These are pastel on pastel card, about 9"x12" each.
About these:
There was only one model yesterday.
Two Figures is yesterday's model, drawn on top of an earlier life drawing of a male model.
In the comments, we've been talking about influences, conscious and otherwise, in this drawing.
Check out the relevant bit of Botticelli's Venus here.
And the flattened and distorted face Picasso painted here (part of a discussion at Banjo's blog on December 8, 2010.)
And the stark palette of the German Expressionists, in a poster here.
Seated Woman is actually my first drawing of the morning. Very colorful, very classical in shape and pose. Two Figures is, in part, my own reaction to this classicism and high color.
Seated Woman is also my first drawing after getting the thumb on my left hand splinted on Tuesday morning (thumb is sprained, we hope). It is awkward working with a splinted thumb, but much nicer than trying to work without the splint.
Hi Jean..inpsiring..these are both gorgeous..the second one really captivates me..the color energies are marvelous as a whole...I love the vibe and feel to this piece.. and the body's colortone expression is absolutely brilliant!
ReplyDeleteVictoria
Top foto: is that a man on the left? I don't like the way the face of the woman came out.
ReplyDeleteAbove foto: I really like this one. Colouring is wunderful, almost psychodelic!
Btw, PA sometimes borrows her great ideas from a K9.
Thank you, Kiki.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cafe. The face in the top one: two main problems that I see. First, the head is literally up too high; should sit lower on the neck.
Second, too many features crammed into a small space with a large stick of pastel, makes it crude. When I'm up to it, I may well correct these things.
Oh dear..I looked at both drawings and had an idea of how I wanted to comment then I read your response to the work. I'm focused on the top image. It's as if you unconsciously summoned up Botticelli's Venus on the half shell with the sitters elongated neck. I guess I was seeing a dash of Italian mannerism along with a dollop of german expressionism with the the palette.
ReplyDeletePA, it's okay. I said, "may well" because, while I can see what makes it "ugly" I'm not sure about "fixing" it, from an aesthetic standpoint.
ReplyDeleteActually, I was probably more influenced by the Picasso woman reading that Banjo posted, but then, Picasso only took (stole) from the best.
The bottom drawing, all color and classical line, prompted the reaction in the second drawing.
I like the energy of the strokes on
ReplyDeletethese - the second one especially, as well as the solidity of the poses.
Ouch on the thumb! Too much drawing?
Thanks, Katherine. The model was as close to rock-solid in her poses as I've seen. "Statuesque" indeed.
ReplyDeleteNot a drawing injury and not even the hand I usually draw with.
But, still, both hands are normally involved in making art, so I'm slower and have abandoned things, like sharpening, that normally use both hands.
I see the Picasso...
ReplyDeleteJust take Botticelli, German Expressionism, Picasso being Cubist and make them into a life drawing, and this is one thing you might get.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of the Venus until PA brought it up, but I can see it now. (Maybe the model was consciously going for it; her head was sitting up and tilted back on her neck, making her neck seem very long.)
By the way, I look rather nice in a vest. Thank you.
The first is my favorite. So much expression. I've seen a painting somewhere similar to the woman but don't remember. Perhaps a Madonna and Child? Excellent work again.
ReplyDeleteSaw your book. More great stuff. I'm jealous.
Really, Pierre? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery expressive!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Annie.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Pierre--the top one is reminding me of some painting, but I can't pull it out. Also, I find it more interesting than the second one, but I actually LIKE the second one much more. Believe it or not, I do see your point about its classicism. Very elegant, restrained, controlled, balanced, etc. I wonder if the top one, at least by contrast, could be seen as Gothic or naturalistic?
ReplyDeleteBanjo, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think the bottom drawing is very naturalistic--except for color, which is amped up.
I also am reminded of at least one other painting, by the composition of the top drawing, but I need more time than I have right now to ferret it out. (Or even to untangle this sentence.)
Back later.
Banjo and Pierre, I found the painting I was thinking of.
ReplyDeleteKind of a famous one of grandmother, mother and child, by Leonardo da Vinci:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo_da_vinci,_The_Virgin_and_Child_with_Saint_Anne_01.jpg
And another try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo_da_vinci,_The_Virgin_and_Child
ReplyDelete_with_Saint_Anne_01.jpg
I broke the link up; you just need to close the space between "Child" and "_with".
Anyway, it's called the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne.