A second stab at the drawing...getting a bit more of a likeness I think...does this matter ? 
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
When is a good drawing not a good drawing?
This is one of the silliest questions you can ask yourself as when you try to answer the question context is everything. This drawing is not the best likeness yet it does have a power that far out ways such short comings. In fact very few people will even know whether this is a good likeness or not and so that context doesn't even apply to whether they think that this is a good drawing or not. 
For the record the reason why this drawing isn't such a good likeness is because of the eyes. They are too alert rather than the more sullen eyes in real life. Actually that sullenness is probably due to the fact that the model was trying to not more whilst she was drawn - also this is made from a photograph I made whist she was sitting. Again this adds further context upon which to judge the drawing.
In the end I like this drawing and as I believe I have said a number of times before that is all that matters.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, 27 November 2011
40th President
Just a bit of fun after days of graft on the human body project - it was nice to do something for relaxation rather than to improve my craft. 
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Head
Having got over the frustration I felt at my last life drawing class I started to review the way for for my life drawing and have identified a problem I have with heads - I just don't draw them big enough. Having identified this I have then set about correct this problem with differing levels of success but I feel I am starting to show some progress. This has raised another interesting question - just how life like do want my drawings to be? By this I don't mean out of proportion but rather whether I want to record every sinew and tendon or rather take a more relaxed attitude to such details preferring to concentrate on the overall effect. I have no answer to this question but it is an interesting one to ponder. 
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Frustration
This was the third drawing I made at my life drawing class - hence the no. 3 and it was created from a sense of deep frustration. I don't know why but I started the session with no real energy and this was revealed in the drawings No. 1 & 2. By the time I got to number 3 I was so frustrated that I just had to let it out and this is the result. I actually find the drawing very interesting and have started to think I should let my frustrations out more often...maybe maybe not. 
The whole life drawing process has developed my artistic skills greatly, this is in part a reaction to the need to create a better drawing than the last one and also the competitive nature of a class environment. No matter how much you might try not to you always take a peak at the other members work and this makes you want to improve - well it does me but I am not sure if that is the case with other people.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, 21 November 2011
Nicole Kidman
This represents something of a triumph for me. I have managed to produce something approaching a likeness of Nicole Kidman! I don't know why but I seem to struggle with beautiful women - I just don't seem to be able to make the leap from sort of like to passable likeness. Kidman is someone I have been working on, off and on, for months and finally I appear to have started to get the feel for the face. It has been a struggle - who said artists have it easy! 
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Tron
So what exactly is this? Well it is a digital image of a real world drawing manipulated in the virtual world to produce something that could be mistaken as a photograph. This is somewhat apt as it is based on a character from the film Tron Legacy which is, in part, about the capturing real world people in a digital domain. 
So does this answer my question as to what this is? Well no but I like the resultant image and I guess that is all that matters.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, 18 November 2011
Oil Pastel Sketch
This is the next stage in the oil pastel experiment. I have finished the sketch and now worked on the drawing in Brushes. This has allowed me to see how I might wish to enhance the colours in the real world when I try again. As with all experiments there are good things and things that I would like to change on the whole I think that it is an interesting drawing. 
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Life Drawing Class
Week two of the life drawing class and I must say it is worth every penny. There is no substitute for drawing real people in the flesh for really helping you to develop as an artist. 
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Messing about with oils
This is a bit of an experiment and in truth the title is a bit misleading, but it was made using oils, in this case oil pastels. This was the first attempt for a much larger drawing/painting I am going to do on Monday. As with all experiments some things work other don't but it is an interesting first attempt. 
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Brushes Painting
Still experimenting with the best way use Brushes...which is strange as I have had the program on my iPad almost from the start! Such is the way life works out. 
Sent from my iPad
Nude
Messing about with charcoal this afternoon with David Bowie playing in the headphones - bliss. 
I'm on line at:
www.flickr.com/photos/guthlac
http://simonmarchini.posterous.com
I hope you enjoy
Weather
Now I know you should not mix weather with climate change but I have started to wonder if we are starting to see something seriously going wrong. It is now mid November when there should have been frosts and rain and yet we have had none. As I write this I can look outside to a blue sky and temperatures well into the teens centigrade. In the garden the trees and plants haven't got a clue what is happening. The roses are still producing blooms as are many of the other plants. Trees, which by now should have shed there leaves still haven't and toady I saw a number of leaf cutting bees buzzing around as through they have come out of hibernation.
Of course to put a little perspective to all this last year was one of the coldest we have had in a while so who knows what is happening to the weather. I just know I have not seen such a strange autumn in my life time. Goodness only knows what this winter will turn out like?
Sent from my iPad
Dr Who
Messing about with Brushes and Photoshop on the iPad today. As a result produced this half decent Dr Who montage. 
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Generic Hollywood Beauty
Another Brushes iPad drawing. Not sure who this really looks like but it does have the Hollywood studio feel to it. I find myself drawn, no pun intended, to creating a more poster look with the iPad, I suspect this might have the artificial feel to it all. 
Sent from my iPad
Julie Walters
This is a bit of a break through for me. For months I have found it almost impossible to draw anything on my iPad. I just hated the feel of the cold inorganic screen compared to warm embrace of paper. It just left me dead. Then yesterday the latest RA magazine came through the post and there were a series of drawings (paintings?) made by David Hockney on his iPad. So this morning it was out with the iPad and try and create something - this is the result and I have to say I am surprised and pleased with the result. Once again a great artist has inspired a muggle amateur to do something I suppose that is the beauty of art. 
Sent from my iPad
Friday, 11 November 2011
Bill Murray mets Hans Holbein
Disclaimer: I don't think that I produce work to the same standard as Holbein. 
Now I am feeling under the weather...its autumn and it seems that I pick some form of virus - guess this is the product of getting old. Anyway, it has meant that I am fit for nothing else other than draw - which is a bit of luck! So this morning I produced this sketch of the model from my art class on Monday which, whilst not quite the likeness I would want, has something of the Holbein about it. Yesterday I was watching the wonderfully absorbing The Life Aquatic of Steve Zoozo and I started to sketch Bill Murray and looking at them both I thought wouldn't it be fun to put them together. Silly I know but there we are...strange how the befuddled mind works.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
50000 hits
I know compared to many people on Flickr 50,000 hits is not a great deal but it is for me. Another of life's milestones passed. Wonder how long it will take me to get to 100,000?
Simon Marchini
Watercolour
So ends the first day of the great watercolour experiment. I have watched the YouTube videos and experimented. To date I think the best that can be said is that I am showing progress however there is much to learn before you can start to think about your own style. Another thought... the images I have published have been watercolours digitally manipulated for effect...are these true watercolour paintings or not? I have no idea but I like the result. 
Sent from my iPad
Water Colour
I have been threatening this for sometime and have finally got round to having a go...yes I am starting g to experiment with watercolour. The last time I tried this was over a year ago and it wasn't that successful ... Let's hope this time is better. 
Sent from my iPad
Monday, 7 November 2011
The real Pretty Woman
In truth this a sketch of Julia Roberts from pretty woman - however it got away from me a little but I think it is he better for that...perhaps this what the real character might well have looked like rather than the stunningly beautiful Ms Roberts. 
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Blade runner and Tron experience
I am having an out of body experience at the moment...I'm watching American football on the red zone whilst listening to Daft Punk's Tron music on the iPad. At times it seems like I am in game when music syncs with action...very strange.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Tron
A bit of an up and down day...still I enjoyed making this Dude drawing. Tron Legacy is one of the silliest films made in a while yet it does have certain charm - even if it is all gloss and very little substance. 
Sent from my iPad
Hallaton Hoard conference
Well this is a first - I'm attending an archaeological conference... I wonder what will be the outcome?
I'm on line at:
www.flickr.com/photos/guthlac
http://simonmarchini.posterous.com
I hope you enjoy
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Nude Man
I have decided that it is time to draw more than just the face. This is a bit a wrench for me as I started this whole art adventure wanting just to be able to capture a likeness. Well I think I am well on the way to achieving that goal, now I want to draw the whole body. It is hard work starting to get a handle on the exact proportions and their relationship with one another and if I am honest I am not too happy with the results. However, you have to start somewhere and if the last 12 or so months has taught me anything...if at first you don't succeed try, try again! 
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Catherine Tate
No 2 of the sick bed series...actually that makes it sound as if I was quite ill - I wasn't but why let the truth get in the way of a good story? Why indeed. 
Sent from my iPad
Meg Ryan
I've had a bit of a cold for the last day or so so it has meant that I have been able to enjoy myself sketching. Here is the latest creation - Meg Ryan in her prime...however like us all her prime is slowly fading into middle age...oh the joys of life. 
Sent from my iPad
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