Exercise 3.2: Working with external visual impetus - people

This exercise asks us to sketch a single figure to begin with doing something very ordinary. The initial drawings should be quick and then a longer slower sketch.

These are my first attempts which I am not pleased with at all. I got so caught up in not being able to confidently draw the faces my nerves got the better of me and therefore interfered with the quality of my sketches.

Single Figure:

For this last attempt I tried to take on board what I had learnt so far and I feel it came out a bit better but I am still struggling with likeness, form and perspective. I spent more time on this one than the ones above and found it helped but I still have a lot to learn.

Crowds and Activities:

Next we were to draw in a public place concentrating on people alone and in groups. I chose my favourite cafe as I thought I would find it easier there and it would be an enjoyable place to try this exercise. However, my anxiety rose to new levels and I didn't expect to be so uncomfortable doing this exercise. I went there several times to attempt this exercise and in some cases coming away with nothing drawn. 

Here is my first attempt:

First I swatched my supplies.

I had my Inktober kit with me and had been reading Lynne Chapman's People Sketching book and was hoping I could get a good effect with my Promarkers and doing line work over the top. It came out ok but not as good as I'd have liked. Chapman's work is so inspiring and I think that added an element of pressure rather than helping me to do this exercise well.

Chapman, L., 2006. Sketching People.

I then started to research how to draw faces in an illustrative style. I am a member of Frannerd's Patreon where she shares videos about her illustration techniques and so I tried to do her challenge of practising drawing faces in a simplified way. This was much harder to do than I thought and added more stress and pressure.

Frannerd.cl. (2019). Frannerd. [online] Available at: https://www.frannerd.cl/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019]. (I can't link to the actual video, since it is paid content but I have referenced her website above and took notes below)

Faces practice:

I tried practising faces from the internet, on tv...

Its not going well so far, lot's of practice needed in this area of illustration.

Cafe' Sketches:

I really liked using the blue watercolour pencil, it was good for bold lines but not good for details such as eyes because it is too soft.

I really like how my sketch of Michelle making coffee (top of last photo) came out, I think it was the best one. Drawing people from behind is far less daunting than drawing their face but I still have a way to go getting the form of the body right in fast sketches.

I had one more attempt at a different cafe this time, it was much larger and so I had less change of being 'discovered and could sketch with  less pressure. I feel this is reflected in my drawings. I used my Blackwing pencil which I felt more comfortable with too.

I like the side view of the lady drinking her coffee. I think I am starting to get a tiny bit of capturing the essence of the person and location.

I really like the expression on the face of this lady who seemed quite grumpy as she waited in the queue. She had a big coat on and rucksack, think I am starting to see a hint of a way forward with this sketch.

I chose not to re-do the route and sketch people on it because I wasn't inspired to and I knew I would be far too nervous, instead I will continue to practice sketching people in places I feel more comfortable for now and see where it takes me.

Additions:

Looking at Jo Davies people sketches as suggested by my tutor I can see that Jo mixes her whimsical style with correct anatomy and some exaggeration of proportions to create her people into characters. This has given me some ideas for my own people sketching and to try to loosen up the way I approach drawing them to work towards my own style of people sketching and not be so concerned about likeness and accuracy.

Instagram.com. 2020. Instagram. [online] Available at: <https://www.instagram.com/jodaviesillustration/> [Accessed 21 September 2020].

Jo Davies. 2020. Artwork — Jo Davies. [online] Available at: <https://www.jodaviesillustration.com/work> [Accessed 21 September 2020].