I really like the concept of this exercise about drawing in space. I have a sculpture I love with little figures all linked in some way with arms and legs. A photo is below. This inspired me a little to link some small sculpted figures with the material suggested which is the pipe cleaners. I decided to use three figures and link them on top of one another through their feet and hands.
It was easy to manipulate the pipe cleaners and I used different colours for each one. The first one is below. I used one cleaner for his legs and wound one through the legs to form the body which I wound. The third cleaner I used for his arms and head. I’m not being too fussy with them as my drawings will be quite gestural of them. The first one is below.
Once I’d made the first one I had to ensure that the feet and hands could be wound or bent to hold onto one another.
Once I’d made all three my first attempt at hanging them up was in the studio on the easel and they clung to a mount board. I just wanted to see how this might work. I was quite pleased with the concept so I moved on to my next idea. Havng been taken with Calders work I decided to see if I could place my figures on my washing line to see if they might resemble trapeze artists. I not only wanted to draw the figures but capture the different lines and structure of the washing line and frame. This would give my drawing more of a visual abstract feel.
My photos of some scenes in the garden are below.
This photo has the fence only in the frame but I lost the top of my first figure. I didn’t want to clutter the background with the houses behind.
When I looked at the above photo I decided to make the arms of the man at the bottom grab the legs of the one on top as it looked as though they were not connected and the bottom one would have fallen.
I really love the lines and angles in this shot so will put these in the drawing.
Again I like the lines on this photo above. My images are not a replica of the washing line but I am just using the lines and structures to add interest. The drawings remind me a little of Calder’s circus but in contrast to his work my figures could be on architectural building site structures. My figures are also darker being done in charcoal. I am still so in love with this material and drawing. My figures are not that anatomically correct but more impressionist or gestural. In the first one for example the face is light and indistinguishable. I smudge and go darker in places on the figures which creates more form but also gives the figures a sense of strength as they hold on to one another.
In this one below I’ve tried to get one leg in front and one behind of the middle pole and the men both behind all the fine lines. I should have probably darkened a little or detailed more the top mans back leg. Some of the bigger poles in particular the one coming forward I’ve made more of a cylindrical feel.
For some reason this drawing reminds me of the statue of liberty. I think its the five prongs. The middle man could have done with more leg length maybe.
What this medium of charcoal does is fantastic. I don’t think you can ever be short of a subject. I can just scratch in the black and I’m away rubbing away as much as rubbing in! I also don’t think you can ever underestimate what can act as props or tool to create dramatic drawings. I undertook another drawing of my figures this time hanging from a fir tree. The image is below. I wasn’t that pleased with this one. I’d come back to this subject and I think I’d ran out of steam. I added a couple of swirling lines to signify some movement in the breeze but not sure if this works. My processes of rubbing in and out and then adding darker line in places still helps to create the form of the figures.
As I grouped my drawings together I liked the first three. I think this is because I liked the linear structures . In my last drawing the figures could have been better and there could have been more bold fir tree. I thoroughly enjoyed the exercise and making the men as my props. I like the abstract linear feel of the drawings and this was one of my aims. I think the props worked well and taking photos helped. The last drawing does look like the odd one out.
Drawing 2 Interpreting the environment 