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The Thinker in Derwent Inktense

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Carrie Flinte

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My first try of anything other than acrylics. I have been wanting to capture the Thinker for a while, as it’s my favourite sculpture. I have gone for grey shadows, with green and blue for the contrast. Any feedback would be very much appreciated. I feel like I have been staring at it for so long today I’ve gone image blind!
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Linda Wilson

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The image has not appeared with your post!  Happy to comment is you supply it.

Carrie Flinte

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Carrie Flinte

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Hi, hopefully it has uploaded now, it looked like it was ok in the first post. Not sure what happened  C

Alan Bickley

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The original statue in Paris was cast in bronze, so you’re starting to get a flavour of replicating the colour. It’s not an easy material to copy, and you won’t be able to get too close, but that’s not the most important issue here. The darkest tones look a bit weak, but obviously it’s a long way off completion. I like the use of blue but I would be cautious about using too much green. I would strengthen up a few of the lines, it looks as though they’ve been traced onto the paper so are lacking any character or feeling for this famous of all Rodin sculptures. Try and inject something of your own interpretation into it, rather than simply trying to copy it.  These are my personal observations, but a promising start nonetheless Caroline.

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by Alan Bickley

Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Well you have not chosen an easy subject or an easy view.  What I like about the statue is the angles of the limbs, curve of the spine and the musculature.  From this view, you have lost most of  the angles and the curve.  You are also challenged by trying make the lower legs look as though they are going away from you.  I would therefore concentrate on the muscles and bones and how the light defines them, choosing a colour for (or reserve)the light parts, a colour for the shadow, another for the shade and another for the reflected light, within the shadow.  It might be easier to apply these before adding the water as they will overlap.  However that is quite a complicated approach. Strengthening up the lines as Alan suggests is a lot easier.  He is also right about strengthening the darkest darks.  It is a dark statue, so you need to give yourself the widest range of tonal values to work in.  It might also be advisable to avoid blue for the parts that are nearest to you as blue gives the impression of distance.  So warm it up for the closer parts to help you create the illusion of 3 dimensions.  On the whole the drawing is good, but the foot on the left looks narrower than the one on the right and does not show the ankle bones so well.  I look forward to seeing it develop, from this promising start. As an exercise in life-drawing and a learning experience it is a treasure trove.  There would be much to be gained in drawing it from a few different angles.

Alan Bickley

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Some very comprehensive and interesting  observations Linda! I absolutely agree about the pose, it’s not the classic one that we are used to seeing, this angle is far more difficult.

Carrie Flinte

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Thank you for all the great feedback both. I agree it was a tricky perspective to start with. I may try something a little different with a new angle now that I feel I have gotten to grips with the Thinker. 

Carrie Flinte

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Linda Wilson

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He is gradually taking form and becoming more 3D.  Good idea to try him in a different way.  I must admit I am tempted to draw him myself.  Life drawing is never easy.  Adding colour makes it harder as tone/value gives form more than colour.

Carrie Flinte

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It would be great to see your interpretation too. Here is my reference photograph. Taken by my husband so please feel free to use. C x
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Linda Wilson

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Thank you for posting your reference photo Caroline.  I've done a line drawing so far.  I don’t know why he appears to be wearing a pork pie on his head. Those feet are difficult to say the least.  Mine look like crimped pasties, but they might improve when I add tone.

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