Never fear, this simply deals with that age-old, innocent exercise – life drawing.
I know, “click-bait”!
Actually, when I started college I hated the life drawing classes. They felt something like flossing – undeniably beneficial but a bit of a drag. I include here only one drawing from that time.
In 1986 I started to attend a weekly unsupervised class at the now defunct, “Edgely Road Lambeth Adult Education Centre” (my efforts there had nothing to do with its demise I promise). My great friend Paul Ryan, a superb artist and draughtsman, had encouraged me to go. More importantly he gave me some essential advice: to loosen up. I began to use cheap paper, more painterly media and big brushes that stopped me getting “into the weeds”. The result was I started to enjoy myself. Perhaps his best piece of advice was this: take the work home, store it and only consider throwing it away after six months. I mostly continue to follow that rule and it is the reason that these drawings are here some 33 years later. Not every one is good but I am glad they are still around.
Thank you Paul x
1981
Conté crayon
16 1/2 x 23 in.
1986
Ink, brown chalk and white acrylic paint
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink with wax resist
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Pencil, ink and white goauche
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Pencil, ink and white gouache
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink
Approx. 16 1/2 x 12 in.
1986
Ink
Approx. 13 x 12 in.
1986
Ink
Approx. 19 x 11 in.
1986
Pencil and ink
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink and brown chalk
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink and brown chalk
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink and brown chalk
15 x 11 in.
1986
Ink and brown chalk
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink and brown chalk
16 1/2 x 23 in.
1986
Ink, chalk and white gouache
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink, chalk and white gouache
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Pencil and ink
16 1/2 x 23 in.
1986
Pencil, ink and brown chalk
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Pencil and ink
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Pen, ink and watercolor
23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink and chalk and white gouache
22 x 15 in.
1986
Pencil, ink, and white gouache
15 x 22 in.
1986
Ink, chalk and white gouache
15 x 22 in.
1986
Pencil, ink and chalk with wax resist
Approx. 21 x 15 in.
1986
Ink with wax resist
13 x 19 in.
1986
Pencil, ink and chalk
16 1/2 x 23 in.
1986
Ink and chalk with wax resist
Approx. 17 x 14 in.
1986
Pencil, chalk and ink
Approx. 23 x 16 1/2 in.
1986
Ink, chalk and white gouache
Approx. 18 x 16 1/2 in.
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To see more images – and in greater detail – visit this page Life Drawing
