For the last few Wednesdays I’ve been drawing at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for a course at The Prince’s Drawing School. Below are some of the better fruits of my labours.
Week One - Medieval Rooms
It’s been a long time since I’ve done location drawing that wasn’t of building facades - I find it really challenging. Mostly I’m not sure what I’m trying to get out of it - it’s not like with life drawing, where the aim (for me) is clearly to practise my seeing, and my accuracy. I really struggled here - is it pointful for me to stare at reference, and then turn that reference into characters of my own, rather than what they actually look like? Maybe?
Week Two - Raphael cartoons
Disappointingly, not animated episodes of TMNT ho ho ho but Raphael’s enormous preparatory drawings for tapestries bound for the Sistine Chapel. I had a nice time with this but it was madly dark, plus I think I’m starting to flirt with needing bifocals #sexy.
Week Three - hall of Rodin
I really enjoyed yesterday. The hall was extremely full all day, people edited out in my drawings below. After a shaky start, I started using pen and grey felt tips, and really enjoyed putting the whole space in. But I think it’s good that we’re in a new room each week, which encourages us to try new media and techniques each time. We’ll see what next session, in the room of Chinese art, will elicit.
Until next time!
You win all the caption competitions! And thank you for sharing your wonderful drawings. I have a deep hankering to have a look through your pencil case. Would you consider doing a behind-the-scenes pencil case peek?
I totally understand the hesitation in copying from real life. I was often taught to do so in school, and I I don't suck at it, but I think it doesn't help a lot when it comes to createing own ideas...
Your drawings are beautiful, of course!