Time for learning

Many of my sketchbook drawings sit unfinished this month. Partly due to time restraints, but also due to questioning my progress and reflecting on how I deal with transforming what I see in front of me into a drawing in my sketchbook. I'm learning about foundations in drawing which I've never really had taught to me beyond High School. Most of what I've learnt about art has been through picking bits and pieces out of books and videos over the years. So this past month has been very positive and a little confronting. I've always wanted to study drawing with a group, in a course in some way and suddenly I have 2 talented people showing me and guiding me through this.

 

First week with Jorge Royan's Sketching Workshop.With the help of a viewfinder, learning to draw perspective from interesting points of view (I was sitting on a chair, atop a cabinet to sketch my kitchen - hoping my kids didn't note this for later repetition).

 

I've had the great fortune of partaking in an ongoing online sketching workshop with Jorge Royan and I've also begun a course with Liz Steel in my local area of Manly. These people are both Urban Sketchers I admire for their quality of work and now as I begin to see them as teachers, for their processes, assistance and encouragement as well.  

 

Week 2 (above and below) with Jorge Royan, creating depth using layers, framing and perspective.

 

 

Liz Steel's class is all 'live' - which is fantastic and inspiring and intensive for the 3 whole hours. We drew first in the studio and then went outside for our next session. It was great to sit and focus on the basics with some still life settings. I repeated the process of starting with contour lines before then focusing on volume when I drew whilst at a restaurant for Mothers Day (fortunately kids draw alongside of me and husband was content with the newspaper 'til I was finished!).