Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Charles Pugin,Drawing from Life at the Royal Academy, (Somerset House),1 January 1808
There were some good things in this exhibition but overall, a bit disappointing. Not enough variety of work, not enough history etc. The film of Chinese students drawing a huge head of David was good, as were some of the 19th Century paintings of life classes at the RA. Amusing in a Giles cartoon sort of way; some of the students didn't seem to be paying attention or looked decidedly bored. Also wearing hats indoors. You have to feel for the models who must have been pretty cold.
Worked on an etching plate (soft ground) last week, this time graphite stick on newsprint, but for some reason, it didn't etch very well. Hmm. I have theories. Back to the drawing board.
Had a day of life drawing on Saturday and our Tuesday evening sessions started up again this week so drawing for 2018 is off to a good start. A friend has decided to set me a weekly drawing challenge too so news of that coming soon.
We had our monthly life drawing day at the art gallery yesterday. No painting for me this time; spent the whole day drawing. The drawing I made from the long pose was pretty much complete which is very unusual for me - and the figure has a head! It was such a great pose - loads of foreshortening. This may be one of the most successful life drawings I've made. Pity the cat lay on it when I got it home and carried off a lot of the charcoal on her coat! Ah well...
Here's the drawing before and after it had been 'improved' by the cat.