Week 2

I got to have my first experience with drawing a live model this week. As all new things, it was exciting, but also a little intimidating. I was surprised that some of the gestural drawings came intuitively for me, but the longer drawings did not. It seemed the more time I had to look at the forms and try to translate them through onto my paper, the more obscure and difficult it became. Perhaps this is a result of thinking too much, or maybe it's just a normal response. 

We also did gesture drawings in which we only drew the long axis lines. I struggle with this type of gesture drawing because it is difficult for me to see the long axis within some of the forms. I also feel like they end up looking like stick people rather than gestural drawing of a live model. This process did not come as naturally to me as the former gestural drawings, however I think this is the type of drawing that the teacher is looking for. I only hope I get better at finding the long axis and translating it into my drawings. It is supposed to describe the figure and define the pose with as few lines as possible, but mine is certainly not doing that, at least not at this point!

I have also started working on "Sergi" my Maniken. We were assigned the Spinal Erectors, which were extremely difficult for me. I have always been more of a 2-D artist, so thinking in 3-D is a little more difficult for me. I feel like the muscles look flat and mis-shaped, as well as a little atrophied. I spent quite a bit of time on these muscles, but I'm not sure you would know it by looking at them! I do hope I improve with this process throughout the semester. 

Week 1

Continuous Line Drawing, 30 minutes

Tuesday was spent working on shell drawings. I found it interesting to examine the shell and discover its similarities to the human body. The curves, the angles, the points and the smooth surface are all reminiscent of the skeleton, which is not a connection I had ever thought about or observed before. We started class with blind contour drawings. This gave me an opportunity to really study the shapes within the shell without worrying about how accurately I they were being portrayed on my paper. We then drew the shell once more, this time while looking at the paper, but using only one, continuous line. This gave me an opportunity to follow the contours and see the shell as shapes inside a form. This allowed me to draw what I saw, not what I thought the shell should look like. This activity also gave me a chance to really focus on my line and mark making, which is something I think I can improve upon during this course.

Spinal Study, 3/4 view, 5 minutes

Thursday was spent studying the spinal curves. We studied each spinal section individually to define visual landmarks which would allow us to have a reference point while doing our model drawings. It was also discussed that the spine is where all movement begins, so mastering the spine will be the first step to mastering movement in the human body. We then drew quick sketches from the skeleton models from four different angles. The goal of these drawings was to accurately, but quickly depict the spinal curves from the neck to the pelvis. I was surprised to observe how dramatic the curves actually are. One doesn't usually think of the spine as being so curvaceous. I knew the curves were there just by knowing my own body, but I still thought of the spine as a pillar of strength, which to me conjured up images of straightness. Understanding the forms in the spine and its curves will be very helpful in understanding the figure as a whole. 

Introduction

Buffalo, Erica Mathieson, 2009

My name is Erica and I am an art education student. Art is my passion and I can't think of anything greater to do with this gift than to inspire the minds of the young to create art as well. I will forever be a child at heart and that is reflected in my work. I am excited to broaden my technical skills in drawing the human form as it will enrich my life much more than just artistically. I find that drawing the human form, specifically the face, allows me to feel more connected to humanity, both my own and that of others. It helps me to relate to others, as well as helps me to feel as though perhaps I am not as different from everyone else as I sometimes feel. I look forward to what I will learn and feel during the semester to come.

George, Erica Mathieson, 2009

I am also looking forward to this course because drawing is my favorite media to work in. I have always thought in pictures, so drawing comes most naturally to me. I can use my drawing tool as an extension of my self and allow my hands to do the thinking. I do not get the same freedom of expression with painting or other medias, however I do still enjoy working in them.

I am inspired by dreams and fantasy and enjoy incorporating those elements into my work. I create in my art the things I will never get to see in "real life". I feel as though it allows for an experience that both the artist and the viewer get to partake in. I hope to discover how to allow some of that to shine through in my life drawing pieces this semester. 

Surrealism Series, Erica Mathieson, 2009