Sharon Elaine

Hertford Art Society Life Session

2012-01-29T14:49:00.000Z

A good day, but evidently lacking energy!

Life Drawing at Wells

2011-12-05T13:43:00.001Z

On Sunday I went to an all day life drawing workshop ay Wells-next the Sea. run by the admirable Peter Kavanagh.

First up were the very valuable lessons in really observing your subject, with contour and gesture drawing.

Love this, just as it is!

Not so much this one, but I can now see where Picasso is coming from!

We took a break for lunch, at the Wherry, moored on the quay and serving scrumptious sweet and savoury pancakes. We alays have fish and chips when we visit Wells, but Roy is in for a treat next time we go!

My companions, June and Jacqui, enjoyed themselves!

Peter Kavanagh and our brilliant model, Becky. Unfortunately I didn't get the name of the other lady.

Then back to work with a lesson in watercolour. Peter made it look so easy, but I really struggled.

A splendid day. My thanks to Peter and Becky......when is the next one?

Back to Basics

2011-11-19T16:55:00.001Z

I went along to Peter Kavanaghs' life drawing workshop, accompanied by Jacqui and June, who had never done anything like it before.

It was fabulous, with Peter packing in as much as possible in the meagre two hours.

Firstly, he had us drawing the model as we would normally go about it.

I wasn't happy with my first effort because I had the hand far too big, but looking now I had captured her stance better than my second go.

The next task was to draw without looking at the paper, to concentrate on looking and seeing without worrying about the resulting drawing.

Then draw again, aiming to produce an accurate line drawing by really looking at the model..

Peter then showed us another technique which he called gestural drawing. This was to block in the overal mass of the body, to get the gesture of it, and then go back in with detail. I loved this bit best. I'm always happier working with charcoal, rather than pencil.

This one is my favourite, and I would have loved more time on it. I always used to work this way.....why did I forget?

It was fantastic to get back to basics, to remind me how much I love life drawing. My thanks to Peter, a gifted tutor, and to fabulous model, Becky, beautiful and elegant.

Peter is running a one day workshop at the beginning of Dec which I'm excitedly anticipating will be brilliant!

Hertford Art Society

2011-10-30T10:04:00.000Z

I was a happy bunny to get to Hertford on Saturday! The usual format....sketches of lengthening duration throughout the morning and then one pose for the afternoon. I didn't have the best time, painting wise....the oil got wiped once.....and I think the problem is the lighting, which I may have mentioned before. The venue has windows on all sides which means the light is continually changing. Very frustrating! It isn't such a problem for the sketches but for the long pose...I find it difficult.

Sing and Dance 16" x 20" Oil WIP

2011-10-26T12:53:00.000+01:00

I am so excited! I have found a kindred spirit here in Norfolk. I had given up with the life drawing and turned my hand to still life, coastal scenes and folk with clothes on, as there seemed to be a bit of a nudge-nudge, wink-wink attitude to nudity.

I was browsing the King's Lynn Arts Centre and was delighted to see an upcoming exhibition in November, celebrating the human form. Further investigation revealed a blog, Two Naked, charting progress leading up to the exhibition. Long story short, I left a comment and am now in contact with Peter Kavanagh, who has obligingly suggested that we meet up and compare notes.

Peter teaches and I was cheeky and asked his opinion of my work.

'I'm very impressed with the energy and freedom in your painting. There's an honesty in your work that's still struggling to get out and sing and dance! I hope you don't mind but I'm going to risk a suggestion for you... I think you work too much from photographs... I do like your work and can see you have bags of talent, which I think will respond even better to real life observation.'

I do agree about working too much from photos, it is very stifling. So now we come to this painting. Although I plan to get to HAS on Saturday, I couldn't wait, so took off my clothes and got stuck in! It was cold! It was difficult with the curtains shut! And vanity wanted me to shave off a few inches here and there! Oh but I did enjoy it, so I will very likely finish it!

HAS Life Drawing

2011-06-26T08:51:00.001+01:00

Another brilliant day, although, again too much time chatting! Same format, a couple of quick sketches and then a long pose for the afternoon. I quite like the oil, I might even finish it! Thanks to Kate and Sarah.....wonderful models.

Sorry to say that there will be no session next month. It has been cancelled because they are laying new flooring in the hall.

Hertford Art Society

2011-05-29T16:20:00.000+01:00

Hertford Art Society Life Drawing

2011-02-27T16:14:00.001Z

I am astonished, again, at how little I have to show for working very hard all day! I know I felt absolutely exhausted when I got home.

Nevertheless, I had a terrific day and enjoyed it thoroughly. There are a couple of differences to usual. The quick warm-up sketches I did with pen, instead of charcoal, because I would spend time erasing, and wanted to eliminate that. I feel happy with the sketches so will do that again.

The first oil was an idea blatantly stolen from fellow HAS lifer, June, who had zoomed in on the transition from one body to the other, for the sketches. I was impressed, so I did that too and I like the resulting painting. Thanks June, for that, and for tracking down my missing easel, returning it and furnishing it with my name!

Good news is that there will be an all day life drawing session on 12th March close to where I live. How can I not go, so watch this space for extra helpings!

HAS Jan 2011

2011-01-30T09:41:00.000Z

I leave an easel at Hertford, to save carting it to and fro, so the day got off to a bad start when I found it missing. Consequently, I missed most of the quick sketches because I spent half an hour making sure the easel hadn't been misplaced. Luckily the society keep a studio easel at the venue so I was able to use that and the day wasn't completely wasted.
I also didn't feel inclined to disturb everyone, attendance was full to the rafters, by moving the big easel around, hence the repetetive viewpoint!
My favourite is the monotone, done in a rush in the last 15 mins!
Happy painting everyone, and thanks for your visit.

Drawings from Life

2010-12-02T16:21:00.000Z

I didn't get to Hertford on Saturday, but I was routling around in the shed and found an old sketchbook. I thought you might like to take a peek.

These were done with Hertford Art Society, some Saturday life drawing, and some Tuesday evening meetings, long, long ago. The clothed models are art society members and we all took turns to sit, if I remember correctly, because the model failed to show. A valuable meeting!

See you at the end of January.

Hertford Art Society 30.10.2010

2010-11-01T13:06:00.000Z

As usual we began with quick poses, 2 minutes each, where the girls walked around the room and stopped in a pose.

After that they sat for half an hour.

This was an hour before lunch.

After lunch, the pose was set for the afternoon.

I really have to question my opting for concentrating on the head, which I can do anywhere, anytime, when I had two beautiful, unclothed, young ladies, sitting and working hard all day! Shame on me.

On the plus side, they, Sarah and Penny, very generously allowed me to take photographs, for reference at home.

HAS 25.9.2010

2010-09-26T10:39:00.000+01:00

We started with quick poses, 20 minutes this time, and it took until the last one for me to get the hang of it.
I had to abandon both the oil portraits as I found I was chasing the light, and continually changing the painting. It is a big problem with the venue, with windows on three sides. I deal with it by taking photos at the start of the pose to continue at home..............maybe.

July 2010

2010-08-02T14:45:00.000+01:00

Made it to Hertford, obviously, on Saturday! When I got home and saw how little I had done I was surprised. The model did arrive a little later than usual, though, but all I can say is that I had a very enjoyable day, probably mostly chatting!

We had the usual quick poses and because the third one with the towel was so nice, Faye agreed to hold it a while longer. Very Degas/Lautrec, very nice, I might develop that one.

No meeting in August because of the holidays, but I really hope to get there in September because we are promised a new wonderful model. Not that Faye isn't wonderful, but someone different is always inspiring.

HAS 26.06.10

2010-06-28T06:47:00.003+01:00

We all agreed that Penny was wearing such a pretty dress that it would be good to draw her wearing it.

The first three poses were for ten minutes each, then a half hour pose and finally for the rest of the day. I can see that I have made Pennys' head too large in the painting, but as she very generously allows me to take photos, I shall be able to finish the painting at home.

As usual I spent far too much time chatting and nipping out for fag breaks, but I had a glorious day. This life drawing is invaluable to me, precious, so I am very glad whenever I am able to get there.

Ellis 10" x 12" Oil

2010-04-07T18:12:00.003+01:00

I am on cloud nine AND seventh heaven! Today I got to paint a living, breathing, beautiful young lady. Thank you, Ellis, I appreciate it so much, it is a special treat.

Early Work

2010-03-29T07:16:00.002+01:00

That Letter! 24" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas Board

Thelma 16" x 20" Acrylic on Canvas Board

Sovra 10" x 12" Acrylic on Canvas Board

Thelma 18" x 24" Pastel on Paper

I didn't get to Hertford on Saturday. I know.....very disappointing. There was a big fire in a warehouse close to the station, which prevented any trains going through Cambridge. I could have got there via Stansted Airport or Peterborough, or by bus to Royston, but would probably have arrived in time to turn round and go home again! And that supposing the fire was out and Cambridge Station reopened. It is one thing to be unable to travel to a nice day out, quite devastating to be unable to get home!

Here are some paintings, done from photos taken at previous HAS life drawing sessions.
There is no session next month, because of the annual exhibition, so fingers crossed for May!

HAS Feb 2010 Life Drawing

2010-02-28T16:47:00.004Z

Nice pose, pity she is all out of proportion! I shall likely work on this, or a new one.

I like this one.

This is about the third time I have been presented with this view, and my interpretation gets worse with practice!

Don't know why I decapitated her, but I like this.

A bit clumsy with the charcoal here.

I like this, drawn with Ken Paines' teaching in mind.

My favourite drawing of the day, her rosebud lips have an irrisistible appeal.

Fabulous day, although I'm not sure I accomplished a great deal. The main drawback was because I took acrylics. I have been working in oils for the past year, which are completely different, and found I had lost the know how with acrylics for figurative work.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the day, with fantastic models, and wonderful friends to chit chat with.

Done In 20" x 16" Charcoal

2010-02-11T17:18:00.002Z

I have missed the life drawing, but the good news is that I hope to go again at the end of February. Only a couple of weeks.

In the mean time here is a drawing today from a photo taken at one of the HAS sessions. Not quite the same, I know, but I enjoyed it.

HAS 29.11.09

2009-11-30T09:20:00.004Z

I can hardly believe that I actually got to Hertford this month! It is well worth sitting on a train for two hours, but I rather wasted the day again. Spent a lot of time chatting, catching up. And I missed most of the warm up, because I had to go and buy lunch and something to paint on. Even then I did the first oil sketch on mountboard ......and it's the best one of the day!

No meeting next month, obviously, because it's Christmas, so have a wonderful holiday everyone, and I'll see you next year!

HAS

2009-07-26T13:48:00.005+01:00

Same format as usual, a couple of 10 minute poses, a 20 minute pose, a half hour pose and then a rest of the day pose.

Not much to show, again, although I thought at the time I was working quite hard!

I was too excited about my forthcoming TV appearance to concentrate, and people kept coming to ask all about it, after I announced it.

Just for fun, the BBCs' The One Show is having their own 'Summer Exhibition' and asked viewers to submit artwork. I was informed on Friday that I have been shortlisted, and invited to appear on the show on Monday 27th July at 7pm. If you cannot watch live, the programme can be found on the website up to a week afterwards.
I am nervous and excited, but I intend to enjoy the day and have fun.

HAS

2009-06-30T15:16:00.005+01:00

Started with 10 minute sketches and I think this poor specimen must have put me off, because from then I concentrated on the head and shoulders for the rest of the day!

These two will probably be used for paintings in my 'Hats' series!

These two oil sketches are in the wrong order, the first, taking all afternoon (!), (1 1/2 hrs really, but more gossiping than painting I know), the second done in the half hour before lunch. Both of which need a lot of tweeking.

I do feel that I didn't do very well, and have vowed to spend the time at HAS better focussed in future.

Extra Helpings

2009-06-12T10:42:00.009+01:00

Sorry, not HAS! I went along, last evening, to a local art club, St Germans, and found a welcoming, warm, busy atmosphere. Everyone had brought along something to do, be it flowers, photos of landscapes or cats or dogs, and then there was me, who asked permission to sketch the artists at work. I got a jolly nice, interested, response, both to the request, and to the results.

I started with carbon pencil, and hated it. So I changed to charcoal..........much better, far quicker to get a result and much more managable.

Fantastic Day!

2009-06-01T17:26:00.003+01:00

I actually got to Hertford Art Society on Saturday, it took two hours to get there from my new home, a 7 o'clock start by train! It was well worth the effort as I had a fantastic day. It followed the usual format, but as we got there early I sketched a fellow artist geting her caffeine fix!

Enjoy! And happy painting!

2009-02-03T16:54:00.006Z

Well, sorry, folks, but I didn't get to HAS life drawing on Saturday. Lack of funds. You really can't spend 25 quid on a 'day out' when there is only 80 in the pot! If I sold everything I did the very next day, maybe it would be justifiable. No good moaning, but I was really disappointed. Roll on end of Feb!

To keep you going, here are a few drawings from previous sessions, that I saw fit to keep.

Most of them are big, on 19" x 27" sheets of Canson pastel paper.

1.

2.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

I used to skip the quick sketches, and go out to buy my sandwich, couldn't see the point! Fool that I was! And I didn't used to paint, either, but concentrate on charcoal drawing, except that one time with watercolour. Funny how things change.

Thanks for your visit, I really appreciate it.

I have numbered the pictures in case you have a comment, also for ease if you wish to purchase any (or all!) of the drawings, they are 25 GBP each.

Please email me sharon.wright9@btopenworld.com if you are interested.

Life Drawing HAS

2008-11-30T14:59:00.003Z

First we did two ten minute drawings to warm up. I wouldn't normally try for the whole thing in such a short time, especially with two models! I think I caught the essence, although accuracy suffered a lot.

Next was two twenty minute poses, and going to the other extreme I concentrated on Geralds' head!

For the rest of the day, this pose was set. I was very pleased with this. Usually we have two models and they are separated most of the time, or posed together in a very unlikely way. This I thought could be any couple snuggled up together, watching TV.

I realised afterwards that after two hours I was fiddling with the painting and spoiling what I had done. Next time, which will be the last Saturday in January, I shall try to do two small oils. I really don't know why I didn't think to change position and do another on Saturday.

Go With the Flow!

2008-10-26T15:45:00.003Z

We started the day with several 20 minute poses. There were two models, usually one stood and the other sat, crouched or lay down. I have no idea why, but I will always opt for a sitting, crouching or laying down pose! The last one here was an exercise in not taking the charcoal off the paper. I actually love the way it is all out of proportion, one arm thicker than the other, her head too small, etc.!

This was a 1 hour pose, and the other model, just before lunch. I was having a great time, it was one of those days where just putting charcoal to paper resulted in a drawing. No analysing, no thinking, no struggling, no labouring, just going with the flow. I love those days!

This was my effort for the rest of the day, about 21/2 hours. Not much to show is it, but I was flying high and enjoyed it immensely. I can see now that a few areas need cooling down, and I'm not sure if I like her floating!

Thanks for your visit, see you next month.

Hertford Art Society

2008-09-28T17:20:00.000+01:00

2 minute sketch

1 hour sketch

2 hour sketch, afternoon pose

20 minute sketch

10 minute sketch

8 minute sketch

4 minute sketch

I've not posted these in the order we did them, which I was trying to do, and now I can't change the order!

We started with the 2o minute sketches, then the 10, 8,4,2minutes, then the 1 hour painting before lunch.

The model I chose to draw, Thelma, then did a new pose for the afternoon. The other model, Michelle kept to the same pose as before lunch.

I had a thoroughly wonderful day, interspersed by plenty of chat, coffee and fag breaks!

Coming Soon

2008-08-14T12:35:00.000+01:00

It was my intention to have a separate blog for the HAS life drawing sessions every month.
And to post everything I did on the day.
I won't go back and post stuff here that is already on the other blog, so the next scheduled day is at the end of September.
Sorry to disappoint, but once I get going it will be good.