BLOGART Lesson 3

As we get into the next lesson I want to show you a nude study by the 16th Century Baroque artist Carraci. Note the shading of the anatomical form on this delightful sketch. This is what we are aiming at.

We need to look carefully at our grided photo and plot the shadows which are formed by the interplay of light on the body.

Take it square by square and try to arrange the various tones into segments and "islands" of tones.

In the illustration below I have shown the basic tones as plotted. Plotting the underlying shadow construction is a way to resolve uncertainties about smaller details and make the final image look self-consistent.

The use of photographic reference is often criticized or discouraged for its tendency to produce "flat" images that fail to capture the dynamic aspects of the subject. Don't be disheartened as this method will produce a dynamic picture.

Drawing from imagination is often hailed for the expressiveness it encourages, and criticized for the inaccuracies introduced by the artist's lack of knowledge or limited memory in visualizing the human figure. Due to the darker areas of the photograph you will have to make some assumptions. This is where a little knowledge of understanding anatomy and the human proportions is important. In developing the photgraphic image, the artist should focus on the shapes created by the interplay of light and dark values on the surfaces of the body.

Here is a draft drawing that is made in preparation for a planned final image. Studies can be used to determine the appearances of specific parts of the completed image, or for experimenting with the best approach for accomplishing the end goal. However a well-crafted study can be a piece of art in its own right, and many hours of careful work can go into completing a study as in this illustration.

The bath by Edgar Degas is typical of a study which is a work in it's own right.

Remember if you are interested in my classes I am available to give personal instruction in my Prahran studio. You can contact me on 0417 566 276.