Tuesday 16 August 2011

Shapes

I managed to do some impromptu sketching the other day whilst out shopping. It's quite a good opportunity to observe - on this occasion it was quite a windy day and this tree caught my eye as it was blowing the branches over so much


- as I noted to myself, the shape tells us what is happening with the weather in a painting -

 Whereas, these fir trees, even on a windy day, stay rigid


- in a painting these fir trees would make it more difficult to understand
that it is a windy day -


Painting or sketching people isn't something I do too much of, but I don't mind capturing them for middle distance 




This lady stood still whilst taking

a phone call, so  knew I only had

a short time to sketch.

Instead of worrying about what 

she was wearing, I concentrated

on her shape.














The next lady was moving quickly and

her shape was more difficult to judge.

So I concentrated on her very large

shopping bag and worked the rest of

her around it
















 They didn't all work out though


This was meant to be a man resting on the edge of the boot of his car!  I didn't get it - so I moved on......



.........and managed to get this man heading off to the shops.  He proved to be a much easier shape

Finally, this lady was putting shopping in her car


but I considered the initial shape  first




Would love to know what you think

How do you go about a sketch?

Do you approach it differently and how do you get on?






14 comments:

Judy said...

Lovely sketches, Ann! Difficult question, sketching people is very hard! I think I also try to find the major shape and work around that.

Anonymous said...

Ann funny skits, Especially the last one. LOL
They are all well made.

I start pretty much as you do. First rough up and then further develop it.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Hi Judy and Renske - Nice to know you start like I do....I must be on the right tracks then! Glad you liked this post.

bohemiannie! art said...

Wow! I'm ... once again ... impressed. How do I go about a sketch?!? With much fear and trembling and in hiding. You did some really great captures there.

Crystal Cook said...

I love these Ann. Seeing into an artist's sketchbook is one of my favorite things. :) I think your people look so full of life and movement, they look perfect to me. Would love to see them in a painting. I go about sketching people a lot the same. Big gesture sketch first to capture the movement then refining the shapes as I go.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Hi Annie - Thank you,

and

Thank you Crystal.

robin cox walsh said...

Nice sketches, you really catch the feel in so few lines! I haven’t worked up the nerve to try people yet! LOL I don’t really ‘think’ about how to go about a sketch. If I think too much I can’t seem to do it. I just try to let my subconscious go to town.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Robin. I know what you mean about the 'thinking' too much, that happens to me.

Pat said...

Lovely sketches!

I've never really analysed how I sketch. Next time, I'll pay more mind :) xx

bohemiannie! art said...

Hey Ann - the link to your beach blog post today isn't working!

Kathleen Walker said...

Love the gestural sketches, I suppose I go about it the same way, block in the large areas and gesture then go after details if you have time. If the body is making a dramatic shape sometimes I start with a line that would represent the center line.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Pat

Thanks Kathy

I'm so glad to get all these comments.

young-eclectic-encounters said...

It's wonderful to see how other artists think and work
I did a post on my blog on how I go about my art edits on my photos
Thanks for showing how you work- it takes courage to show works in progress whether they work or not. Kudos to you
Johnina :D

ann @ studiohyde said...

Hi Johnina - Thanks for stopping by and joining my blog. Great to meet you. Have now signed into your blog - I guess this is what is called 'networking'...haha...(As I have mentioned before to others, I know enough about computers to be dangerous LOL)....ann