Young woman

Kris Coolens · 02-20-2003, 07:11 PM

I made this as a practice on values. I used charcoal on a cheap "paperbag-ish" brown paper (picture shows it rather gray). Unfortunately I don't know the lady

60x45 cm

Kris

Peter Jochems · 02-20-2003, 07:59 PM

Hi Kris,

The drawing is shown a bit distorted in the photograph because of how the light falls on the paper, I think. There seems to be an adequate range of tonal values, although I haven't seen a source photograph to compare. In the darks the drawing seems to be overworked, and it may lose definition there for that reason (but because of the distorted view of the drawing, it's hard to judge).

Those heavy thick lines in the background of the other drawing you posted and those in this one, in the background and the darker areas, are too distracting. I see you even put those thick lines from the background into the dark area of her face. That way you lose sight of what is actually happening or has gone wrong in that area of the drawing. It's like you are sensitively drawing a face or a head and to finish it off you put a lot of those thick lines on the paper.

Trying to keep a drawing 'clean' in that respect and focus on careful modeling of the tonal values of the face would be a better way to study, in my view.

Also, the lines all have the same direction (are you right-handed?) That way the drawing gets a sort of unintended movement or direction in those lines.

Peter

Will Enns · 02-22-2003, 01:50 PM

Kris,

This drawing shows a freshness I can easily envy.

I like the way the dark side of her face is lost to the background.

While there may be a enough imperfections, I can really enjoy the drawing as it is. Charles Hawthorne said: "The most poetic thing ever painted was done by a man striving for the truth: trying to be a craftsman instead of a poet." I think you've accomplished this.

Lon Haverly · 02-23-2003, 03:23 AM

I see where Peter is coming from, in reviewing the lines. However, this drawing has a much more stormy mood than the other drawing, and the heavy lines seem to emote that, with the eye as the center of interest. It does seem to carry you enough to make you not notice the background. I like the drawing, and am an advocate of the use of lines as tools of expression. This is a very expressive drawing.

Why the paper bag material? What made you select that medium? Have you used it before? How do you like it? It has an interesting texture. It won't yellow!

Kris Coolens · 02-23-2003, 06:48 PM

Hello Will,

Thanks for the motivating critiques!

Peter, Lon,

I know there are a lot of stripes. First of all, if you notice the parallel, fine horizontal lines, well, that's the texture of the paper. Second, I must say that the quality of the picture isn't very good. I think my lens went a bit crazy over all the stripes it had to deal with. And third, the heavy lines of the charcoal are, as Lon said, to emote, to give a strong feel to it, as I feel her expression by looking in her eye(s).

Lon, the main reason I used this paper was to experiment. I wanted to practice and didn't intend to spend much time on it (which I did). The paper wasn't bad at all to draw on. In fact I was surprised that it went so well. I can't think of any difficulties I experienced, and you're right, it won't yellow.

Peter Jochems · 02-23-2003, 07:29 PM

I personally have a problem when someone says that those lines are to "emote" and to express what you see in "her eyes", when we are talking about a study in values to better your technical drawing skills. I would say: stick to the subject. I feel I have to judge this drawing on how you presented it, that is, a study in values.

Anyway, looking forward to the next drawing you make. Good luck!

Kris Coolens · 02-24-2003, 06:31 AM

I'll keep it in mind, Peter. But as I said, I didn't intend to go that much into details in this drawing. I initially wanted to do a quick sketch to study the darks and lights. But I continued on and on, so I combined it with a sort of expression tryout. But again, that is/was not my main purpose in this one.

Lon Haverly · 03-06-2003, 12:44 AM

Lines certainly have values, and as this drawing is made up mostly of lines, it is relevent to discuss their character when talking about the values of this drawing. This drawing has expression because of the lines.