Schedule Changes

I am taking three classes this semester (portrait, figure drawing and Hebrew).  Daughter has begun an internship every Friday from 9-5 pm in a distant place involving the dreaded Washington rush hour, and I am driving her back and forth. As a result, I have lost a big chunk of time that I usually use to blog. Thus, few posts. I'll be back to posting more regularly eventually.

Last semester, I took portrait drawing and really enjoyed it.  The teacher basically allowed us to do our own thing and went around making suggestions to us. He did occasional demonstrations - the eyes, the nose, the ear, the mouth, etc.  I started out very rough, but could see improvement as I went along, and I was really inspired by it.

This time, I have a different teacher (she teaches both the portrait and figure drawing classes).  She tends to be more obsessive-compulsive, and started us all from the very beginning - telling us how to set up the easel, how to hold the conte crayon (sanguine or black, on newsprint), etc etc.  We had to draw boxes she'd set up, we had to do blind contour, she's given many long lessons, and frankly, it's been a bit frustrating.  I am trying (on the advice of my children, who very adorably both independently said the same thing to me, "Mom, do you want to learn?  Then listen to the teacher." Heh.  Echoes of past mommy-isms reverberating back to me) to be patient and attempting to incorporate what she's teaching.  The thing of it is, is, what I am producing now looks like utter cr*p. Whereas, I'd actually begun to like what I was doing previously.

Well, today is our 4th figure class.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will actually allow us to draw people, instead of blocking out big shapes and making stick figures showing how they are posed.

I hadn't taken a "life drawing" class in quite a while. Our model was absolutely fearless.  Took off her robe and practically did gymnastics.  There was no pose she did not think of, no part of her she was unwilling to expose.  The instructor thanked her and observed to us how fortunate we were for having such a "giving" model. (I heard a woman mumbling under her breath that it was really a bit more than she needed to see...)

I missed last week's figure class due to preparing for Passover.  One of my classmates told me that there was a male model last week.  She said he was about 70 years old and was president of the artist model guild or some such thing.

Can't imagine what lies in store for today's class.

Comments

[Deana]

Ha-ha-ha! You will have to let us know how things go with this class. I think it is so cool that you're doing this.

Deana

[Gail]

I will definitely update periodically, and if I draw anything worthwhile, I'll post it at my art diary (see link on the menu bar, upper right). Thanks for commenting, Deana.

[Leora]

Too bad your new art teacher is a bit on the rigid side. But hopefully she will get you to really look and see, so when you finally do draw the actual model, your drawings will get more and more accurate.

Look forward to hearing about Hebrew class, too.

[AndyJ]

My best man at my wedding was a drawing instructor. He taught at a state university. He regretted that it was impossible to have nude models as students learn so much more. He preferred models that were very large as they had more curves, lumps and folds than the sleek men's magazine models... we had some great discussions about the reaction and response people have to nudity. Many respond as the other student with "Too much" and silently do a comparison. Hence a secondary reason for the very large models... He also had a great trunk filled with costumes and would pose volunteers in various stage settings...
I did a turn in cape and feathered Cavalier hat...

We learn aa lot about people, ourselves, history and gain perspective from new experiences... Not all nudity is sexual in nature. Mostly it is people being human... at that stage we are all very much the same...

BTW Southerners use an expression of "spending" time. Recognizing we have a unknown but finite amount of it, we choose to spend it carefully or foolishly. The early Pilgrims would seek to "improve" on time. The book "Albion's Seed" notes the various ways different cultural roots relate to time... My observation is that spending the time with your daughter and the class is a very wise investment that will pay rewards for decades to come... Investing time in our children brings rewards that almost always surprise and amaze. Occassionally, I have been shocked...and made to laugh...

[Gail]

Leora: Yes - you are right about her helping me "to see." I have learned a few things from her that will probably help down the line. I should be more patient with the process.

My Hebrew class is on break right now because the instructor (the Rabbi's wife) is heading out of the country for March of the Living. I have a lot of studying to do so I can stay up to snuff while she's gone. Was at a baseball game over the weekend, and my husband pointed out a t-shirt for sale that had Hebrew lettering on it. I was able to read that it said "Nationals." Cool!!

Andy: My father loves to tell a story about me that I don't remember, but he swears is true. When I was in college, I took several art classes. I was really into it at the time and considered being an art major. I apparently mentioned to my parents over the phone that I wanted to earn a little extra $$ and had seen a sign up that the school was looking for artist's models and that I was going to look into it. Dad says he immediately offered to increase my allowance. I did not end up modeling. lol.

I am almost afraid to say how much I am enjoying my daughter's company. Don't want to tempt fate. She'll be turning 17 very soon and seems to have her head on straight. It's a pleasure to spend time with her.