I decided not to complete the class work and homework tasks in a specific order and completed the tasks over a period of four days.
This was the most time-consuming activity of the entire semester but also the most enjoyable. I enjoyed planning my drawings and spending time executing them in a different environment. It was good to use all the techniques learnt in the semester to create these pieces, and focusing on smaller objects for a long period of time to create accurate depictions.
I feel like my confidence in my ability to draw from observation has grown throughout each class and this last session/ homework has reinforced that. Even on the pieces I consider less successful I know I will learn from them and endeavour not to make the same mistakes in future.
28.11.16
Monday
On Monday, I spent most of the lesson exploring the museum and planning my drawings for later in the week; separating exhibits into 'man-made' and 'natural' so that I could efficiently finish all tasks.
Because of this, I only had time (before 4:30 closing) to do two 30 minute drawings.
My first drawing, (1), is a depiction of a hippopotamus skull. It caught my eye as I was walking round and I'm pleased with how it turned out. In hindsight, I would spend more time on the drawing to add more depth. Although, I had to limit my drawing time in order to finish all the tasks. I especially like the teeth I've drawn, but feel like the rest of the drawing is a little flat.
My second is of some baubles in the artist exhibit. They were blue and yellow and I thus regret using graphite to illustrate them. The overall drawing is a little boring and I wish I'd picked something more interesting to draw. In future, I will go with my gut and if I feel a drawing isn't quite working I will start a new one.
(1)
Object symbolising nature - 'Skull of modern Hippopotamus'
Pencil 2B-6B and Rubber.
30 min.
(2)
Object symbolising man-made - 'Melissa Nichols/ Walsall'
Pencil 2B-6B and Rubber.
30 min.
30.11.16
Wednesday
On Wednesday evening I prepared a short list to take with me to the museum on Thursday. I had the whole day free to be there so I thought I could get it all done. Unfortunately, I misunderstood part of the homework! I read task two as only doing one thirty minute drawing, and only realised when I got home that I had to do a drawing for each section!
01.12.16
Thursday
I arrived at 10:30 in the morning and asked If I could draw in the cafe, the waitress said yes and I drew her (Left) as she wrote on her chalkboard. I like this piece because I feel like I captured some movement as well as good light and shadow.
Next, I saw some women trying on the old fashioned clothes (Middle) and asked if I could draw them and they said yes. This was a difficult piece as they kept moving. I had to quickly outline their pose and then work in the outfits, drawing them one at a time in order to fill up ten minutes.
Lastly for (3) I did a self-portrait. I would have drawn other people but there weren't any around at this point in the morning and I thought it would be interesting to do my reflection in a display cabinet (Right). I chose to use the same medium for all three to create a nice composition and I feel that has worked.
(3)
3 Studies of People
Byro, Fine liner and Grey Marker on Tea Stained Paper.
10 min per drawing.
Top Left: 'Cafe Employee'
Middle: 'Girls Trying on Old Clothes'
Top Right: 'Self Portrait in Display Cabinet'
For (4) I started with the left drawing. I used oil pastels and I didn't like using them as I was not able to achieve the detail I wanted to with them. I don't like the piece to be honest and wish I'd used a medium like coloured pencil.
Top Right I drew the barracks set up, I quite like this drawing but I've got some proportions wrong which lets the piece down. Lastly, I drew the horse with the man trooper on it. I chose this because of all the things attached to the horse; turning it into a man-made vehicle rather than a natural horse. I'm pleased with the light and shadow I used here to create tone. I chose the images together because I felt that they all represented the war in the man-made sense and how it affects us as natural beings; our habitat, our bodies, and other natural beings. The composition is set out to look almost like memories of someone and I think it works well.
(4)
3 Objects symbolising man-made
All on Tea Stained Background.
10 min per drawing.
Top Left: 'Model of man holding weapon, checking foot', Oil Pastels
Top Right: 'Barrack Life', Watercolour Pencils
Bottom Right: 'Trooper's Horse' Coloured Pencil and Byro.
For (5) I am really disappointed in the composition. I think it looks messy and my experimentation with colours on the middle and bottom right piece have not, in my opinion, been successful. Although I am pleased with the polar bear I drew, the entire piece looks odd and it is my least favourite. I feel like this may have been due to feeling stressed about time constraints, I was trying to get everything done so quickly that I didn't think as much about composition and this is the result.
(5)
3 Objects symbolising nature
All on Prepared Watercolour Wash Background.
10 min per drawing.
Left: 'Baby Polar Bear', Byro and Fine Liner
Middle: 'Morning Glory Woodpecker Tree', Oil Pastels
Bottom Right: 'Antler of a Red Deer' Coloured Pencils.
I am not massively pleased with (6) either. I really like the poppies in the centre as I think they contrast well with the text background. They also show good shadow and work compositionally. But I feel like the both right and left pieces are dull. If I had made thicker lines or used more colour with those parts of the composition, it may have made for a better overall piece. It may not have worked as I did not do this piece all in one go, I did it at different parts in the day so that may be why it looks disjointed.
(6)
3 Studies of Space
On Collage Background (created using a magazine found in the museum)
10 min per drawing.
Left: 'Street View by Worcester Museum', Fine-liners
Middle: 'We Will Remember Display', Watercolour Pencils, Oil Pastel, Fine Liner
Right: 'Worcester Museum Cafe Archway', Fine Liner, Grey Marker
(7) is my favourite piece overall. I am so happy with how this turned out. I feel like the image goes well with the coloured background and shows good use of proportion, tone, and foreshortening. I think the reason this went so well is because I was sat really close to the model and I enjoyed drawing it. I'm glad I used fine liner to accentuate parts of it and add depth on top of the watercolour pencil.
(7)
Bird - 'Magpie'
Watercolour Pencil and Fine Liner
On Watercolour Wash Background
35 min.
02.12.16
Friday
As I explained earlier in the post, I left the museum too early as I misunderstood the task so I came back on Friday to finish!
For this first piece (8) I chose to do a pile of clothes rather than an individual piece and I'm glad I did. I think it makes for a more interesting composition. I like the way it turned out even if I didn't have time to do too much in the way of adding shade and tone.
(8)
Clothing - 'Clothing Stand for People to Try'
Byro on White Paper Background
30 min.
Secondly, (9), I chose to do a squirrel instead of a larger animal for a mammal. I tried to add a lot of texture and I think it comes across well. I've represented it closely to how it appears. The only issue is I forgot to give it a shadow! This really lets the piece down as it is floating in the middle, although I'm still pleased with the piece.
(9)
Mammal - 'Grey Squirrel'
Watercolour Pencil and Fine Liner on White Paper Background
34 min
03.12.16
Saturday
Unfortunately, I didn't finish my work on Friday due to something personal coming up, so I popped back on Saturday to finish my last three pieces.
Firstly, I drew a bottle. I used felt tip pens as an experiment and I don't like the outcome. The top of the bottle looks good and I feel like I captured the light, tone and texture, but the bottom half looks messy and childish. It was good to experiment but I probably won't use felt tips in this way again.
(10)
Weapon - 'Lee & Perrins sauce'
Byro and Felt Tip Pen.
30 min.
Secondly, (11) I drew a hat. I knew I wanted to draw this when I first saw it as It's so interesting. It's very reflective and has hair flowing from the top which was challenging to draw but really fun. This, along with the magpie, is one of my favourite pieces as I feel I've illustrated the reflection and textures well. I've learnt that if I pick an object I find intruiging, the drawing tends to go better.
(11)
Hat - 'Albert Pattern Helmet, 1850 - 70'
Pencil 2B-6B and Rubber.
30 min.
For my last piece, I chose this sword. It stood out to me because of its lion motif on the handle and so I focused mainly on that part of the sword. The only issue I have with this piece is the reflection of the metal on it is not well illustrated. I found it difficult to do as it was not just reflecting light, but mirroring images and people from around the room. Thus, I haven't quite done this artefact justice and in future would like to look into how to draw objects with mirror properties and practice that before attempting something similar.
(12)
Weapon - 'German Naval Sword, 1945'
Watercolour Pencil, Pencil 2B-6B and Rubber.
30 min.
