Friday 21 February 2014

Cutting your cloth, pencil drawing 5H, H, HB, 2B

I love fabric. Recently I dressed a mannequin in shirt, tie and fetching scarf, held together with a leather belt, and accidentally achieved a St Trinian's look (minus the stockings)... However, the effect was of contrasting textures and lovely folds of cloth.



I set it up for my students to draw, but after an evening class, I sat down to have a little go myself - I always hope to join in during the class, but I rarely get the chance. I got invovled more than I expected and decided to leave the mannequin up so I could go back to it. Little did I realise that this would take several sessions over the next couple of weeks. In fact, it got so that I didn't even really notice the St Trinans girl at the end of the table, until a neighbour raised a questioning eyebrow... 





By this stage (above) I was so invoved in the subtleties of the paler tones that I was tempted not to include the tie, as it would shift the balance of the drawing. But in the end, I decided I had to put it all in... 

Cloth on mannequin, by Julie Douglas, pencil on cartridge paper 

I didn't quite complete the left side, as I'd had enough. This drawing is in an A3 sized spiralbound hard backed book, which contains only B&W work. 


5 comments:

  1. Brilliant, as ever. I'm really interested to see the range of pencils you used.
    Hilary

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  2. Beautiful,, such gentle yet detailed tones.

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  3. thank you both. Hilary, I was rather surprised at the pencil range - the only areas that I used the 2B were in the belt and small parts of the tie.

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  4. I've just found your blog, and love your drawings. I can't see my previous message, so maybe it didn't get through. I've started drawing again after many years, and was lucky enough to be given a lovely boxed set of watercolour pencils for my birthday. I am really enjoying experimenting with them.

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    1. hi Maggie, thanks for your kind comments. Your last message did get through, its on the cup cake post - to see it you have to click on the comments link, otherwise it doesn't show up.

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