Landscape - Final

This is a 30 minute soft pastille study of a sea/skyscape. The contrasting orange sand and blue sea and sky are aesthetically pleasing as they are opposite each other on the colour wheel. The colour of the sea changing gradually from a more saturated blue to a less saturated blue/grey and then hitting the lighter value blue of the start of the sky creates depth.

There is a line which leads the viewer’s eye diagonally across the image created by the row of small wooden pillars that go from the sand into the sea, as the perspective on the row forces the viewer’s eye to continue moving across the page in that direction in an implied line after the row itself has stopped. This is also aided by the composition of the image showing the shore line at an angle which goes against the angle of the wooden pillars, to force the perspective, as would not be the case if the shore was in a straight line across the page.

Still Life - Final

This is a 45 minute oil pastille study of an arrangement of peppers. They are arranged in a good composition which fits with in the rule of thirds and creates a ‘v’ shaped line by none of the objects ‘kissing’. Shadows are created following the rules of colour theory where the base colour for the shadow on each different coloured pepper is the colour as closely possible to being opposite the main colour of the pepper on the colour wheel to create realistically coloured shadows. Varying tone with high contrasting highlights help to emulate the smooth shiny surface texture of the peppers, and is particularly successful on the red pepper.

Light and shadow on the material beneath the peppers, created by contrasting tonal values, give the peppers more form by creating space between each object and showing the three dimensional space around them. 

Life Drawing - Final

This is a 30 minute figure study drawn using a 6B pencil. The study is proportionally accurate, fitting into roughly seven and a half head units, as is average for a male body. The composition of the image is successful with the figure taking up most of the space on the page and drawing the viewer’s eye down the image in a line following the curve of the models spine and then across and down the legs . The contrasting darker values in the background and on the material beneath the model, against the lighter values of the body, push the body forward and give it an increased sense of form and placement. Tone on the body also creates form by creating depth though showing how light hits the body, and also increases the sense of the models open gesture by showing how the figure is slightly hunched over and relaxed.

Life Drawing - Expression

This is a 30 minute study of facial expression drawn using a 2B pencil. Expression is shown through the arching shapes of the mouth and eyebrows. Generally the face is very relaxed as this was a longer drawing, so there is no tension in the facial muscles, especially around the cheeks, making the whole face look quite flat and long. Tone is used to show depth around the eyes, ear, and hands by showing contrasting light and shadow hitting the face, as well as give a sense of the colour value of the hair. Better observation of tone would improve the image by creating more depth and form as, whilst there is a reasonable likeliness to the model, currently the image seems flat and stylised rather than a realistic observation, this could be more effectively achieved by using a softer pencil that does not leave such harsh lines. 

Life Drawing - Faces

This is a 25 minute study of facial proportions drawn using a 4B graphite stick. The composition of the image is aesthetically pleasing with the main detail of the face and then the end of the head, around the ear, falling within the rule of thirds. Tonal values are used to show the change in light and shadow across the face and give it a greater sense of form. There are some problem areas that could be improved upon: incorrect observation of perspective and bad measuring practise has resulted in the eyes not being entirely aligned and they are drawn at different angles, the more visible of the two is also slightly out of scale, it should be slightly bigger; otherwise there is a reasonable likeliness to the model. 

Life Drawing

This is a 45 minute figure study drawn using a 4B pencil. There is a good sense of proportion with the figure comprising of 7 and a half head units which is standard in the average person. There is also a good sense of anatomy regarding muscle structure with varying tonal values showing light and shadow on the body to give it a sense of form. Tone is also used to show the shadow cast by the figure and show the distance between the model and the pole, giving the image a sense of perspective. The tone also creates depth with the shaded areas behind the model giving a sense of placement within a 3 dimensional space. Depth is also created within a smaller area of the cloth with the dark values showing the shadow behind the pole and shadows on the cloth to show folds to give it more form.