Week 9 Extra: It Figures (Artistic Nudity)

More puns. Isn't this fun?

Anyway, since there's quite a collection of drawings from my Figure Drawing class this week, they get their own entry. It was a productive week despite some emotional setbacks. Enjoy!

Week 8: A Collection (Artistic Nudity)

I used this week to get back on track from last week, so while nothing major is finished I have certainly been busy! Here's the results of this week's Figure Drawing classes. In the next couple of days I'll post all the other art I worked on this week.

Week 8: In the Manner of... #2 (Artistic Nudity)

The image above is one of the most well-known by Mexican female painter Frida Kahlo (July 6 1907 - July 13 1954). Though I admire the works of many historic artists, this woman is my favorite not only as a painter but as a strong determined person not afraid to express herself or depict life as the harsh, sometimes ugly reality that it was for her.

While there unfortunately won't be time for me to go about my week and do a painting on canvas to attempt mimicking her style, I'll still try it by digital means. For a bit I had no idea what I could do as a tribute to this woman, but yesterday it struck me to try a portrait of her with one of the three children that she was unable to carry to term due to a horrible accident when she was in her twenties. She wanted more than anything to have children with her husband Diego Rivera, but never could. So that will be my tribute to her. The thumbnail sketch in the top right of the page below is the concept for that.

And yes, more ponies.

There was also a non-cirricular figure drawing workshop that some cousins and I went to on Saturday. It wasn't my most successful round of drawing the figure, but it was still enjoyable and good practice.

Week Six: Finally Starting (Artistic Nudity)

Well, technically it's not that late, since last week's wasn't started until Monday either. Maybe Monday should be Day 1 from now on. But this week is digital again because toting my markers and colored pencils all over is hardly convenient. There's also the possibility of working on a digital piece at work and during my lunch break, since the computer comes with me everywhere.

Anyway, a number of factors led to the decision for this week to be a sort of pinup of an usual variety. The character will be a heavier woman (obviously) and wearing something does, in fact, leave a decent amount to the imagination. Part of the inspiration is likely the model from yesterday's Figure Drawing class. She's not built like the woman in my drawing, but her curves were still a lot of fun to do.

Contains Nudity

Well, now that I have everyone's attention, let's start things with my finished painting for my studio class.

It's... not something I'm particularly fond of, but I knew it wouldn't be from the start. I never expect that of my first time trying something. It's main issue is that it's incredibly dark, even where it should be bright. I've noticed that I have that problem a lot, however. Hopefully this semester will help correct that. Hopefully I'll also stop comparing my work to the other students and convincing myself that I'm not as good as they are.

This may be shameless and may be resulting in the rolling of several sets of eyes, but I did it strictly to enjoy myself. In my defense, however, it was also good anatomy practice. It's been a while since I really sat and studied a reference, so this was helpful (the reference was a hard-bound book called Anatomy for the Artist for those wondering.) And hey, drawing Ivan (Hetalia) as a sexy vampire was therapeutic. A real vampire, mind you. None of that Twilight nonsense.