Proportion: Quick studies

a.- Two-minute sketches in my life drawing class

I did three sketches of a seated model at the beginning of my life drawing class, changing my position in the room for each - firstly using pastel on square 30 x 30 black board, secondly using willow charcoal on cartridge paper, and finally using charcoal pencil on cartridge paper

I was trying to get as much detail as I could but found it very difficult and not very successful - the proportions are not right and I got very stressed with the two-minute time limit and the changes of position around the room.

b. Two-minute sketches at an RA Life Drawing Live session

I managed to join the RA Life Drawing Live of 25th January led by Jonathan Yeo, which started with two minute sketches of some interesting poses as a warm-up.

I was more relaxed for these RA Life Drawing sketches, probably because I was in the comfort of my own home, and by this time I had a bit more experience of life drawing. Although there not many lines on the drawings I think the proportions are fairly accurate, and there is bit of a three-dimensional sense to them so I was quite happy with the result.

c. A two-minute sketch of my husband and his teacher during a dancing lesson

I used willow charcoal on A4 Cartridge paper and can definitely see an improvement. I was more confident, it’s very accurate, and much more elaborate for the very short time taken - I got the proportions right and the suggestion of three-dimensional form.

d. 5 and 10-minute sketches on the life drawing

For the 5-minute sketches I decided to experiment by drawing left-handed, using pastel, charcoal and biro pen on A3 cartridge paper, which was quite difficult initially but I was very surprised with the results as the proportions are quite accurate.

I did the 10-minute sketches at the beginning of my life drawing term, and for the first - of a model seated on a stool covered with a blue fabric, I used soft pastel stick on A3 cartridge paper and tried to use the negative space between her legs to get the proportions right.

For second, the model was reclining in an armchair and I used pen and ink on A3 cartridge paper, but this time found it very difficult to get the proportion right, particularly the foreshortening of her upper body, which looks too big, and I don’t think either of 10-minute sketches were very successful.