1. I decided to use chalk-pastel colouring pencils (CarbOthello/Stabillo) and a limited colour palette. I chose the chalk pencils because as I was aiming for a line drawing and they offered ease of handling and I could achieve single strokes of strong colour. The colours I used (a dark reddy/orange colour and a black) were deep and dark and robust. I could get a definite line which would stand alone but I could also overlay the black over the red without a problem. They would also be possible to smudge/blend a little and if necessary erase a little.
2. In terms of setting up the composition, I ensured the model was dressed in close fitting clothes and that I could also see parts of the body. I didn't do preliminary drawings as such but I did make a couple of attempts at drawing the model in my chosen pose before I was happy with the result. I had drawn the model so often that I was familiar with my subject, but I did play with the position of the model and the light source - which I placed to the right of the model. I wanted an interesting seated position with the model doing something that they like doing (drawing) and so it had meaning from that point of view. The pose says something real about the model and that was important to me rather than have the model pose just for the sake of the drawing.
3. I lay down a light pencil sketch to get the proportions and shapes in place. My intention from the beginning was to then go over the initial sketch with the red colour - adjusting the proportions as I went along and not worrying about making changes and the initial pencil sketch showing. Once I was finally happy with the drawing I then went in boldly with the black, again looking at the model as I went over the red lines again making adjustments here and there. I saw this process as a way of working over the drawing first using the lighter shade of pencil - then red - then black and each time I could make adjustments to the key lines and improve the drawing. I was not concerned that the previous, less dominant lines, would show underneath - I actually felt it would add a sense of movement to the drawing.
Finally I did add a sense of background and also some of the shadow under the chair in an attempt to 'ground' the image and give it some weight.
This is my image using tone:
1. I did attempt this initially with pen and ink but didn't feel I could successfully pull it off and decided to use charcoal which would enable me to add and remove the medium. I felt charcoal would enable to me achieve the different tones I would need ranging from dark to very subtle and I could depict the softeness of the duvet with the help of a putty rubber.
3. Again I knew what I wanted to draw, I wanted a nude figure and to include fabric. I did preliminary sketches in pen and ink but as I mentioned, I knew pretty soon I would find this difficult to use. I set up the light source and played with the pose to find an interesting but comfortable one for the model and once that particularly enhanced the light and dark.
2. Again I put down an initial sketch with pencil then I built up the image with charcoal pencil, putting in the darkest areas first and blending with a cotton bud. Once I had built up the dark and lighter areas reasonably accurately, I went in with the putty rubber to get more random light effects over the body and the duvet. Finally I used the charcoal stick to give a dark contour outline to the figure as I have seen other artists do and I like this effect. I simply used the side of the stick to put in the wall behind and the bedstead.
1. I did attempt this initially with pen and ink but didn't feel I could successfully pull it off and decided to use charcoal which would enable me to add and remove the medium. I felt charcoal would enable to me achieve the different tones I would need ranging from dark to very subtle and I could depict the softeness of the duvet with the help of a putty rubber.
3. Again I knew what I wanted to draw, I wanted a nude figure and to include fabric. I did preliminary sketches in pen and ink but as I mentioned, I knew pretty soon I would find this difficult to use. I set up the light source and played with the pose to find an interesting but comfortable one for the model and once that particularly enhanced the light and dark.
2. Again I put down an initial sketch with pencil then I built up the image with charcoal pencil, putting in the darkest areas first and blending with a cotton bud. Once I had built up the dark and lighter areas reasonably accurately, I went in with the putty rubber to get more random light effects over the body and the duvet. Finally I used the charcoal stick to give a dark contour outline to the figure as I have seen other artists do and I like this effect. I simply used the side of the stick to put in the wall behind and the bedstead.
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