but definitely better. What I hadn’t expected was by simply changing my grip, how far back it would force me from the paper. I have gone from resting on the paper to being literally at arms length. This should surely help me see problems as I go.
I switched to charcoal as wanted to add depth to the drawing. Lost some of the line straightness but enjoyed being quite free with the willow charcoal stick.
As mentioned, these are far from perfect but confident in the direction this simple alteration is taking me.
Home is definitely a theme I wish to explore but what exactly is Home. As soon as I read the brief I knew what my theme would be and so the gallery above is a selection of sketches from the area I live in, my studio space in Margate and the interior of the home we live in including Dolly Dog. At this stage my brief is too wide and already feeling overwhelmed with it. Feels more like a final year project rather than where I am at.
I spoke to my tutor and as a result I am going to simplify my project and work purely within my own home space.
Working predominantly with Faber Castell Polychromos colour pencils, I will work within each room of my home that I share with my partner Sallyanne and Dolly.
It's perhaps a good time to stop and look. In March 2023 we largely completed a one year restoration of our 2 bed flat in Westgate-on-Sea and the process took it's toll. At times it felt like we just wanted to get if finished and lost some of the joy o f what we achieved along the way. We took a pretty tired and unloved space and turned it into something quite special.
We agonised over decisions with each electrical point, kitchen cupboard, radiator, kitchen configurations, wall colour, floor covering, lighting choices and it was worth it but towards the end we were exhausted and really suffered with decision fatigue. We're not done yet, we still have few bits to do, pictures to buy and hang but now is probably time to spend some time enjoying each room and our home as a whole.
8th August 2023
Change of way of working today. Been working in my sketchbooks creating a drawing per page largely but it has been time and energy consuming drawing larger sketches that may or may not be used.
Have dug out the little viewfinder I used in earlier exercises and decided to simplify the initial sketches. Think its definitely the way forward for me to work out composition and getting more sketches in each day.
These were a little small but proved the point enough for me to want to carry on this way at the initial stages.
Quick sketches like this have allowed me to work out sizes and compostions and make changes as I go. For example the plates on the drying rack were too small so overlaid larger plates for when I come back to maybe draw it again as a finished piece.
9th August
Working at A4, I wanted to get as much detail of the multitude of lines that make up a sash window and the architrave that surrounds it. Was happy with it but at end noticed the dog leg lower half on right. Still gives me a good sketch thought to potentially work from later.
Spinning on the position I was in for the window, I faced the plant and picture frame we have on the half landing. Ok as a sketch but accuracy lost again. Not good enough.
10th August
Really pleased with how the above drawing came out. Scale, proportion and tonality are all pretty nice. Even like that some of my centre marks are visible.
From one I was really pleased with to one I should have made more corrections on. Not enough height and generally pretty scrappy. One I will revisit.
11th August
Its kind of ok, not amazing and still pretty scrappy. Worked from photo for this one as not easy to draw whilst laying down in that bath.
Might be some corrections needed above as to stair heights and other bits but generally really like this one. One of Dolly's favourite places to lay down.
12th August
Over the last day or so I have been considering the use of my colour pencils and in particular what colours to use. I am still relatively new to Polychromos pencils so I am going to use a different colour each day to see how they affect what I draw and to potentially make decisions for which to use for final submission pieces. One colour for all or a colour for each drawing. We'll see.
Today I used Flesh, really beautiful colour but certainly on sketchbook paper at least, hard to build up a lot of contrast.
14th August
Time in the kitchen today, sat on the floor drawing washing drying by the window. Used Light Cadmium Red today.
Simpler composition this time - aeropress on my mug and the kettle. Not sure why this composition doesn't quite work.
15th August
Little messier sketch and made some notes. Was reluctant to draw the tv as its something kind of uninteresting but that said as an object, it's an important element of home for me. Health impacts my energy so significantly that I am often sofa bound so boredom has a massive place in my time at home. It doesn't look amazing here but there is a lot of symmetry in the composition which should work.
I drew this for an earlier exercise in Drawing 1 and wanted to revisit it. Not perfect but its got good bones. I like the way the sofa and armchair lead you into the composition.
This is my view in the lounge when I am sitting having food at our dining table. Its a view I really enjoy as it takes me out through the lounge door and onto our stairs and beyond to downstairs. I think this may be a contender for a final piece as the composition leads you out the door and beyond.
Used Madder for the above three drawings.
16th August
Plan was to get a sketch of Dolly on her bed on the sofa. Unfortunately just as I was finished, she jumped off. I'll get her again :-)
Drew my daily ritual of taking medications in the morning and ended up flipping the orientation to portrait as thought the composition looked better.
One of Dollys favourite places is to lay on the half landing just outside the lounge. There is a window down there she can see out of and she can protect us as we sit in the lounge :-)
Really quite pleased with this view from our main bedroom window. Something quite special about living on the second and third floors above the neighbouring trees and houses. Sometimes we will have a seagull sitting on the rooftop to the right of the drawing above literally just feet from us in bed.
17th August
This definitely needs redrawing. Nowhere near close enough to be much use for a future refined drawing.
Today must have been an off day because this is pretty shocking too. Two drawings done, neither much use for anything other than kindling perhaps.
18th August
This one I enjoyed drawing and think I came out pretty close to what I was seeing. Tight to compose through viewfinder but could find placing of main landmarks which helped me get the composition close.
20th August
We have a big pull out sofa chair in our lounge that is red. Neither of us love it but equally we don't hate it either so we still have it. It was left to us by the previous owners. Oddly though, lots of visitors make a beeline for it everytime they come, most notably Sals' mum, Diane. Hence it is now referred to as Di's chair.
There is more outside the window that is unclear but that is more a limitation of space really when working within a 6" x 4" frame for these preliminary compositions.
22nd August
Today is largely about stairs, something we are not short of. Our flat is split across three levels and is also located on the second floor of an old Victorian building.
Hard to use viewfinder here as short on room so missed the higher section of the stairs which are possibly most important as opening them up was something Sal suggested as a way to let more light in from the first viewing of our home before buying it. If this makes the selection, than that needs rectifying.
Not easy to see linework here as used a Warm Grey pencil. Definitely needs much more work and refining but think there is a narrative to it. You can see a door to the flat about and same to the flat below. I like these details of this composition.
This was from a drawing a few days ago and an experiment for final drawings. Hard to determine form sometimes when tones are too similar and noticed that three of the illustrators I admire use line to determine shape and form - David Gentleman, Zöe Barker and Luis Mendo. Will see when I come to refining final image selection if this is something I adopt.
23rd August
Not a view I am very familiar with. It's from an oversized chair in our lounge but not somewhere I typically sit. Strange how there are elements in our homes we don't actually use. Not a fantastic drawing now looking back at it. Don't like much about it at all to be honest.
Staying within the lounge and from the same chair, this is a view to the door that leads out to the stairs. More interest in this composition and happier with it. Not sure it will make final selection but it has it's merits.
Really love this drawing of Dolly and Sal. Strange how we fall into our respective rolls at home - for the most part I take Dolls for her walks and Sal feeds and grooms her. She, Dolly that is, is so food obsessed, she literally runs into the kitchen as soon as she hears the lid of her food box open and then stares intently at Sal until the food hits the floor. Next thing we hear is a burp when she's finished.
26th August
Time to get back to it after a few days of distractions and related fatigue.
As time passes the more obvious opportunities reduce in number and you have to work harder and look closer to find interesting compositions.
Going back to when I was looking for definition of Home, I found a post on Instagram that said 'Home is where you can trust the toilet seat'. That resonated and knew that the bathroom would feature in my selections. Something quite special about your own bathroom.
Hard to use the viewfinder properly here as not enough room so viewfinder was right by my face. As a result I didn't quite fit in the top of the cistern. Drew it in separately, see below, as was an important element I will include in final drawing.
As above, hard to use viewfinder here so kind of roughly marked out composition and refine as I went. Pretty close, some elements need refining but pretty happy.
This composition really pleases me - there is something quite calming about it, think its the largely negative space between the two elements - the taps and the bottom of the mirror.
Green Yellow Polychromos pencil.
28th August
No drawings yesterday as struggling a bit both mentally and physically at the moment with health. However I did note this composition whilst in the bath and came back to it today. Love the geometry of one open door leading off to another.
Some images work better in your head than they do in reality. This is ok but not really knocking me over. Interesting thing to draw though.
It's got legs but not sure it's there yet. Does it need the other two wardrobes framing the chest of drawers? Maybe/maybe not.
My background in photography tripped me up on this exercise. I had it in my head, despite it clearly saying in the description not to, that I needed to produce some 'finished' work. Taking this wrong route really has interrupted what I was doing and caused unnecessary stress. Anyway.
I created an album of all the images created and then, using Adobe Bridge, whittled them down and printed them out as a contact sheet. After cutting them out, I laid them out looking for a narrative and images that needed a redraw before moving to a 'final'.
First thing to do was enlarge one of the selected drawings. After some messing around I found where I wanted to be.
On a lightbox I traced out the enlarged image onto some hot pressed watercolour paper.
Above is the final version or a polished version.
I repeated the same process twice more. Redraw an enlarged version on cartridge paper then transfer via light table to good paper.
Third, and it turned out final, drawing I approached this way. I really thought the angles would create a really cool geometric effect. In reality, it didn't and is confusing.
As I worked, I kept adding the finished images to a wall so I could track progress.
Rightly or wrongly, and again its an old photography habit, I always consider could this be an exhibition, do they hang as a set and are they interesting enough for people to come see. The answer was become clearer that the more I was doing of these, how boring they had become. By redrawing often and correcting as I went and maybe even the subject / colour / tonal choices, these drawings had become devoid of life. They looked really sterile and lost any energy that was originally there in the first sketches.
Back to the drawing board at this late stage felt like a massive backward step but just did not want to continue to refine my drawings in this way.
Not quite sure how I didn't realise it, or maybe I did and ignored it, was that pretty much all of the work I liked and referenced before starting featured line work as well as tone and or colour.
For ease, I took the original drawing to the light table and made a couple of basic traces with pen to test my new theory.
I used a 0.1 fineliner pen for the outlines and line work on window frames.
First monochromatic line work version (r) next to original (l). Think there is definitely more 'pop' to the image with line work for sure.
For the second version, I created a yellow undertone to the whole image.
I then brought in Hello Turquoise for the shadow areas. Small poll on Instagram put the monochrome blue with linework as the clear winner and I tend to agree. May have been fairer to have used the same red across all three but not sure the difference would have been so great.
I also went back to some of the small contact prints I had made and to see if linework would change any of them up for the better.
I only roughly added linework to the right of the drawing but it does make a difference. However line weight too heavy so I need to experiment with what size pen I need and if paper size makes a huge difference to what I need.
With this new realisation, I needed to rethink how I approached what I was doing here.
Sal rearranged a few items in the kitchen and these two cute little guys ended up together. I was at home so had limited pens here so grabbed a fibre tip I had to hand. Line weight maybe a touch heavy but worked out ok I think. Accuracy lost a little again but I'm going to let myself off on this one as it was a part of a larger experiment.
Can't tell you how delighted I am with this one. For some reason the lines help the toned areas stand out more against each other and really enjoyed some colour mixing of pencils before hand to get the colour I wanted for the radio shell.
The difference becomes even more evident when the two ways of working are seen beside each other. Maybe, just maybe, I am closer to finding a working method that I enjoy and produces drawings I love too.
A few days now before hand in and I've been working on the exhibition exercise. I have arranged all my artists images but wanted one more of my own to slot in as well.
I've drawn the tv/fireplace before but only a really rough sketch. Sat with my first cup of tea this morning I decided to have another go. Using a Wolf Carbon 4B pencil on one of the last pages of this sketchbook, I mapped out a loose drawing and think I can do something more with it in the studio.
In the studio I drew it again, this time on hot pressed watercolour 11" x 14". I used a Polychromos Cold Grey pencil to roughly outline all the elements then drew over the outlines with a 0.1 Uni Fineliner.
Happy with the outline but always feels like an uphill struggle from here, choosing colours and getting tones right. However after a couple of hours on this piece, relatively happy with the end result.
