Questions about W. Whitaker's sight demo

[Elizabeth Schott]

I couldn't post this under his thread in the demonstration area, so I am hoping he will see it here, or perhaps some others could shed insight to these questions. Thanks!

William, thank you for your sight size demonstration , I was wondering if you could clarify a few things for me?

I know you work usually on small canvas, so how far are you usually from your model to get the image so small?

Do you use what I have heard referred to as an "envelope" (very loose outline of the full subject, then broken into smaller loose outlines, the artist Anthony Ryder ( Anthony Ryder's website ) then uses the "contour" line to rough in the body image) when you first start your composition? Or do you start with a specific part of the head, i.e. the eye?

Is this a skill that is just acquired through years of practice, meaning getting the elements of the head proportionally correct? I know I have told you before I can get a straight line off using a ruler!

This may sound like a silly question, but I am truly serious here

[Khaimraj Seepersad]

Beth,

I am not William, but maybe this will help you. When sight-size is being taught, you normally have a string attached to a small lead weight. The lead weight functions as a plumb line. The string is held horizontally [thumb and forefinger of both hands] and you extend your arms fully, everytime you use the string. [Most people have a good sense of the horizontal so you don't need a line level.]

Close one eye and sight along the string. Doing this you can place the model where ever you wish. Then just go for the biggest shape. If it is a head do as above, visually touching the top of the head. Then, repeat with the chin. Your canvas should be placed so when you visually touch the top of the head,you are also passing the string in front of your canvas.

Normally, with a just a head, the canvas is placed alongside the head. Set someone up in reality and see what happens. Sight-size should be learned at an Atelier, as there is much more than what I have written for you.

Also, depending on the Atelier you attend, the emphasis will be different. For us, it was drawing out of shadows with the correction of shapes, tones and angles. There was no eye, nose, mouth or hair.

Stepping back is to help with the perception of the big shape. Imagine you are seeing through a fog which thins as you walk closer to the object being observed. What would you see?

In the beginning concentrate on just light and shadow. There are no details/information. Your glasses should work just fine as you do this. As you "walk" closer, it should all become rather self-explanatory.

When observing a curve or circle, break it firstly into angles. To draw a straight line without a ruler, simply get some newsprint and charcoal in hand, lightly touch the charcoal to the paper, rapidly draw a long stroke, do this several times. Eventually the hand will accept the training and confidence will set in.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Beth,

You may have missed the response returned after your post. The Demo sections are fully moderated, meaning that no posts appear until the moderator has a chance to read the post and do any necessary change in presentation of the question. Because demonstrators posting in this section are particularly busy and in the future will often not be members of the Forum, we want to be respectful of their time. Therefore, all questions posted in this section will be checked, edited for succinctness and overall benefit for the greatest number of readers. Please sit tight and your submitted post will be reviewed.

Bill,

If you read this, please let this process continue on in the Demo section as previously planned.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Oops! Sorry Cynthia, I did make an effort to find the rules of that Forum, but obiviously did not succeed. That was after the big "duh" of trying to post my response two times!