Proper Introduction

[loulou]

Hello everyone,

Although it says that I'm a member since June 2003, I'm really a new 2004 member, because for the longest time my subscription wasn't working at all, I couldn't post, etc. After lurking and enjoying it but in a frustrated state of mind, I decided to take the bull by the horns, and since January I got things straightened out ... well almost, I'm still in the dark about a few technical issues which I'll take over to the newbies forum.

I've already made a few comments here and there in several forums, because me and my big mouth couldn't resist jumping in on some interesting threads.

I enjoy WC's forums so much, the classical one in particular which is why I'm introducing myself here, that's where I'll be posting mostly. Everyone's work is absolutely fantastic, I'm in awe of all the talent displayed here and, yes I'll admit it, I envy all of you. But some day I'll catch up, you'll see. . .

My little story:
2 years ago I started some drawing classes, which turned out very unsatisfactory. In the beginning the instructor would set up a still life for me, then he just gave me photos to copy. Finally he'd leave me in my little corner. Getting his attention for help was an impossible enterprise, and I quickly found out that I wasn't the only dissatisfied student. Clearly he was more interested in working with the advanced painting students or shuffling through his own stuff. I got fed up and found that I could do just as well on my own. I think he was from the old school, not wanting to give up his 'secrets'.

Later I took an oil painting course elsewhere which turned out very rewarding.

But on to my epiphany: since January I attend a great school which just opened last year in Montreal; the instructors are graduates from the New York Academy and Florence Academy. They're very dynamic, enthousiastic, communicate their skills so well, provide such great variety of info on techniques and history of everything. In short, I'm ecstatic ! I'm practising every day, and of course I can figure out all my previous mistakes. So if you take a look at my little website, don't be too hard on me, that's the before picture!

Since my new course is in classical realistic training, we do a lot of cast drawings, observing light and shade, positive, negative shapes. But we do not use the sight-size method. Their atelier's curriculum is developed from 19th century drawing methods from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, like a lot of new ateliers all over North America, part of this renewed interest for solid training which took off in the nineties.

Whitout bothering you with my whole life story, I'll just add that since I became ill, I have had to stop working and dance (ballet) which was my artistic outlet. As I'm in pain most of the time and tire easily, it became primeval to develop a way out, if you will. Expressing myself through drawing & painting has opened up a whole new horizon for me, and I love it so much !! Sure, I have to take it all in little bites, but by planning my days wisely, I can accomplish plenty that will sustain my need & love for art.

Now I suppose that you'd like to see some living proof of all that. So here are a few pics, just keep in mind that I'm a beginner. ;)
Thanks for reading

my best to all
Loulou :angel:

[Classical Vince]

Hi LouLou! Welcome! Glad to see you found the forum and we are looking forward to seeing more of your work.

I too attend a similar school and have done a few cast drawings. I've been studying for about a year with focus mainly on value work; much in the 19th century tradition ;)

Nice studies that you posted and I can see a steady progression in skill. Thanks again for posting and being nice enough to introduce yourself.

-vince

btw - we have the foot cast at school. Its a fave of mine ;)

[loulou]

[QUOTE=Classical Vince]Hi LouLou! Welcome! Glad to see you found the forum and we are looking forward to seeing more of your work.
... we have the foot cast at school. Its a fave of mine ;)]


Thank you Vince for your warm welcome! :)

I remember your Vitellius :clap: from when I was lurking around. It's absolutely flabbergasting !! :clap::clap:
I remember I kept admiring your level of achievement, showed it to all my friends, and also I could pinpoint all of the details my instructors talk about. You must have spent countless hours filling in those holes (I always compare this process to doing time in a psychiatric ward LOL)

The Bargue book is on my ''to buy'' list

Here's a massing or tonal drawing of a Bethoven bust, it's incomplete as I only spent an hour on it.

Loulou
:angel:
see you 'round

[Biki]

Oh Loulou

[Biki]

oops - i think I pressed the wrong button :D :D :D

what I was going to say was ....

you are so lucky to join such a great class.

even if you were not a beginner, i would be impressed.!!!

it is going to be fun to watch you progress. I am so pleased you have joined us here in the Classical forum.

[bjs0704]

Welcome Loulou,

I am fairly new too. I didn't start posting until last November-December in spite of what my "date started" listing says.

Your work looks great :clap: :clap:

It is so good that you found the atelier school. I wouldn't be surprised that my first instructor and your first instructor shared notes on teaching technique. :evil: :evil:

I have worked in pastel and watercolor for a few years. A couple of years ago, I decided that it would be good to learn oils. But unfortunately, the university that I attended wasn't that helpful. So now I am learning what I can here on WetCanvas.

I am glad that you have joined us.:clap: :clap::clap: :clap:

Barb Solomon :cat:

[loulou]

Hey folks,

:)I want to thank you all for your welcoming messages;)
You all seem such wonderful people:music::music:

Just thought I'd direct you to the Art History Forum where I just posted a Master Mystery (MM # 288)

You're welcome to join in!

What you have to do is try to guess info about the posted work: artist, title & year

Good Luck
Loulou:angel:

[bjs0704]

Thank you for telling us about your Mystery Masterpiece. I promise I will look at your post. I don't go to the Art History channel that often, but art history classes were one of my favorite parts of school.

Barb Solomon :cat:

[loulou]

Welcome Loulou,
I am fairly new too. I didn't start posting until last November-December in spite of what my "date started" listing says


But it says you're a senior member, Barb ??!
And you have stars to your name ... vow :cool:

Anyway, thanks for the compliments

There are some :evil: teachers around :evil: unfortunately!!

About the art history channel: I liked the idea of guessing who a painting was from; it sends me searching (although this can be quite time consuming), but more particularly it sharpens my observation skills, helps me to find ways to recognize a period. But some of their MM are really hard and next to impossible to guess without a good clue.

Loulou:angel:

[bjs0704]

Yeah, once I got started.... I guess I have been busy. :evil:

I don't remember why anymore, but on the first visit that I made on WetCanvas I registered. Then I didn't visit again until late last November. The second visit was the charm. When the classical forum was started, it just struck a chord. I have been posting ever since.

I have run into some really helpful people, and no matter what level someone is at, there is always something to learn from them.

Barb Solomon :cat:

[Classical Vince]

Hi loulou! Im blushing as I type this; thank you for recognizing my work. Actually, I discovered a method of covering those dimples with Vitellius. If you use a soft (4b) charcoal first then refine it with a hard one (Hb) the dimples fade without a need for therapy. ;) I think because it holds a sharp tip it covers them easier.

You have a unique view of visual art with your dance experience. I find a lot of overlaps between music and art...dance is a union of the two. You are an artist no matter what medium you choose.

Forgot to ask, whats your school schedule like? I work fulltime and study part-time 3nights/wk. I am starting an anatomy course 8hrs on Sundays that starts next week. Yikes, I'll be busy!

[loulou]

thank you for recognizing my work ... Vitellius. If you use a soft (4b) charcoal first then refine it with a hard one (Hb) the dimples fade without a need for therapy. ;)...

Hey Vince,

Thanks for the charcoal tip. Do you use vine charcoal or the pencil type (with wood encasing) ?
I'm a precision freak, therefore prefer Conté charcoal pencils because they sharpen to a nice point (or other brands as long as they keep sharp). But these days I'm only working with graphite (mostly HB, 2H, 4H, sometimes 2B). I found very interesting that you can get darker, more intense tones with the harder pencils, pushing graphite particles into the holes of the paper. Like everyone else I always thought you had to go to 6 or 8B to get your darkest darks. Wr:eek:ng!


Dance is definitely an advantageous background to figure drawing/painting. You know the mechanics of the body, graceful poses, etc. As a matter of fact, most of my instructors' models are dancers; they're fantastic for posing because they know their bodies inside out, they're perfectly fit to hold a pose for 3 hours & they already view the body as a piece of art since they use it as such.

I hope one day to draw dancers in action. And boy do I have plenty of figures in my head !! Most of the painters of dance show dancers at rest, waiting in the wings, trying on costumes, tired, resting, practising, etc. which is fine because it's the reverse side of the performance medal. But hardly any show them actually dancing, although I've seen a set of little bronze statues by a local Russian-origin artist, which were an absolute feast for the eyes.

I used to be a nut, taking dance classes 5 or 6 times a week, sometimes 1 in the morning 1 in the evening on the same day, and go to work in-between:p

As for drawing school schedule, you can either go full time (I think that's 4 or 6 hours a day) or take 3 hrs twice or once a week. Then they're having guest teachers on weekends, more during summer though, usually some of their teachers & friends from the NY Academy they graduated from.

I take 3 hrs twice a week, that's about all I can manage; I no longer work because of health problems which limit how much I can do at once as I tire easily. After school days I have to spend 2 days just recuperating, otherwise I break out.LOL


I work fulltime and study part-time 3nights/wk. I am starting an anatomy course 8hrs on Sundays that starts next week. Yikes, I'll be busy!

I don't know how you manage ?!!:eek: But I bet the end result will be worth the grueling life style you're imposing on yourself. Can't wait to see the results, there's nothing like intense immersion in the thing you want to learn in order to absob it fully & become it.

I wish you the best of ... no, not luck, it's not just luck, it's hard work that produces great art work, so let's say the best of sharpened attention and quickness of wit (I mean wit in the Renaissance sense, that is more than intelligence, awareness, a grabing sort of capacity).

Loulou:angel:

[loulou]

Vince,

I did post some cast drawing at the ff link:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2018792#post2018792

Loulou:angel:

[Classical Vince]

Do you use vine charcoal or the pencil type (with wood encasing) ?

Hi LouLou! I use the pencil type, Generals brand white/blk charcoal. They sharpen up nicely. I like the richness of Conte but find it hard to lift off when needed. Its a little more greasy than the charcoal.

I usually only whip out the 6b for accents. I stumbled on that discovery of hard over soft when I worked on a dark area in a soft charcoal then accidently picked up the wrong pencil. I realized I was using the wrong one because the tones looked much cleaner! I knew something wasnt right!


Dance is definitely an advantageous background to figure drawing/painting...

You knew exactly what I meant! ;)


I take 3 hrs twice a week, that's about all I can manage; I no longer work because of health problems which limit how much I can do at once as I tire easily. After school days I have to spend 2 days just recuperating, otherwise I break out.LOL

You hang in there. I admire your dedication to learning your craft.

The new schedule will be a little rough. Some weeks its challenging for me to make time to do laundry, feed my cats or remember to pay my bills ;) Now if I could only train my cats to fold clothes and sign checks I'd have it made. :)

[Classical Vince]

Vince,

I did post some cast drawing at the ff link:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2018792#post2018792

Loulou:angel:

Woohoo! What a great study! You are a precision-nut arent you?! I like the edges in your piece, very good observations. :D

[artmom]

Loulou, thank you for sharing your wonderful drawings. I'm sort of a hanger-on here, because I admire Classical Art, but my "home" is in in the watercolor forum. I'm learning a lot over here in this forum though, so I thought I could also welcome you!

Lyn

[loulou]

Loulou, thank you for sharing your wonderful drawings. I'm sort of a hanger-on here, because I admire Classical Art, but my "home" is in in the watercolor forum. I'm learning a lot over here in this forum though, so I thought I could also welcome you!Lyn

Thanks Lyn,

I'll poke my head in your forum
Nice website !!

Loulou

[kbilltv]

If you weren't "advanced" enough for your teacher to pay attention to, there must have been a rare artistic convergence in your class.

[loulou]

If you weren't "advanced" enough for your teacher to pay attention to, there must have been a rare artistic convergence in your class.


in a superficial way .............

The artist in charge of the next school I attended, where I took oil painting, knew that first teacher of mine, as he had hired him some time ago, but things didn't work out with that fellow, his classes didn't take off or whatever, and they had to let him go ........

That says it all ..........

Loulou:angel: