I took a handful of Cretacolors with me to life class this morning. It proved quite interesting as I wasn't sure which colours to bring and which would be useful. In the end, I found that a colour called Olive Brown was just right for the model's olive skin (as well as my favourite yellow ochre and English red) but I also learned that the Cretacolors are not really soft enough for sessions like this where you need to work quickly. I may need - oh dear! - to get some softer pencils...ker-ching! The drawing is quite pale even though I was trying to build up layers, but as I blended with a tortillon, they just got pale again so it was a race against time to try and get some depth into it. I added the red/pink of the material and instantly regretted it, it looks too feminine and soft to me!
This was looking pretty bad for a time but I'm pleased with how it's turned out. It could do with some depth of colour but I needed time too to make decisions about which colours to use. My usual combo of the yellow and red wasn't working and I thought her skin looked slightly green so I went with that and was surprised that it worked. I didn't resolve the issue I had with the shadow on her left. I tried a few different things but none seemed to be right and it ended up a sort of neutral grey/brown, and quite dull. This morning was the first time I used my easel at the class and I found it really good for being to put some distance between me and the work and see it properly. And I'm also not aching all over like I used to despite lugging it there and back- it's supposed to be lightweight but I think only Arnold Schwarzenegger would agree with that description!
14 comments:
This is exceptionally lovely -
Just beautiful Felicity, just beautiful. You really have those colored pencils working for you.
Nice rendering of the human body. I am impressed with the way you handled the skin tones which gives the figure a "real fleshy" look. This was really done nicely.
This is a really beautiful drawing - as is the other work on your blogs. I'll be back again to visit, and thanks for your comment on mine.
Felicity, lovely gentle skin tone. The simplicity of the view works well with your technique.
Love the hands below, you have captured a special memory.
Felicity....I read your post while the picture was loading and didn't look at it until after I'd read all you had to say....I was stunned to see your picture...it's so lovely and I would NEVER have known you had any problems had I not read your commentary....maybe you can put wheels on your easel??...deni...;)
Felicity - It's nice to see somebody working with coloured pencils in a life class. I think they're very well suited to the task - so long as you have the right ones with you! ;)
If you want some options for alternatives to the Cretacolors, try Derwent "Drawing" pencils - which I've used in class - they have a nice set of colours for portraits and life class. Plus they're nice and soft. however you do need a Derwent sharpener for them as they are big and fat!
Lyra Rembrandt also do a good flesh set and they're lovely pencils to work with.
Simply stunning! I don´t know about those softer pencils... this woman looks soft as a baby´s bum! Can it get any softer? I don´t know how you did it, but she looks alive!
You are amazing! This is so lovely and sensitive and the colors are just perfect.
This is gorgeous, Felicity - there's so uch weight and presence in your drawing. The color is a wonderful addition to your unique, precise style.
I think Nina's comment is spot on, Felicity. I've come back and looked at all these coloured pencil drawings time and again. Then I think, I can't just keep saying: beautiful, stunning, etc. Just don't stop! That's all I ask. :)
Thanks so much for these lovely comments!
Nina, I'd love to hear that in a Swedish accent! Thank you!
Katherine, thank you, I've been back many times.
Robyn, I'll do my best not to stop!
This is beautiful. Great skin tone.
Absolutely beautiful! So soft and feminine ~
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