After learning how to render the things we see in front of us (focusing on line quality) and then working on linear perspective, our class moved on to shading. Just trying to get the basics, we first broke things down into shadow shapes and saw how these shapes pushed the sense of three-dimensionality in our work. By the end, we were shading large pieces of work using charcoal as seen in my last image (comprised of four 24″ by 18″ sheets). With my first image (my own rendition of one of Cambiaso’s sketches) I tried to depict a narrative by having the four figures interact with one another.With my second image I continued working with shadow shapes (but this time on the face), and with my third image (the figure drawing) I focused more on proportions and how to simplify the body with these shapes. One thing our class learned from our figure studies was how its good to think of there being a “wire” or stick figure that runs through the core of the figure’s form before starting to focus on shape and muscle. Lastly, with my fourth image, I thought about and worked with scale (which affects proportions) and the hardness (or softness) of certain line edges. If something doesn’t appear right when it comes to depicting volume through the use of shading, the problem is usually the hardness/softness of certain line edges and/or the value of the particular shades being used.
