Sjaan’s 100 Day Challenge: Figure drawing in charcoal/pastel

[Jeanette Assies]

I will draw 1 figure pose for 30 minutes.
To focus on massing in light and dark shapes only
To develop a better sense of values and edges
To learn how I can simplify my composition

Day 1

[Bryan Mccabe]

Hello Jeanette,

I am doing a very similar challenge to you. What kind of pastels do you plan on using? I’m using oil pastels. Good work on your first drawing.

Bryan.

[Jeanette Assies]

Hi Brian,

I will be using primarily soft pastels like Conte a Paris and compressed pastel (squared sticks). Because they smutch so nice and do not stain that much so you can correct easily. Lovely that you are taking the same challenge! Looking forward to see your updates. Regards, Jeanette

 

[Jeanette Assies]

Used different type of paper (newspaper quality) and compressed charcoal. The paper makes smutching different then the paper I used yesterday. The marks are not erased as easily charcoal paper so the result is more sketchier……

[Bryan Mccabe]

This looks good. No shame in using newsprint. It’s so cheap you can be more free and experimental and not worry about wasting your good paper. I’d do a 100 drawings on newsprint for every one on charcoal paper. I’d probably do a ton of pastel paintings on newsprint if the paper could handle it. I might experiment with using cheap pastels on  cardboard or paper grocery bags because pastel paper is expensive. I also love compressed charcoal sticks. I do all my underdrawings right now with General’s jumbo compressed charcoal sticks. I also have the conte crayons, but I find them harder to use because they are pretty small in my hands. I guess I just need to keep practicing with him. Keep up the good work.
Bryan.

[l2.diamante]

Really Nice drawings!

 

[Jeanette Assies]

So again a drawing on newspaper. This time in compressed pastel combined with conte a paris, sanguine. Again I find myself more drawing than massing in shadow and light, so I probably will try a different paper material tomorrow.

[l2.diamante]

Beautiful drawing

[Joshua Jacobo]

Great challenge. Imagine what you’ll learn with 100 30 minute figure drawings!

I just granted you your 100 Day Challenge Participant badge but I also noticed your avatar looks like a self portrait. If it is please post it in a new topic here and I’ll give you that badge as well! https://www.nma.art/forums/forum/challenges-activities/self-portrait-avatar/

[Jeanette Assies]

So I switched to regular drawing paper with a smooth surface today. That works better for massing in the darks with charcoal. I must admit, massing in took me 30 minutes but after that I spent maybe another 60 minutes of and on on the details because it is so much fun to do!

[Jeanette Assies]

Charcoal on charcoal paper. Now the backside of the paper but the tooth is still grainy. Also tried to keep to the 30 minutes. Maybe I spent a teeny tiny few minutes more……

[JeanetteMinnich]

I really like the way these drawings leave the viewer to fill in the details. My husband and I both have a problem with overworking art. Putting a time limit helps you stop at a good place.

[Jeanette Assies]

Hi Jeanette, just watch the videos of Susan Lyon. She really gives a clear instruction on how to keep your drawings simple.

[Jeanette Assies]

With this drawing I have set the timer and stopped at 30 minutes. Maybe I did some correction on the back, since that was a difficult part to mass in. But that lead me to see the box-logic that I need to master in the coming drawings. Using box-logic in massing in the volumes I learned to be really key. Box-logic, different plane=different value, all of this begins to make more sense now….

Charcoal on smooth drawing paper (200gr)

[Jeanette Assies]

Compressed pastel on smooth drawing paper. I kept to the 30 minutes.

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