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Sketch of a Figure in a Scene

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Simon_C

Simon Painter

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Hi,      I'm following a course on The Great Courses Plus that's teaching basic drawing technique.  I've only been doing this a few months.  I'm working through a set of 6 drawing assignments before I continue on with more learning. The main point is to learn proper proportion and perspective  -all drawn from life.  This assignment is to draw a figure in a scene.  Due to lockdown, etc. I'm very limited in my choices of what I can draw (the "public building staircase" assignment morphed into the staircase of my house!) so this is my wife staying up late to finish off some work.  I'll probably go in later and do a little more work with line value, and maybe make some minor corrections, but it's essentially done.  I'd be very grateful for any suggestions/advice/comments that anyone has the time for.  Thanks :)   

Alan Bickley

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That’s a good start, although the office chair does look a bit small and the perspective on what I presume to be a laptop screen is a bit out. I don’t want to interfere with your course, but it would help if you indicated your eye-level and vanishing points etc, and stick to them! You now need a sharp 2B pencil and strengthen some of your lines - perhaps emphasise the figure a bit more. 
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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You were maybe a bit confined by the size of the page - I often am: start a drawing, not knowing quite where I'm going with it very often, and then realize I haven't enough paper left and can hardly build an extension...  But I like the composition. On the pencil front, I'd recommend a range of Mars Lumograph pencils by Staedtler, or Derwent Graphic, those black pencils with the orange band: the F grade is surprisingly flexible. I also like the quirky drawing, and its humour - just keep going, draw more, yes use sharp pencils - strengthen selected lines, to emphasize form.  Success awaits!
Simon_C

Simon Painter

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Cheers, folks.  I've made a few changes to line weight, etc. with some B-pencils to try and strengthen it up a bit.   @Alan - I've not learned about vanishing points yet.  I think that's coming in a later lecture on the course. @Robert - Thanks for the pencil recommendation, I already have a set of Derwent pencils, though I'm not sure I'm using them optimally yet!

Alan Bickley

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That’s a big improvement Simon, your choice of pencils is so important. In general stick with grades B up to 6B, which is very soft. With reference to perspective, you will need bigger sheets of cartridge paper in orders to establish/plot in your eye-line and vanishing points, I’m confident that you’ll find it really helpful.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Bigger sheets of paper is very good advice - your stronger lines and curves  have brought more weight to your drawing, developing it from being 'just' a sketch, and losing none of its quirkiness.  
Simon_C

Simon Painter

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Thanks, folks.  I'm working on a roughly A4 sketchbook & a box easel at the moment.  It helps a great deal that I can carry it around the house with me & tidy it away once the kids are awake.  Are there any other good portable options for larger paper?

This post has been removed as it violates our forum rules and guidelines.

Alan Bickley

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Reported!
Simon_C

Simon Painter

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Reported!
Alan Bickley on 16/02/2021 10:12:05
What did I do?
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Don't think you did anything, this refers to another post.  
Reported!
Alan Bickley on 16/02/2021 10:12:05
What did I do?
Simon Painter on 16/02/2021 10:31:08

Sylvia Evans

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Wow what a difference using darker pencils.  My two pennies worth.  Is get your lovely wife to go back and work on her PC.  Sit with your drawing...comfortably . Then do the squinty eyed thing...narrowed eyes and look through lashes.  This should give you lovely simplified lights and darks.  I’m a lover of 8 B pencils throw big big sweeps in what you can see .  Big big darks and leave lovely light areas .  
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