Drawing for illustration, Week 1 (3/10/23)

In this first week into the module of drawing for illustration, we began our exploration and development of life drawing skills and mark making. In this group task we were seated across from each other along two rows of chairs in which depending on the time length of the subject switched seating positions. While we aimed to display and develop our proportion and perception skills during this task, we were also challenged to develop and try differing techniques and mediums with our changing subjects. This stretched my life drawing and mark making skills from my previously more traditional tutoring and challenged me to explore how different mediums and techniques altered the visualization of the subject (such as line, form and tone). 

Firstly, to warm us up to the task we began with a 4 minute life drawing sketch of the person in front of us (Ariel) using our chosen tool in which I chose a 2B charcoal sketching pencil. After this with the same subject, we did a 4 minute continuous line sketch in which we couldn't take our pencil of the page until we completed the life drawing. This task was challenging as it made me increase my perception of the subject's outline and form through more limited and distinct mark making. Moreover, because I couldn't take my pencil off the paper I had to try ensure the line and form of the subject flowed fluidly without overlapping and losing shape. 

Ariel; Warm up and continuous line

Similarly, after this sketch we alternated subjects and were once again tasked with a continuous line life drawing in a shorter time duration of 2 minutes. After the first continuous line drawing of Ariel, I had a better idea of where to begin the continuous line in the centre of the subject's face and focused my attention onto the prominent features of the subject (Ben) such as his glasses, nose and facial hair. Afterwards, with a new subject we began to explore different types of mark making through life drawing and enhance our understanding of how these marks can effect the visual of the sketch. For instance, these different mark making techniques could include using different angles of the pencil such as the wider sides or the sharp pointed tip and the pressure or movement of the strokes such as strong harder lines or fluid swift mark making. Also, mark making could also be the pattern or shaped of the line such as techniques like cross hatching, dotting and spirals. 

For this new subject and task of mark making, I aimed to employ 10 different types of mark marking to visually express the form and lighting of my subject Katie. This 10 mark making task was challenging as it made me take into account the different shaped of the subject such as the layered spiraling curls of Katie's hair, the sharp line of the side of the face in the lighting of the room and the various layered patterns and shadows of the clothes. As this was a short time task I struggled to think of 10 different mark making techniques that were distinct from one another but this challenge made me stretch my abstract perception skills and think about form and lighting. 

Ben and Katie; Continuous line and 10 mark making

After this mark making sketch, we changed subjects again (Leah) and began a 7 minute life drawing that was separated into a 3 minute observation of the subject and then a 4 minute drawing from memory. During the observation section of the task, I tried to observe and remember the distinct form and featured of Leah such as the lighting, how she was sat, the layered form and folds in her clothes and key elements of her expression. For this sketch, I decided to utilize the full A4 page and sketch a full body piece to challenge my perceptive skills. Taking what I'd explored with the previous mark making task, I tried to use more distinct lines to create form and shape of the subject and various marks to develop shadows and layering of the subject's pose.  

Leah; Observation and drawing from memory

 Following this, I then did an observational sketch of Leia using only 10 marks. For instance, for this sketch I used different techniques such as sharp, edge of pencil, more pressure and cross hatching to create distinct mark making in the piece. 

Leia; 10 mark marking

Moreover, after this I did another set of observational sketches of Soren on A2 paper using a different medium of watered down paint and charcoal. As these pieces used a larger canvas I decided to to a full body observation sketch to alternate the view point of the composition. In these compositions utilizing the alternate medium, I used stronger mark making techniques to create the form and space of the subject.

Soren; Watered down paint

Soren; Charcoal

Lastly, my final composition was a A2 portrait of Soren in which I collated different illustrations of they're interests through a getting to know interview. In this piece I utilized the medium of charcoal and employed the different mark making techniques I had experimented with throughout this session to create the composition. For instance, I employed cross hatching and variations in line intensity to create form and tone to the subjects within the composition. Moreover, I tried to ensure the composition had a level of balance and framing the center Soren as the subject of the piece surrounded by they're interests. 

Soren; Getting to know portrait

In conclusion, I significantly enjoyed this task as it challenged me to explore and broaden my skills and techniques in mark making in life drawing and try more abstract ways of perceiving the subject through stronger mark making. In future observation life drawing tasks, I hope to further go out of my comfort zone and trail different ways of mark making to visually communicate the line, tone and form of the subject.