Finish this or not?

[Patricia Joyce]

This was great fun to draw. It was only a 25 minute pose and I have never been able to get so much information in one drawing. And it was the first time I used color (pastel pencil) instead of graphite. I was really jazzed when I "found" the core (?) shadow running all done his side. As always in this class, the lighting was very poor but I could pull some shadow out because of my position to the model.

I wonder if I could take this drawing further without the model. I know the legs are not very good. I only did them in about a minute. The leg on our right was actually behind the leg of the chair which I intended on drawing in. Suggestions would be great.

Thanks!
Pat
ps sorry the image is kind of blurry

[Rob Sullivan]

Nope. Stop right there, young lady!

You did some fine work in a short space under not-so-great lighting, so give yourself a round of applause and perhaps a scoop of rocky road and chalk this one up as a victory. What you need to continue with is remembering what you did right and how it felt. Bring that to the next session.

When I teach portraiture or figure drawing/painting and see students still hacking away when the model is on a break, I remind them how working from memory is waaaay harder than when the model is actually there. It's hard enough when the model is there, anyway... why wrack your brain?

Again, nice job, Patricia. Just watch that thickness between the front and back of the knee next time. And after the next time - post that one, too!!!

[Patricia Joyce]

I've been given permission to eat Rocky Road Ice Cream!! Whooaaa!!! That is better than a star on my forhead. Seriously, thanks, Rob for the great compliment. I am flattered as I know you are a teacher.

Tonight, another class. I hope to have that cool experience of "getting it" again!!!