The inimitable Irene Silver. Loved this one.

I don’t draw figures from behind very often, but this was as really simple way to focus on finding the simple shapes and the lightplay without getting lost in capturing the person’s look. I learned a lot! Helped that I found some old drawing pencils; looks like my dear sweet Ebony’s are about a 4B, and I used a 2B & 7B for light & dark ranges. Gave me more control over it, and it felt the same as ever cause those pencils are smooth too.

I’m starting to see a few different styles emerging within my figure drawings depending on my focus, and they’re all pretty consistent, even though they’re not conscious. But know what focus causes what will probably direct me toward one or the other. I love having options like that. I already have a handful of styles in general, and this just boosts my options for variety of form. Focusing on simple shapes & simple shadows on simple geometry ends up creating these soft lost edges and masses, with multiple light levels. Pulling out lines helps make it soft. You can see this same effect in the hair on my last Diana drawing cause that was my focus drawing that part; except I never laid the lines of her hair in very strong. I did that and lifted them out here. 

Here’s my notes & discoveries for the session. My coat wasn’t part of the set-up, I’m posting it so you can see the difference without the backlight. This is how you’d construct it from imagination:

Keep reading