Inaugral drawing class
Dear
All,My first day was soooper! Just as one imagines a drawing course at L’École des Beaux-Arts to be - old amphitheatre adorned with statues, in the centre of which is the nude model doing various poses for the students to draw.
The professor then walks around the room and gives individual instruction, whilst you are drawing - stands behind you and just watches, giving the odd comment (he told me to use a darker pencil - 4B - SO much bolder than my usual HB modest lines!); or even takes the pencil to exemplify a point. He also demonstrated a few points on the blackboard, for the whole class.
I am SO pleased I had my drawing classes in St Barts, as the format is v similar.
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| L'amour prisonnier |
The next 2hrs are each 4 x 15min poses, so more time to 'perfect' the drawing, using shading and more detail.
I am off swimming this morning, and then doing my art 'homework', which is to draw nude statues (the prof said to go to the Louvre, but that is SO far away and €€, so I researched 'statues, jardins, parcs, Paris' and found that Venus Genitrix and L'amour prisonnier are just 7mins walk away in Jardin des Plantes (and both nude, which is what I am looking for). I look forward to speaking to you all later. Love Rachelx
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| Palais des Etudes |
Let the painting begin ...
Dear All,
I thought you would like to hear about my first painting class yesterday, and see a few of my attempts (before they hit the bin!).
I thought you would like to hear about my first painting class yesterday, and see a few of my attempts (before they hit the bin!).
The
first class was quite a challenge – we were assigned the task of painting a nude
model in sessions of 15mins, different poses each time, and then later just
3mins per pose!
All the other class members are accomplished artists in their smocks at their easels, just getting on with it.
All the other class members are accomplished artists in their smocks at their easels, just getting on with it.
I
just simply did not know what to do with the watercolour in such a short space
of time and got SO stuck in the pencil drawing that I hardly had time to paint!
One is left very much on one’s own and the professor strolls around looking over the shoulder of each artist. They want you to express yourself and then give you guidance along the way, if needed/wanted – which I V much did!
One is left very much on one’s own and the professor strolls around looking over the shoulder of each artist. They want you to express yourself and then give you guidance along the way, if needed/wanted – which I V much did!
I felt like bursting into tears in the first 30mins/hour, and almost did, but it
was no bad thing as it pushed me to ‘cry out’ for help. The prof was/is V
reassuring and gave me good guidance ... He said I should just play and have
fun, and that I should not be afraid of anything ... especially not him
(although I HATE it when he stands behind me).
I'm sending you a couple of my first attempts, which are not finished, and which I am NOT proud of, but I am exposing them as it is all part of my learning to ‘let go’ and not feel that I am being constantly judged, which stops me from relaxing and expressing myself fully.
I'm sending you a couple of my first attempts, which are not finished, and which I am NOT proud of, but I am exposing them as it is all part of my learning to ‘let go’ and not feel that I am being constantly judged, which stops me from relaxing and expressing myself fully.
I
am going to work on these further and take more photos of further
experimentation ... I should indeed learn to have fun – not easy!
I
will enjoy telling you more later, but now must do a quick translation for one
of my St Barts clients, before going for a swim at Piscine Jean Taris. Love
Rachelx
Learning how to let go ...
Dear All,
It
was a V hard class yesterday and here are a few of the quick sketches and
watercolours.
The
one reclining is unfinished, in fact all of them could have done with more
time, hence them being quick impressions. The professor showed me some brush
techniques on the reclining nude – the plum coloured feet and shadows.
He also
told me to hold my pencil at the top (I’ve noticed that all three of my art
teachers do this) – it makes for a lot looser, more fluid style, which I
definitely need.
I have been doing non-stop art ever since, apart from swimming this morning.
I am determined to practise, practise, practise in order to make the most of my time here, and to hopefully progress.
I look forward to chatting over the w/e. Love Rachelx
I have been doing non-stop art ever since, apart from swimming this morning.
I am determined to practise, practise, practise in order to make the most of my time here, and to hopefully progress.
I look forward to chatting over the w/e. Love Rachelx
Let the brush take charge!
Dear All,
Here is the artwork I discussed with you on the ’phone – I hope you receive it successfully.
Here is the artwork I discussed with you on the ’phone – I hope you receive it successfully.
The
one below is on a bigger piece of paper, as my teacher is encouraging
me to paint on a larger scale. It is rather light, but hopefully you can see it
or at least get an impression of what it looks like.
I am also learning to 'draw' with a brush, which saves time on quick works - here is my first attempt. Love Rachelxx
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| 5min pose 'drawn' with brush (for first time) |
