I started shading my Apollo some more. Then I realized my measurement was very wrong. So I rushed back to my bible ‘Learning to see’ by Paul Foxton and found his cast drawing article. You can learn so much from this site. Paul says about his cast drawing ‘It’s not meant to be finished’. I agree. I agree then when I start drawing, some reason I start wanting to finish and see the result.

As you practice more you realize you need more practice. Just like aikido.

For the time being, I tried a silly experiment. I modified my Apollo using photoshop and adjusted his over sized long nose.

Apollo – after plastic surgery

As a former student of Grand Central Academy of Art, I am proud to say my first finished piece in my cast drawing class was fairly successful. Usually, beginner students start by making a cast drawing of the mouth, as it seems to be the easiest to render of all casts that are displayed in the hall.

The following two photos are close-ups of some notes that were taken to guide me through the process. Pointers and reminders are always helpful.

Medium: Graphite on Paper

Cast drawing by Rebecca C Gray at the GCA, graphite on paper, 2011

Follow the work done by myself, fellow students, and art events at the GCA blog:  http://grandcentralacademy.blogspot.com/

Lineage of Artistic Instruction:  http://www.studioescalier.com/image/flower1A.html.  At the bottom of this chart is Ted Seth Jacobs who instructed Jacob Collins, (the Founder of the GCA), and whom along with his former students are instructing me.

Carpeaux Cast Drawing as of July 14th 2011

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was a sculpture in the 19th century, and  I’ve been drawing a from a cast copy of his work this summer at Eduardo Fernandez’s studio in Portland.  Here is a link showing the studio and our work: http://www.eduardofernandez.com/S/Inside_the_Atelier.html

This drawing started as a simple block-in in the spring, and 15 weeks latter, over 105 working hours, has become what you see above.  The following are pictures of my progress on this drawing:

Carpeaux Cast Drawing Block-In, March 29th, 2011

Carpeaux Cast Drawing May 10th, 2011

Carpeaux Cast Drawing June 16, 2011

As always, comments and questions are more than welcome, and be sure to subscribe to my blog to receive an email when new work is posted.

My daughter asked me in a text why we were doing this. The real answer was far too complicated to type on those tiny tiny keys, so I texted back “World Domination.” Sometimes these high powered types get too big for their britches. You’re either in or you’re out. What’s it gonna be?

I’ve started reading up on the process of making a cast and I am happy to report that things have improved since the Dark Ages and even though it will still take an hour, at least it won;t take 2-4 hours as with the traditional method. My kids are both red heads, so plan on hearing the howls clear up to Alaska.

It takes time to be able to see all the values in the cast composition.  I’ve found that my eye has become more sensitive to value and shape due these cast drawings.

Here’s the finished drawing:

The drawing is of a plaster cast of a mouth.  In my next post, I will show you a pic of  my setup when I drew this at the studio.

Here are some of my biggest fans:  Joachim, Max and Luisa!  They are very cool.

I feel my drawing skills are improving and I’m able to get much more done in 3 hours  than I could just a few weeks ago.  Juliette said I can now spend more time on my drawings- I am so glad.

Cast drawing wk 3

I am so glad to be studying here along side so many gifted students.  I added a couple links in the sidebar if you would like to see what work 2nd year students are doing.  Below is some of my work from the past week.

Cast Drawing

This week I worked on blocking in the figure. Once I can consistently start a drawing well, I can begin doing work that is more finished.

I am making friends and everyone has been very encouraging to me, the new girl, who started 2 1/2 months before the end of the year.

At Aristides Classical Atelier we primarily use gestural lines and comparative measurement, working back and forth between the two. This approach helps to determine and capture what inspires the artist as well as maintaining accuracy, and helps to deter one from creating an accurate drawing without feeling. Emphasizing dominate and/or repeating lines or curves, while subduing others brings attention to what is beautiful in the subject.

This approach is a bit different from “sight-size” drawing – the dominant drawing method I learned at the Florence Academy of Art. Both working methods are important to learn and I am happy that this new method is finally sinking in.

Atelier: A place where students work and learn under a master artist.

Comparative measurement: Continually comparing height to width staring with the largest forms or masses.

Sight-Size: Placing one’s drawing surface in such a way that the subject and the drawing appear the same size when viewed form a specific spot.

Hand Cast block in drawing 04/16/09

At the Aristides Classical Atelier, my days consist of 3 hours working from the live model in the mornings, and 3-6 hours working from plaster casts of ancient statuary each evening.  Their are 16 of us working together under the mentorship of Juliette Aristides http://www.aristidesarts.com.  We are all at different levels in our study.  As a beginning student I am working towards accuracy in drawing. Once mastered; painting is introduced adding one color at a time; forcing the student to fully master each facet and combination of materials, ideas and tools available.

It is wonderful to become a part of this tight-knit community of artists of various ages, from different states and countries; all striving for truth and beauty in their work.  During our hour lunch break, we sit around a common table talking about our lives.

Drawings from the live model and plaster casts 4/13-4/17/09

I took requests and did some other things on my own, but all in all it turned out pretty freaking cool.  Complete with life-sized bones, AVP volleball logo, Mr. Natty-Boh himself, Pac Man, Bender from Futurama, some random tagging and other things I’m sure I’m forgetting, Adam certainly had the best cast I’ve ever seen.

It’s gone now, but feel free to check out more pictures and details on his blog post here…