Tredecim

This week was a full week of studying, finals, drawing, etc.  Although busy, I was determined to create quality drawings, as the temptation is to just submit something for the sake of completing the objectives.  Thankfully I seldom take the easy road, for better or worse.  Interestingly the class drew the model in very rapid poses of dress and undress, attempting to capture the movement, and the various nuances of clothing as it falls on the body.  This was very helpful in gaining experience in ones observation skills.  Additionally we had another chance at a long drawing of our figure model.  I took a bit of this time to make any repairs and alterations that were necessary, to my maniken.  There were only a few major alterations that were necessary, however I did manage to complete this, and am relatively happy with the end results.  In general this was a great experience and one that I will value for a long time to come.  I spent a good bit of time working on my final shell drawing, choosing to only use black ink in multiple layers, as opposed to any colored inks or washes.  In this last shell I focused on slowing down, and simply observing the form before drawing.  This proved to be a worth while exercise in observation.  Focusing on applying many subtle layers, forced me to choose more carefully my rendering decisions.  Ultimately the week, although busy was productive and I hope that my skills will only continue to emerge.

Duodecim

This past week our class worked on developing our skill in drawing the human form from the skeletal structure of the skull.  We worked on several long drawings of the skull as well as drawings of the hand.  For the hand drawings, we partnered with another person in class to refine what we had previously learned about the bone structure of the hand.  Though the hand was difficult, each drawing that I drew eventually became better and more informed.  Of course I will need to continue to study as this is something that will take many years to master.  In addition to working on our skulls and hands, we drew the shoulders from the model.  This was somewhat helpful, but I found this challenging as my view continually was obstructed or didn't allow me the proper angle to see the clavicle, and shoulders in the manner in which I would have preferred.

Continuing to work on the shell form, I produced several long drawings, as well as another, my final pen and ink shell.  The process involved in using ink is one that I have found quite challenging.  I actually don't enjoy this process or the aesthetic quality of the ink.  Though I don't enjoy this at this stage, I will continue to practice this technique in an attempt to gain more knowledge about this medium.  Having purchased several skull models, I found that they vary quite a lot in how they are molded, therefore the shape of the skull is radically different from skull to skull.  I am very glad that I have the opportunity to thoroughly study the skull.  I look forward to the continued application of this knowledge of the skull to make better portraits, and facial drawings.  As always this week was filled with a variety of new learning opportunities.  I hope to use these experiences throughout my career as an artist, and art educator.

Undecim

This week we focused on the shoulder blades, and the clavicle.  We looked at the various methods for drawing these components of the figure prior to drawing them from our model.   Working on several long drawings I continued to develop my understanding of scale, and form.   Professor Fichter looked over our manikins and made suggestions as to how to change or fix the problem areas.I had only four small changes to make, however the additional muscles that were assigned are numerous.  I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to finish these by the time classes end.

On Thursday we received an extra week to complete our shell drawings, which most of the students were relieved by however this only meant that I could keep working on the shells that I had already drawn, and that I would work on the manikin again. In working on my shell drawings, I felt that my initial shell drawing was stronger than when I began to add the ink. I found the ink to be problematic.  My shell drawings began to take on painterly qualities more than drawing qualities.  

Though this week was a bit of a struggle for me to maintain focus, I am genuinely looking forward to seeing how all of this knowledge of the figure can be applied into other areas of my art making processes.  I am and will continue to study the figure from anatomy books, and from my manikin.  Finally, it is helpful to look at how other students work, and to see how they resolve certain aspects of the figure.  I tend to struggle to slow down, and my line is generally heavy, therefore I continue to work to lighten my line, and produce a more fluid form, using ideas and processes of some of the other students.  I find that I enjoy lines that have different weight, and width.  This variation brings more life to the drawing, and makes even the contour drawings more life like.

X

This past week we began to draw using charcoal and ink, which I found difficult, yet freeing.  Freeing in that I tend to work with paint more fluidly than the medium of charcoal.  In addition we participated in a field trip to the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, where we were given essentially free reign to wonder about the museum and take in the art.  Of course I went to the Yves Klein exhibit for the 5th time since its installation at the Walker.  This experience was enjoyable, but not very educational from the standpoint of life drawing.  In addition to the Walker, we went to the Bell museum of natural history on the University of Minnesota campus.  This was educational from the standpoint of studying other forms than that of the human form.  At first I drew from the bird form, then from the fox, however this wasn't as challenging as what a skeletal form would prove to be.  I finally chose to draw from the skeletal form of a deer.  I learned a great deal about the reason that deer move the way that they do.  They have certain bones in their legs that I had no idea that they had, which revealed much about their movement and form.  I began refining my drawings of the deer and researching more about the skeletal structure of the deer, in order to better draw the form in the future.  Finally, the experience at the Bell Museum proved to be much more worth while and educational.  I found myself wanting to have more time to simply study the various forms before me.  I intend to return to the deer skeleton as well as other animal skeletons and skulls.

Novem IX

This past week we studied the various bones that make up the structure of our feet.  The various bones are as listed:  calcaneus, the navicular, and the cuboid. The calcaneus bone is also known as the heel bone and is the largest bone of the foot, as well as being the body’s main weight-bearing bone. The calcaneus bone ends in the large, rounded bone that forms the heel and is attached to the Achilles tendon. The talus bone sits above the calcaneus and is the pivot bone for the ankle.

Professor Fichter showed us the three main joints in this portion of the foot. The primary joint is that of the ankle or talus, which is flanked on both sides by the fibula and the tibia. This hinge movement allows the foot to shift up and down and is a major component to the body’s locomotion. Knowing the structure of the foot helps one better understand the overall movement of the foot, and therefore draw it more correctly. 

The midfoot is made up of the three cuneiform bones, as well as the navicular and the cuboid bone. These bones are intricately and irregularly grouped together; this unique interlocking structure helps add to the foot’s solidity. The midfoot is the bridge between the hind foot and forefoot sections and is composed of five tarsal bones. These bones form the arch of the foot, which evenly distributes the body’s weight in much the same way an arch works in architecture.

I learned this week that the forefoot is the most delicate portion of the foot and is  of two different types of bones: the phalanges and the metatarsals. The metatarsal bones are long, tapering bones that connect the cuboid bone and the cuneiform bones to the smaller, more delicate phalanges that make up our five toes. These bones help to define the shape of the toes and ultimately the foot, when drawing.  The main weight-bearing bone of the forefoot is the first metatarsal bone, which leads to the phalanges of the big toe.  

Apart from learning all of the aforementioned, we were also required to continue to work on the legs, and feet of our sculptural manikin.  This was as usual an enlightening experience, and proved to be helpful in solidifying my overall understanding of the mechanics of the feet in drawing.

Octo VIII

This week we continued on our manikins and had continued to draw from the figure.  We spent a good deal of time drawing our gesture drawings.  We also drew two long drawings this week and we reviewed and corrected areas on our manikins.  The week before we built the thigh of our manikin.  I learned a great deal from the practice involving our manikin, however still struggle to understand proportions as I tend to get impatient and push myself to finish rather than choosing to slow down or to stop and simply observe.  I look forward to seeing what can be learned over the coming weeks.

Septem VII

This week in life drawing, was admittedly slow.  I missed class on Thursday and therefore didn't have the extended class time drawing session.  I did arrange time for my wife to model for me, where I could draw for two, 2 hour sessions.  I found that this experience was very beneficial in developing my ability to communicate line and form a bit more effectively.  I have similarly began drawing some portraiture and producing drawings of my manikin in the various stages of the modeling process.  Prior to drawing from my model I spent the usual first 45 minutes or so doing preliminary warm up drawings, focusing on the hips, and quadriceps.  I regretfully didn't have my model positioned in a manner that effectively the front of the leg as I should have.  In future drawings, I will certainly pay closer attention to this.  Finally, I spent a bit of time studying my skeletal model, Yes I have a life size skeletal model.  I really want to understand the whole structure of the figure.  I specifically studied the skull and the hands.  All in all I made this as productive of a drawing experience as possible.