It Figures

(DISCLAIMER-Drawings of the Nude Human Figure)

One of my favourite things to draw is the human figure. Most of the time I tend to draw them in a clothed and mostly cartoony fashion, but I took a class on figure drawing during the Spring '14 semester. It was basically a room full of easels, 30+ students and a nude model. When the class started I was incredibly nervous and panicky. But eventually I got better and more confident, and I relaxed. Figure Drawing was the things that got me through losing my dad. The class was the only place I could clear my head and just focus on something else. So when my friend Clay's schedule and mine finally lined up with a local figure drawing group, we had to go.

The first time we went a few weeks ago I was super nervous, but still managed to have fun. I used more pieces of graphite instead of pencils. Quickly I was reminded of the areas I need to work on, mainly hands & feet and proportion of head/upperbody/lower body. For the most part my upper body looked good, but legs were too short, sometimes with too narrow hips. These issues weren't as bad once we got to longer poses, but my 3-10 minute poses all ended up super off. I think my last one turned out the best, and I even had time to work on the face.

A few weeks later, Clay and I went back to the figure drawing group. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go or not, after receiving the worst letter in the mail the night before, but I'm glad I went. Drawing and focusing was really good for getting my mind off my fear of not having a future. This time I didn't add any value to the figure and just focused on getting clean, accurate lines. I feel like my proportion is getting better overall, and I'm just improving in general. Though I did get super frustrated on our 45 minute pose. I drew it too small, so like 2/3 through I drew a second one, purposefully so large only the upper body fit on the page. I used ebony, 2h, and 6B pencils. I think next time I may want to bring marker or ink or something else. I don't know yet, luckily I have time to decide. I'm so excited for the next time we get to go draw.

Thanks for Reading,

Sarah

Photography & Painting

This comes in two parts, Photography and Painting.... With a third little snippit of rambles at the end. Remember, you love me anyways, quirky is more fun then dull and boring.

Photography
So, my Digital Camera, Colin, is on his last leg. He no longer turns off fully, so I must pop his batteries after the lense goes back in. He also likes to half turn off after every few photos. This leads to missed shots and corrupted files. Needless to say, I'm saving up for a camera (who wants to get me a Nikon D3000? Pretty Please with Cherries). Until then, I will still use Colin when I'm at home, and mum's camera. I've a horse show to shoot the 11th, so I'm getting to know hers better. (I've named it Harriet, since she never names anything of imporance like she should.)
Not only am I using Harriet, but I'm taking this as an opportunity to really dive into the world of film. So, I'm on the hunt for film cameras and film, both expired and not. I've two of mum's three film cameras (neither work, but I still love them and will name them,) my original 110 Crayola camera, some random pink one I was given as a secret santa ($5 or less....), and until I get a working 35mm of my own, my Grandmum is letting me borrow hers (I've named her Francine.) I've been pretty much searching through the house for film (I've 6 expired rolls, one being in use ATM), and single-use vacation cameras. I've a friend who is willing to let me have a few that she got for free. If I didn't already have a fru-fru pet name for her, I'd give her one now. I just wish I could Pay her back.
Anyway, below is a picture of my current collection of film and cameras (plus you can see the slip from Walmart, I dropped off a roll today, my coin jar, my digital camera case, and my jar of Marmite). Then, on to painting.

Painting
So, today after I took Francine for an hour and a half walk outside, I decided to schlepp all of my paints and canvases and boards outside. Lots of spazzing and flicking, messing around and a little bit of trying to make something that doesn't suck. Really, I've no niche, I've no real skill at painting. So, I'm pretty much just messing around and trying to figure out what I'm gonna want to practice over and over, to be good at. Any suggestions are TOTALLY loved. Fo' Sho'.
Oh, and a random blue leaf-ed tree that I painted. Why....? I dunno.

So, now, random spazzing.

My camera is dying. My Zune, Ronaldo, is going as well. I've the worst timing ever. Marching band is coming up, as well as school. I need to get a job. Damn. Okay, I'm done complaining.

In other news that won't make sense to you, but I'd like to get it off my chest. I tried. I'm not sure if it was bad timing on my part, or if my efforts are in vain, and that's to hard to admit.? I'm to impaitient. Grrr, Arggg. Imma go sleep or something? I dunno.

With love,

Sarah