In my quest to learn new subjects and explore techniques the simplicity of pencil sketching often lures me into a peaceful space. I enjoy drawing birds and endeavoring to interpret their personality and characteristics but until now I have not ventured into life drawings. So this is truly an experiment. I’m drawn to the female form in particular the subtlety of smooth, graceful curves. The suggestions of sensuality and seductiveness that emerge in the process. In this attempt only the torso, one bent arm, and part of the hip are visible, with the figure emerging from an otherwise blank sheet of paper. The arm is gracefully folded, the wrist relaxed, and the hand delicately posed with slightly extended fingers, lending the composition a quiet elegance. The challenge is often in the gentle graphite shading which defines the body, in this case the side of the ribcage and waist, creating a subtle play of light and shadow while preserving the drawing’s airy quality. I have intentionally left the head, legs, and much of the body unfinished, allowing the surrounding white space to become an integral part of the composition. Soft, flowing contour lines and restrained tonal modeling hopefully give the figure a sense of calm, intimacy, and understated beauty.
Graphite on paper.
10×9”
