Figure Drawing

Its a narrow line between fantastical creatures drawn at figure drawing and furries.

Figure Drawing

For a long time I was really frustrated with my lack of ability to draw from imagination. I feel most at home drawing from a model. When I get to drawing something purely from my head I have a really hard time. I was always terrible at drawing cartoon characters. I just could never simplify people enough so that I could make them appealing to look at. I have slowly gotten marginally better at this. Turning the figure's from figure drawing is a way for me to practice both drawing from life and drawing from imagination.

Happy Father's Day

To my father, William J Shaw III, on Father's Day. Thanks for being a great dad, you taught me a lot and I couldn't ask for a better father.

Figure Drawing

Sometimes its more fun to make things up.

Figure Drawing

Figure drawing from the YWCA model sessions:

Melissa

Melissa kindly posed for a quick 20 minute drawing/painting. Drawing people that you know is the most difficult because the pressure to get a decent likeness is quite high. I see her every day so I should be able to ballpark it, right? If it looks off its because she's fidgety, thats my excuse anyway ;)

Figure Drawing

Another round of Tuesday's figure drawing at the Santa Monica YWCA.

Judging from this blog all I do is draw naked people but I swear its not true! One of the reasons I like the figure drawing sessions, though, is that it is like a physical workout. I don't get all sweaty or tired after it but when I am drawing from a model my mind clears up. Its exercise in the way it is pure practice in order to improve, like pushups or running a couple of miles. I know that I am getting better even if its hard to see immediately. Like pushups, there is little thought needed to complete the tasks. It allows my mind to wind down and respond purely to what I see.

figure drawing is a nice thing to do artistically. The objective is simple, draw what you see, (or not!) there is no pressure for it to be good. If it doesn't look good it doesn't matter, there is no supervisor to tell you you're doing it wrong and no clients to please. There is no responsibility for the drawings. If it looks bad I just turn the page and draw another one.

I like the figure drawing sessions because I like the community built around them. Its nice to be in a room with a group of people that have all chosen to be there to do something they all enjoy doing. It gives me an opportunity to socialize with people that I wouldn't normally talk to. Most are older than I am with more than half 50+ and it makes me wonder if I will still be going when I reach that age. I hope so.