21 May 2020: Figure Study

My goal yesterday was to attempt a clothed figure to begin working through some of the issues I'd mentioned in my previous post. Namely, how to work with multiple colors for the clothes without losing the proportions as I would have to wait for paint to try between sections. I sketched this figure in pencil first (6H) and then painted, allowing some time for drying between painting adjoining colors (although in at least one case I didn't wait long enough). I'm happy with the way the proportions worked out. I worked this on cellulose paper in my sketchbook again and I'm wondering if I would be happier if I'd worked on a 100% cotton paper. I think that as I move more towards clothed figures I'll want more blend-ability in the shades, whereas in the nude figures the sharp shadows doesn't bother me.

Anyway, I think that if I want to do more clothed figures I will want to continue starting in pencil or pen. I think the look of pen could be really nice, but I'll need to get over some self-consciousness about my pen lines. I could always start in pencil, paint, and then add pen details? But the other thing I'm wanting to do is shorten the length of time these take, and so I don't know that I should be adding steps.

Conclusion: for my next studies I think I will work on 100% cotton paper. I will try to just do a pencil sketch to start and then debate about adding pen at the end. Eventually I'd like to move towards doing the preliminary lines in pen and being happy with them. And I still need more practice with faces!

Figure is done in watercolor (Da Vinci, Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton) in a Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook with Escoda Perla and Prado paintbrushes. Reference image is from the Line of Action website.