
Figure drawing artists usually work exclusively from nude models. But this week at Studio b., I had the good fortune of being the only artist. So I had my choice. Interestingly, the model had brought tennis gear, and was planning to use it in during the warm-up drawings — he thought we might like the added purposeful action. So I asked him to wear the tennis clothes and keep the racket nearby for the entire session.
It’s so much easier drawing a clothed model. I can draw the clothing with an extra wrinkle here or there and no one is the wiser. You can’t do that with a nude figure without it becoming grotesque.
The model sat for me for 30 minutes for the drawing at left, and we took a short break, and then he sat for me for another 15 minutes. I like this drawing. I drew the white with Nupastel and the dark values with graphite, on gray Stonehenge.
The drawings below are two of the warm-up gestures, the second one obviously a longer pose than the first, and the third is the top part of the last drawing of the evening.
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Most of my images are available for purchase. Contact me if you are interested. — Joan Vienot