3 Quick Sketches

Good drawing here Michael.

Wow, Michael. This is definitely 'less is more'. It is so easy for the viewer to fill in what is left out! Stunning!

Great sketching Michael. Just been to a critique at our art club and the pro was going on about the importance of drawing a sketching.

Like it

Thanks everyone - I do like capturing images in this way - I find it so quick, easy, and so very effective - there was me putting down just a few lines whilst others were struggling with detailed drawings of the subject - not easy in 10 minutes. As for the imporatance of drawing and sketching - well in my books it's another 'rule' to be broken - might raise it as a thread in the forum.

Nice one [ or three] Michael!

Great depiction Michael

It's about confidence I feel Michael, no dithering and definitely no rubbing out. Once you start rubbing out faint pencil lines, all the spontaneity is lost. The line needs to be right first time. When starting out though, I feel that drawing and sketching is important. It teaches us to look properly at the subject.

Well, &#39;less is more&#39; or is it? Not always I feel... In ten minutes (or was it 30) you could have captured the models pose more fully, perhaps just drawing one angle and yes, adding some detail, facial features are a necessity in my book. This reminds me of a stencil, and leaves me thinking that you are concerned about your ability to take it a stage further. <br /><br />Obviously Michael, reading your reply you are very pleased with your work, and can&#39;t understand why the others were struggling so much. If you attended part-time classes at art college for instance, you would not get away with this style of drawing, I can assure you.<br /><br />Louise is absolutely right, drawing is THE most essential basic discipline and will provide the groundwork for future advancement in your work - if you choose to break this rule as you intend to, it will almost certainly hinder your advancement and show as a &#39;weak spot&#39; in your work.<br /><br />Many people will not realise that Picasso had great drawing skills, particularly relating to the human body, before getting involved in his abstract work. My advice to you would be to look at some of that work and learn from a great master.<br /><br />

Thanks again to you all.<br /><br />Alan, whereas some of what you say is absolutely right I am afraid I would not want to go back to art classes for the very reasons you give and do not always go along with some of the art snobbery which such classes often engender.<br />I am afraid that drawings of the human form do not generally interest me and I only undertook these as it was part of the programme of our local art group. These days when tackling the human form I much prefer to leave out the detail although it would have been no hardship to add it in as I have done in countless sessions in the past - but I&#39;ve moved on since then and detail no longer interests me - I now much prefer the art of suggestion. The others all enjoyed the session and I am sure they found it helpful. Also I am sure they will refer back to their efforts as part of their learning curve and this I fully applaud. The difference is that whilst their efforts will probably end up in the pile under their work surface mine will end up framed in a local gallery and will help pay for my hobby. Okay so maybe I come across as being very smug but at my age this is as much as I wish to ask for.<br />May I add that I do draw in different styles. For example, I have just produced some sketches for our local Churches for use on Orders of service and produced a some drawings as well as artists interpretations of a garden design I was asked to undertake so all is not lost. <br />

Caught the moment beautifully Michael..I do enjoy your minimalism..

Perhaps I should have added that it&#39;s only by learning to draw &#39;properly&#39; that I find I&#39;m able to reduce the drawing to a few simple lines which leave the viewer to fill in the blanks - one line out of place (so easily done when you&#39;re going straight in) and it doesn&#39;t work as I&#39;ve found out through much practice.

Perhaps i should have added that it&#39;s only by &#39;learning&#39; to draw properly&#39; that I find I am able to draw in this simplistic way leaving the viewer to fill in the blanks - but it took lots of practice to get there and still much room for improvement

Well I don&#39;t know what happened there - I posted the above comment, left the site, went back into it and it didn&#39;t appear. So I wrote it out again and posted it only to find that the first one appeared out of the ether - can&#39;t seem to delete comments as we could on the old site.

Awe shucks...repetition , I do it all the time. Lol.

Great line sketches - done in 10 seconds - wow!

Great clear lines Michael, Wimbledon today!

Great study, Michael. Love the economy of lines.