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Subject: "Does anyone draw from life?"

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Study and Teach Fine Art Techniques Charcoal and Pencil Drawings - Techniques by J.D. Hillberry Topic #197

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sgreeves
Member since Nov-15-02
75 posts,

Dec-03-02, 02:53 PM ()

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"Does anyone draw from life?"

I am fairly new to this type of realistic drawing, so my questions are unlearned and possible silly, but does everyone here draw from photo's? I do not intend to become a professional artist, I do it for my own sanity and relaxation.

I have mostly drawn from life and I'm wondering why someone would want a drawing of a photo??? Especially when a copy could be reproduced so easy today.

Second question, I have a sketch of my wife below, I love this sketch and I would like to bring it to life. She was gracious enough to model for me and I do not have a photo. How would some of you proceed?

Steve

MHK

Member since Sep-28-02
353 posts, 9 feedbacks, 16 points

Dec-03-02, 03:29 PM ()

1. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

I believe that the reason to draw from the photo reference is that "live" situation does not offer enough information to draw photorealistic drawing, though sure it would be more fun

http://www.mattikataja.com

WarHorseLover

Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Dec-03-02, 03:33 PM ()

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2. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

Steve,
90% of my drawings are from photo's because most that I do are commissions. When doing a commission whether equine or human or what ever it would be a lot to ask someone or expect an animal to sit for you for such a long time. Most of my clients are out of state and it would just not be realistic to expect me to fly to them to do a drawing. Using photographs you can spend as much time as you like on certain details.
I don't plan on ever doing photorealistic drawings (I admire and like the works those artist produce) I like my drawings to look like a drawing. It's just my taste and style. Not to say I wouldn't like to get the photorealistic nailed but I like having my own style.
Your wifes drawing is good, bless her heart too because no way if my husband were an artist would I sit for hours for him to draw me. Too hyper I guess.
There are a lot of very, very talented people here and I too am interested in THEIR reasons for photographs too.

Equine and Western Art by: S. Baldwin

Melissa_M

Member since Aug-23-02
326 posts, 6 feedbacks,

Dec-03-02, 09:10 PM ()

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3. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

I almost always draw from photos. When I was younger I drew from life sometimes, mostly still lifes, and it was quite fun. I still want to do that and have done that recently (just for fun, mostly), but I prefer working form photos...because I don't have to worry about the person moving and I can take as long as I want. I want to draw (most of the time) in a photorealistic style, but drawings can never look exactly like a photo, I don't think. If they did, people wouldn't care so much about having them drawn. But, if a drawing did look like a photograph (and some do, basically), somone would like to have it for the skill of the artist. I think it's also easier to draw from a photograph because it's not 3D...though that might not be good as it may show up in your drawing.
Anyway, I'm rambling a bit, so I'll stop now.

- Melissa (aka: Honey Bee)

itoy

Member since Aug-29-02
149 posts, 2 feedbacks,

Dec-03-02, 09:20 PM ()

4. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

Steve, I think you are right when you said that we can just easily make a copy of a photo that we already have. But at the same time, no matter how many or what ever the size you'll reproduce the picture, it's still another conventional picture. Draw that pix and put it beside the original picture, surely people who see it would be staring on the drawing version no matter how off it is from the original pix. MHK got another point too. Most client/people don't have the time to sit there and be drawn. But you know what? I would love to draw a subject in a live sitting, but I couldn't get the kind of result I wanted to, again due to a limited time. By the way, I love your drawing. Keep it up.

God bless,

itoy

Phil
Member since Aug-26-02
6 posts, 6 feedbacks,

Dec-03-02, 09:24 PM ()

5. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

I have mostly drawn from life and I'm wondering why someone would want a drawing of a photo???

I have a sketch of my wife below, I love this sketch and I would like to bring it to life. She was gracious enough to model for me and I do not have a photo. How would some of you proceed?

I think you answered you own question!

www.graphite-art.com

MHK

Member since Sep-28-02
353 posts, 9 feedbacks, 16 points

Dec-03-02, 09:30 PM ()

6. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

I believe that artstudents etc. art people just want to "explore" the behavior of light and colors.. To regular artists it seems to be enough when they have captured the light (or so they believe) and then they leave the drawing to sketch level...

Ok of course this light thing is important but I just dont get it why we never drew anything real at school, nothing but these abstract sketch things.. I didnt know anything about this photorealistic stuff until just recently. Now I have to catch up some things..

Anyway, I'm rambling a bit, so I'll stop now. No bad feelings to anybody, okay?

http://www.mattikataja.com

sgreeves
Member since Nov-15-02
75 posts,

Dec-04-02, 01:06 PM ()

7. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

Thanks for your thoughts.
I'm learning so much from this forum. I use Mr Hillberry's book for some techniques, but you guys collectively help make it real for me.

I have no school art training so I guess I should be paying you all for your teaching (but I won't).

Steve

J D Hillberry

Member since Aug-21-02
107 posts, 8 feedbacks, 16 points

Dec-04-02, 01:23 PM ()

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8. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

Quote I guess I should be paying you all for your teaching (but I won't).

You can pay us by showing us your progress. It is truly rewarding to see how quickly some artists here have improved.

Thanks to all who unselfishly offer their expertise in this forum. By working together and sharing everything we learn, we are all improving.

J. D.

J. D. Hillberry
http://www.jdhillberry.com

sgreeves
Member since Nov-15-02
75 posts,

Dec-04-02, 02:37 PM ()

9. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

Fair enough.
Here's one I'm working the sketch up. I hope to transfer it to a collage of all my kids.

the hair... the hair... the hair

What am I doing wrong?

Steve

theduke
Member since Sep-23-02
119 posts,

Dec-04-02, 03:28 PM ()

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10. "RE: Does anyone draw from life?"

sgreeves.. You ever thump through a magazine or come across a picture that just catches your eye and you think to yourself, that would be fun to draw.. well that's what I do.. When I see something that catches the eye I think of how I would like to reproduce that, not by sticking it in a copy machine, but by doing it on my own, with my own hands.. ..and the satisfaction of hearing "you drew that?" does nothing but make me keep going at it. I do think that drawing live subjects is harder, having to know where to position body features so that it is all proportioned correctly has got to be tough, and using photo's is great practice.. maybe you should give it a try?

http://www.geocities.com/dukeearwood

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