From Life - Royal Academy

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.

Exhibition continues until 11 March.
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/from-life



Zoffany



Unidentified artist, A Life Class, Early 19th century?

Oil on canvas, 987 X 1347 X 25 mm

Formerly attributed to William Hogarth.

Unidentified artist, A Life Class, Early 19th century?

Oil on canvas, 987 X 1347 X 25 mm

Formerly attributed to William Hogarth.

Saturday life drawing - November

 Had a good session at the art gallery yesterday. My tutor suggested I use a limited palette of four colours: blue black, white, burnt sienna and yellow ochre. I was a bit sceptical of my ability to do anything useful with just those four colours but actually, I was really pleased with the result. It's not a good photograph - doesnt show the colours as they actually are. I also tried to work from dark to light as I tend to make my paintings very pale to start with. I faff for ages with too subtle a range of tones, then have to wallop in a load of dark tones just before time's up. not a good way to work.