Cast Drawing

A short note to get down my first impression of working on a cast drawing in the school studio. I was given “Homer” to do. I finished the Bargue drawing of Homer in May so much looks familiar. My first Ah Ha was how relevant all that struggle with that drawing is.

Yesterday afternoon, I set up an easel and cheap paper to make sketches of Homer. The task is to find a position under the light that is interesting and that I want to use. It requires all the lessons learned in the Tonal studies and Bargue drawings. I call it hugs and kisses. Tonals use underlying geometry, edges, values and seeing things in 3D or “round.” Bargue’s keep you searching for line, large connections that you can connect, so angles and lines: OOOXXX.

Even though the sketches are big picture ideas, it made me pay attention to everything at once and is great practice putting it all together.

As I was getting a critique, I observed that even as I turned the cast, I found lines that connected features and shadow points. I expected the instructor to talk about Greek sculptors. Instead she said: that’s how the body is made. Ah Ha. That is why, yesterday morning, on my first live figure drawing, I found those connections. Wow. Divine.

The other new assignment is color studies. Like the tonals but in color. I haven’t started that. It should be a nice foil for the cast drawing.

Today, I promise myself I will quit holding my breath. By yesterday late afternoon, I had a pounding headache. Oxygen deprivation by my own hand. Deep breaths everybody. Deep breaths.

Namaste, Wilder