Week 11: Jean, Don and CursedGirl

Welcome Back!

As we are stuck in lockdown, it is fun to start the drawing prompts up again for what would have been Term 3. Jean and Don have come to the party early with two fine works to show of their different shell studies. As well, we are joined by a friend of mine who at 16 is beginning her journey into drawing. So let's get started...

Jean

Using Prismacolour Premier Pencils on Strathmore 100gsm toned paper Jean has done a lovely drawing of what I think is a Helmet or Scotch Bonnet style shell. (Isn't Google amazing!) A nicely realised work with attention to tone and colour - the hues are cleverly used to help create the form accented by white lined highlights. The Fibbonacci sprial is just visable at the end of the shell . The entire shell is nicely grounded with a soft cast shadow. A really sweet little study Jean, great to see your drawing!

'Helmet Shell' by Jean

Don

Don is showing two studies this week - both created in graphite pencils, 2H, HB, 2B & 4B. He hasn't mentioned a paper, but from the look of the finish I would say it is a hot press or smoother paper. Don has also used a tortillion/paper stump to blend and even out the cast shadows. 

Both of these drawings are wonderful life size renderings drawn from life. What is impressive is that to draw these shapes, with the broken sides, required Don to really understand the design and mechanics of the the shell structure. He has had to work out the interior of the Fibbonacci spiral, how it works and how the light interacts with it.  He says 'I'm happy enough with them now that I understand how deceptively difficult these were, particularly the cavity areas.'  

Yes Don, difficult, but you did it exceptionally well!

'Two Shell Studies' by Don

CursedGirl

Using a smooth, thin card style of paper (type unknown) with 6B, B and 4H graphite pencil, CursedGirl has created a great drawing  using a photo as reference. This drawing is well observed and CG has drawn the form and spiral shape very well. CG has shown me a number of her works and her particular style has developed from Japanese Anime and Manga styles. She prefers to work with line and blocks of solid tone. This technique has worked well with this cone shell drawing, but you can also see that she has begun to add more tonal gradations in the concave 'belly' of the shell to create shading that form a more 3D image. The shading coupled with the defining line in that part of the drawing I think works particularly well. CursedGirl is still developing her technique and I think her work shows a lot of potential - I expect to see some more great drawings from her!

'Shell' by CursedGirl