A Pensive Pose

Last week at life drawing group I really enjoyed drawing this 30-minute pose. The model looks quite pensive but I think that’s just how he looks when he’s holding a pose for half an hour – it’s not easy being a life model. I spent a lot of the time working on his face, analysingContinue reading “A Pensive Pose”

Blooded!

I guarantee that whenever I cut a block – lino, wood or vinyl – I will stab myself with one of my sharp tools and bleed on it! I blooded this block today, just as I was finishing carving it as well. I based this on an original drawing I did from life. I haveContinue reading “Blooded!”

Three Quick Faces

These are the first three poses at last week’s life drawing session at Swansea Print Workshop, they were all 5 minutes. I like doing these quick sketches to warm up, because there’s so little time, you have to concentrate on the elements that capture the likeness of the person; there’s not enough time to getContinue reading “Three Quick Faces”

Models vs Others Following on from yesterdays post, I was talking about the difference between working with professional models and other people. Most are fine with sitting for a portrait sketch and are happy with the results, but there are some who find it hard to accept what they see. A few people want toContinue reading

It’s A Privilege…

Working with professional models is a privilege. I draw other people too, successfully and less so. Apart from the ability of a professional to hold poses, they don’t have any expectations from the artist. When I’m drawing or painting non-professionals, some, by no means all, can find it difficult to see themselves as I seeContinue reading “It’s A Privilege…”

A Statuesque Head

This is one of the professional models I have been working with at Swansea Print Workshop’s Life Drawing group. She has a wonderfully sculptural, statuesque head and body. I’m trying to reflect that in my drawing here, using a fairly academic style. It’s a 15 minute pose and I used graphite onto paper. I haveContinue reading “A Statuesque Head”

Just A Quickie Or Two

I didn’t have my mojo with me this evening, or my spectacles, so I found the life drawing session quite difficult. For the last half hour I just made quick sketches of the other people there into my little A6 Indigo covered sketchbook with graphite.

Once Upon A Time…

Way back in 2007, Husb and I went on a two week trip to Pakistan, travelling across the country with a group of Welsh, Danish and Pakistani companions in a large minibus. It was truly magical. Here are a few of the sketchbook drawings I did when we were up in the mountains in theContinue reading “Once Upon A Time…”

Last Week To See…

It’s the last week to see the Queen Street Gallery Open Art show 2026. There’s so much excellent artwork there, as well as a gallery shop and lovely café right next to the gallery (Number 46). The gallery is just a few minutes walk from Neath railway station, which is on the mainline from LondonContinue reading “Last Week To See…”