Vine Charcoal Nude from Life

[Jesse C. Draper]

I'm still working on this, so any suggestions would be helpful.

The last day she can pose is on the 22nd of Dec., so I still have a little bit of time to work on this.

Thanks for your help.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Hi Jesse,

There is the most luminous solidity to her skin in the light. Beautiful shadows, too. Her proportions look convincing. I love this! Is her left arm going to be resting on something?

Alex

[Jesse C. Draper]

Thank you for your kind words Alex.

I don't know how well you can see it, but there are the beginnings of a pillar for her left arm to rest on.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Dear Jesse,
this looks like a very good work to me.
I became addict to charcoal, it is perfect to work in these long dark winter afternoons.
Normally I would use it to practice on edges, especially lost and found edges, which is a very good exercise for painting. I work very much smudging with fingers and try to keep the use of rubber to the minimum.
Here the photo is a bit blurry so i can't really see if you have exploited this media to its full potential. The drawing though seems very well structured and I cannot see any disproportion, well done!
If you have more time you might still push it forward a little, perhaps increase the tonal range and have the darks evenn darker. The line of the spine seems a little too defined, also I think it is always nice to find really straight lines around the body to give it strenght.
Here you can find some examples:
http://www.fineartcommissions.com/ex...drawing_05.cfm
Don't forget to post the final version!
Ilaria

[Linda Brandon]

Jesse, I think you are dong a strong, sensitive drawing and I'm impressed! How big is this one by the way, and can you be more specific about your materials (kind of charcoal, paper, etc.)?

My only nitpick is with her hand on our right. Is she really resting the palm of her hand on her hip (which is hard to hold without getting the arm tired), or is she hooking her thumb on her pelvis to rest her arm?

Dear Jesse,
'Hard not to be impressed w/your academy. 'Student work? 'Couldn't help noticing you're in Utah. Is there a good realist school there? I studied in a (few) situations where we too where required to do nude academies, like the above.
Is your school (if you're in one) related to the former Boston painter R.H. Ives Gammell?
Much Thanks,
a.

Dear Jesse,
'Hard not to be impressed w/your academy. 'Student work? 'Couldn't help noticing you're in Utah. Is there a good realist school there? I studied in a (few) situations where we too where required to do nude academies, like the above.
Is your school (if you're in one) related to the former Boston painter R.H. Ives Gammell?
Much Thanks,
a.

[Jesse C. Draper]

Ilaria,

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate your advice about her spine, and appreciate the wonderful link (beautiful and sensitive drawings) Thanks!

Linda,

Materials:

I used vine charcoal sharpened to a point with fine sandpaper. In the beginning, I used a medium hardness and in the later stages I've been using a very hard charcoal.
I didn't use my fingers or a paper stub to blend the charcoal at all because I wanted to be able to bring back areas with a kneaded eraser.
All the blending in this drawing was achieved with the sharp willow charcoal.
Basically my goal was to fill in all the holes. If I went too dark in an certain areas, or made little dots that were too dark in relation to the areas around them, I would roll my kneaded eraser into a sharp point and dab at the "fly poops" (as Patrick would call them) until everything was more gradual and uniform.


The paper is 18" x 24" white bristol

It must have been uncomfortable for her to place her hand like that-



Albert,

Thanks for your nice compliment. It is indeed student work. I have much to learn for sure.

I am in Utah, and very happy to be here I might add. There is much to learn here and lots of great artists to learn from.

I have been very blessed to have the opportunity to spend some time studying under Bill Whitaker and Patrick Devonas. I can't fully express my gratitude to them for sharing their wisdom with me.


I currently study at the Carl Bloch Academy, which is still in it's infant stages, & I have learned many invaluable things there.

If you are planning to study in Utah, may I suggest Kamille Corry?

She has an atelier in Salt Lake. I've heard good things about it. I might study under her some time in the future. Bill is the one who suggested her to me.

Here is a link to some of her work:

http://www.gandygallery.com/art/Masters/Corry/


Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the painter R.H. Ives Gammell. I shall google him. ;-)