For Sherville!!

[MichaelRH]

Hi sherville - My wife and I have been going through some of our things we have in storage (ugh!)..what a job!, and we both found our respective portfolios. I went through mine last weekend, and tossed out a lot of BAD drawings, and belive me they were old..and BAD! lol
But..I did find a couple more things I did while at Art Center. I had some GREAT instructors there, one of them (Harry Carmean) taught ONLY..classical figure drawing, and I found a book he had published that I purchased while attending class at AC.
It was a great relief to find this drawing book, as I thought I had lost it. Anyway, here are a couple more hand-studies (done for another class while I was at AC). They were drawn on grey Canson paper, with charcoal and white conte. Hope you like them...
--Michael
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[tammy]

Can I answer? hehe
Great hands. I've never tried but wondered how to do veins? Guess its shadow and light huh?

[sherville]

For me?! Thank You so much for taking the time to show these to me! They are absolutely fantastic!! I love the classical style of drawing, where the white chalk is used as a highlight.
I was wondering if you would mind if I was to have a go at trying to copy the drawings you have done as practice?
I really like the one of the clenched fist, such very dark darks. This is exactly the kind of thing I needed to see, thank you once again.

[MichaelRH]

sherville - Absolutely..copy anything I post if you think it will help you. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif Just another little tip. When using the grey paper (I find Canson in most art-stores)..draw very lightly with charcoal (I think I used a charcoal pencil--not too hard, but not too soft either). I have trouble sharpening charcoal pencils with a regular pencil sharpener..so I use a single-edge razor blade (BE CAREFUL!)..to take the wood off, then a sandpaper block..(they come with strips of sandpaper especially for use with pencil or charcoal. Since the grey paper is essentially your middle value, use the paper to your advantage, it will make up most of your drawing..the darks and black areas will be next, and (I think I used TOO much white for highlights!!) http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/frown.gif , use the white as highlight sparingly..in the areas you see the LIGHTEST lights. Even if it looks like you see a lot of light areas...rely on the paper, and ONLY use the white in the VERY lightest areas. Again, I used too much white in the drawings I posted..especially in the clenched fist one.
Thank you sherville for your kind comments.
--Michael
P.S. sherville, hope you won't mind if I throw this in here..but your mom is a very good artist. I think...she would have some very good suggestions.................... http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

I personally think it is a good idea to learn some fundamental drawing skills..especially if you have a desire to work with the figure. What you decide to do (after you've gotten some of the real basic knowledge down..is up to you). In other words, how you eventually express yourself..will be unique to who you are and "your voice" as I've heard it said. You'll sure gain a lot of confidence as you learn some of the basics..and I honestly believe that drawing will be even MORE!! fun, when you can go beyond the academics.
Have fun!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited August 31, 2000).]