Final Piece: Figure

The shading in this picture gives it a sense of form and depth. There is also foreshortening evident in the arms, and slightly in the hands. The pose looks relaxed as no muscles in the shoulders are tensed, however the legs look slightly uncomfortable as they are raised and tensed slightly. The proportions in general are good, the only real problem is the legs go slightly off the page.

Final Piece: Still Life

This picture was focusing on composition, which has been effectively achieved. The drawing shows distinct rule of thirds, with the lower third being taken by most of the objects, and the right third being taken by the mannequin. There are also good lines in the piece, as it seems almost to be scaled up as it moves to the right, shown by an imaginary line from the top left of the chair to the head of the mannequin, and the bottom of the glasses to the bottom of the mannequin. There are also no kissing objects, and the dice makes a good focal point for the image.

Final Piece: Landscape

This picture is framed effectively by the top roof and the cameras on the side. Indeed it is framed multiple times as you look further into the image, and it has a great sense of depth because of this. The lines that are made by the curves of the window invite you even further into the image, almost making it seem that you could look past the building which blocks the view. The lines of the walls are clean and crisp in the centre of the image, adding to the feeling of the modern architecture which is the subject.

Week 12: Colour 2

A 20 minute colour study using chalk pastels.

This is somewhat more competent as an image than the previous colour study. There is nice depth, created by the shadow of the birdbath and the shadow behind it, it seems very obvious that it is not just a part of the background. The red tree in the foreground is also good for breaking up the image and creating depth, as well as observing rule of thirds. The plant in the foreground of the middle is not so good, however, as it doesn't really seem to be in front of the gravel floor, perhaps due to lack of tonal values and also it is slightly transparent due to the medium used.

Week 11: Colour 1

A 15 minute colour study using chalk pastels.

The composition in this drawing is good, using perspective of the conservatory which is mirrored on the ground by the stone tiles, it draws the viewer into the centre of the image. An issue is that the main focal points are the plant pots at the bottom left and the overly blue sky at the top right, and there is not really a lot going on in the centre of the image. This creates an odd imbalance of focus as most of the information is in one of the corners.

Week 10: Urban Interiors - Classical

A 15 minute sketch of a classical interior, this drawing is pleasing as a composition as it has multiple layers of depth, it has a foreground in the fence at the bottom, a midground in the pillar on the right, and the rest is background. This creates a good sense of depth in the image and also helps to break it up into smaller sections. It also follows rule of thirds as the pillar on the right takes up a third of the page.

The tonal value of the image is not great, as a lot of the stonework is similar shades which does not translate very well as a drawing, however there is enough variation to be able to understand where the layers of stonework are.

Week 9: Urban Interiors - Modern

A 15 minute landscape study of modern interiors. As a composition this is effective, there are lots of lines, such as the window and one that traces the three cubes at the bottom, point into the centre of the drawing, which the eye can then follow any one of out again. It also follows rule of thirds somewhat, with the glass panes making up two thirds and the building making up the left third. The cubes in the bottom also roughly fill a horizontal third of the image.

The perspective in this image is effective for the same reason as the composition, the multiple lines of the glass clearly point toward a horizon line in the centre. The lines in the building to the left do this equally well, also showing the form and curve of the building. The curves on the glass are represented well in this same way, as the lines do not seem random but do follow curves that make sense.

Week 8: Non-human Anatomy

A roughly 10 minute anatomy study of a bird, this image makes anatomical sense and the proportions are well placed. The wings and tail feathers are good, though the tail feathers could perhaps do with being a bit longer. It is also clear that the bird is looking down at an angle, even though you cannot see the eyes in the picture, the information gained from the position of the beak can inform you of this.

Another roughly 10 minute anatomy study, this is also a successful image as the pose is immediately clear. The rough way in which the feathers not on the head have been drawn gives a great sense of depth and form to the bird, helped by the shadow it casts. The head is well defined, though perhaps not immediately obvious as to its positioning due to the shading. Both the legs and the beak help to give the bird a pose which makes sense, and also make it feel very grounded on a surface.

Week 7: Balance & Weight

A 15 minute drawing focusing on the weight of the body, in this especially around the elbow this is evident. While the legs appear to be in a very relaxed position, shown by their lack of stretch and slight bend, the elbow on which she rests is in contrast and looks quite uncomfortable. This is increased by the slight hang of the head, which would occur when weight is focused on the shoulder and elbow.

The concept of weight in this drawing is also helped by the shading in it, which gives a sense of form and shape to the body which helps the viewer to understand the weight it carries.

Week 6: Pose & Posture

Three 5 minute sketches focusing on pose.

The central pose has a good line running from the left side of the body down to the foot, forming a good area for the eye to travel. The feet in this picture, especially the left one, are not drawn very well, however, and have no real sense of anatomy, which is a contrast to the other areas.

Proportions in both images of the right are generally good, the rightmost one is not entirely accurate as the body appears elongated in proportion to the legs, but the arms exhibit good pose, giving a sense of what the woman is looking up to. The pose in the central image is also effective, showing a sense of sorrow or depression, as the limbs hang down and the face is turned towards the ground. The poses in all three tell a definite story of a woman who is depressed changing her attitude, which makes the three rather powerful when put together.