Portraits Galore
Our new pencil portraiture class started recently at the SHED. Alex Deveney is leading the group, which is showing real interest from members. Alex was formerly a joiner to trade, but he is now building a new career as an artist. His business has been running for about 6 years now and at first, I questioned what seemed to be an odd move! But, on giving this greater in-depth thought, joinery work requires precise measurement and detail, as does this specific form of art.
Alex is very clear in his presentation of detail to the group, which has a balance of female and male attendees who are all Shed members. He first introduced the Loomis method, a classical style of figure drawing and portraiture, based on Andrew Loomis, a well-known American illustrator. Based on this artist, Alex explained the proportions of the face as 5 eyes wide and top to bottom it is drawn in thirds.
He also detailed the gridding method whereby a lined grid is drawn to make composition of the face more accurate. My own effort of a portrait in class was reminiscent of a macaque monkey, but hey! First week, maybe there’s still hope.
Our artist then detailed the gridding method whereby a grid is drawn to make composition of the face more accurate. Alex also sat as a model for the last half-hour, but this was not too successful as leading a group, keeping still and answering questions is not easy! What is clear from the group is that there are clearly a number of potentially real artists! The rest of us? Well! We’re most certainly enjoying the peace of the participation and some rather cheeky comments flying around about efforts made.
Towards the end of the class, he suggested we each draw a self-portrait as ‘homework’. Help! How much punishment can this guy stand? Anyway, we all had a bash with some really good outcomes. At the next session we moved onto the use of charcoal as a medium – messy stuff but really effective! We’re now looking forward to drawing the model he’s bringing in next time. This class is a winner. Keep up the good work Alex! The talent we’re building right here at the SHED is phenomenal.
The Portraiture group meet every second Wednesday from 12noon until 3pm and we alternate with the Mindful Art group. We are growing in the form of friendship aided by a wee cuppa at the break. We make ‘works of art’ and we share experiences, tips and interests.
Alex says “I hope people are enjoying it.” “I am aiming for it to be interesting, engaging, and fun – it doesn’t need to be serious.”
Hope to see you there.