[AJ_Jefferies]

Hello!

I'm not the strongest drawer in the world but I wanted to improved as many skills as I can this year... So I enrolled in a life drawing class for a couple of hours a week. I'm only on my second week, but I decided I should post what I've done so the brilliant/kind/sexy people of cghub can give me feedback & help me improve (please!).

45 min


I'm not happy with my lack of structural knowledge, nor my ability to capture the gesture of a pose quickly enough - so I've been practising to try and improve. These are based from photographs.






Any comments, thoughts, pointing/laughter - all appreciated.

Cheers!

AJ

[AJ_Jefferies]

I also took up a weekend sculpture class, modelling a head in clay from a live model. It's the first time I've worked with clay, not to mention the first time I've sculpted from life... I really enjoyed it!

The head still isn't fired/finished, but here are some in progress shots for anyone interested...

Clay applied to head armature, basic shape(s) defined


Working on definition, forms & starting features



Beginning to tool the surface for smoothing


Refining


Adding hair


Nearing the end of the day


The following steps were fascinating, but hard work & not for the feint hearted! At this stage the head is a solid ball of clay affixed to the metal/wooden armature. If you were to fire it, the armature would burn & the head would explode... So, it needs to be removed & hollowed out. This involves slicing the head into sections, scooping the clay out until it has an even thickness, then reassembling the parts.

Slicing & hollowing


The next (& nearly final) stage is to 'glue' the sections back together, rebuild any damaged areas & transfer the head onto a solid base.

Head & new base


From here I still need to hollow out the base & then fire it in the kiln.

[Colin-Ashcroft]

Wow, first time sculpting and from life! Looks impressive. Nice to see a sequence of photographs which explain the methods/techniques used. Thanks for sharing!

[AJ_Jefferies]

Thanks man, I hope to snap some of the final steps & the final fired head as soon as I can get some time to go back!

In the mean time here's a sketch from this weeks life drawing session.

30min


There are issues with the length of her arm & the lines are quick weak & 'scratchy', but I've not used charcoal before & it was a great experience!

[zemotion]

Woahhh the sculpture's so badass!!

[AJ_Jefferies]

Thanks!

Here's last nights efforts. Lots wrong with them & plenty to work on...

45 mins


30 mins


Finally got the clay head fired, it's in my gallery here but thought I'd post some shots for posterity!

[AJ_Jefferies]

Had our first male model at last nights session. Really, really struggled with, well everything!

40min

Really ballsed up his left arm, which in turn made me realise I'd actually f**ked up the entire angle of the upper body & his legs. Ah well...

[Steve_Somers]

Hi AJ! Cool thread, I like how you're pushing and challenging yourself. Here's a couple thoughts: If that figure drawing class has some skeletons to look at it might be good to do some studies of that. Also studies of shoulders, feet, knees, areas with a lot of muscular, joint activity going on. Just to get them very clear in your mind. Maybe try painting in the figure class too? That clay head looks great by the way.

[AJ_Jefferies]

Thanks for the advice Steve, I'm desperately trying to hold all of the anatomy knowledge I keep studying in my brain, but I'v efound that the minute I have the model in front of me it evaporates!

After a brief respite, here's one of last night's drawings. Trying to force myself away from shading everything.

40min

[phrenzy84]

Very nice, extension of the shoulder. I really get the feeling of weight and strain in that area.

[AJ_Jefferies]

Couple from last nights session

30min


5min

[Luckylegs]

Well, I'm about to take on a Life Drawing class myself. You look like you enjoy the class. Great work on this thread. Hopefully this class will help me become a concept artist.

[AJ_Jefferies]

Long time no post!

I've recently started back at life drawing classes once a week & also life sculpture, so going to keep updating my progress here.

Couple of quick ones...





And a longer study (not hugely happy with this one, wish I'd put a little more thought into it)


Will hopefully have some shots of the sculpture(s) soon. Any and all comments/advice massively appreciated!

[Intervain]

hey beautiful stuff here

[mindbender]

Great thread with inspiring posts. Thanks for sharing so much of your artistic process. Keep studying the way you do and you'll keep improving.