18 x 24 charcoal with white highlights on toned paperSame model and pose as previous couple weeks at Yuri’s. Kept the same position but decided to draw a close-up this week.
Face looks a bit wide. Left side of the face and forehead above the hand could have been better modeled. Looks flat. Could have taken the left eyebrow down a value as well, but otherwise happy with the composition and likeness. Better control of the materials; charcoal is not a strong suit for me.
2 hours.
Believe the same model will be in the same pose next week. What shall I draw??
Progress not perfection.
Tom Donovan Art Blog 
4 replies on “Open Session: …Figure Study …Up Close”
Another idea: experiment with the charcoal by going from dark to light. Create a dark gray area, then pick out highlights?–Carol
That is an interesting idea. Charcoal is such a malleable material. At the same time it is not without its risks. Too much pushing around and erasure and you make a mess. But even a mess can be recovered with bolder marks if the paper hasn’t been ruined. Love the charcoal drawings of Teresa Oaxaca. She has such control and command of her materials.
Definitely like this one, in spite of your doubts. How about an ever closer version of her face, which seems to interest you most? The fact that she seems asleep or resting seems an appealing theme.
Thanks, Carol. She was either napping or resting her eyes : ) Interesting idea about getting an even closer perspective on the model’s face, and doing a pure portrait. Will have to see where my position is in the studio. Model has been in this pose for three weeks and will be again tonight. Would have painted had I known it would be such a long pose.