These are some people from the sketch group. Sometimes it's much more interesting to draw them than a model. That wasn't true with these particular models, though. They were very good.
Since I started to keep a sketchbook, I discovered that I really enjoy ink, everything and anything associated with ink: pen and ink, brush pen, ink washes, waterproof ink, non water proof ink, etc, etc. It’s not something I use for my finished illustrations, but for my sketchbook and figure drawing it really feels right. Working with pen and ink and brush for figure drawing is still a foreign concept to me. I don’t have a slightest idea what to use, how to use it, which ink is good, which paper is good, what kind of lines different nibs produce/or not produce, how not to clog the pens. At the same time I really enjoy this spontaneous process. After spending years using only dry media for figure drawing and not enjoying it, it feels refreshing to lose control over media and just let things happen. Let’s face it, pen and ink is not something you can control or erase. When the line is there, it’s there and you have to figure out how to make it all work. This kind of drawing/painting will never produce the most accurate results, but who cares anyway. I’m learning human anatomy, I’m developing visual memory, I’m improving my lines and I’m enjoying it much more than I ever enjoyed charcoal or pastel.
Not only the models and set up is really good at this sketch group, but people are genuinely nice and friendly. They all know each other for years. Every Monday after figure drawing they go for a beer at a local restaurant. That was something that I didn’t expect and I was pleasantly surprised. Having some beer with good people is always a plus.
Going to figure drawing and spending time with these people brings a little bit of routine to my otherwise not that structured life. Monday night is figure drawing; Thursday night is Illustrating Children’s Books class, which I also enjoy. That’s about it for structure.
I always suspected that working from home could be difficult, but I never thought it would be THAT lonely and isolated. It’s been only about two months, but I found it really hard so far. I guess that’s the nature of the profession. I will figure out eventually, and maybe very soon, how to make it all work. For now I’m trying to take each day at a time and keep myself motivated and work towards my goals. Everything will fall into its place eventfully, it always did, it always will.
How philosophical of me! Ha-ha.
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