Midterm: Reflections on the Semester

So far, this semester has been all about patience.

Coming into the class, I was excited to be drawing again- I had grand intentions for drawing over the summer that just didn't happen, and I was ready to be at it again. Unfortunately, drawing isn't like riding my bike- I can't just hop on after months without riding and find my balance in the first few pedals- and I wasn't able to pick up right where I left off. I was disappointed with my initial skull studies- they were disproportionate, or flat, or something was off. I realized I was striving too hard to have drawing come as easily as it was by the end of last semester, and I needed to slow down, be patient, look, observe, feel, learn. To help, I started drawing with graphite. I worked on achieving correct proportions of the skull's structure, using a combination of cross-contour marks and value to give three-dimensionality (is that a word? oh- dictionary.com says it is. good!), and choosing a single light source to direct my application of value.

Switching to graphite was an interesting compromise- it forced me to slow down and focus, but I also lost some of the depth of my value scale and the variations of line that I so love. Those are easier to get with conte or charcoal, and I think I'm again at the point where I can try transitioning back to those tools.

Overall, I think my proportions and the addition of value has been successful. I still need to watch out, and constantly check, for proportions - especially the outside eye/socket. And I'm still somewhat unsure in adding value, if I'm doing it right. Those are a few things I'd like to improve upon for the rest of the semester. Also, I really want to get back to the loose, gestural style and line quality I had last spring. Maybe I can find a way to incorporate it into the linear mark making and value I've been working on? We'll see. As for other things I would like to learn? I would like to have an opportunity to apply value to other areas of the body, and on models. Spending this extra time on the skull and face have been enormously beneficial though, and I would be satisfied using the rest of the semester to hone this area as well.