I've been taking part in art Zoom art for upwards of three times a week for two months, two being free, public/anonymous, hour-long face-drawing sessions based in Europe, Drawing is Free and Pencils for Tea; the third, a private group I was invited to by chance. On reflection, it's been a rather intense and sustained effort, though the face sessions in particular don't feel that way, and as you can imagine, I've had thoughts. I better start, in no particular order, before they escape.
Even in this short time, I noticed a changes/widening of my setup, so I'll start with those:
Technique: I like blindish drawing, though it depends on the day how much I peek, or even if it's only occasionally blind. Looking at the photos, I think I'm actually drawing more without looking in recent times than two months ago, but facial parts are more and more falling into the right places.
Increasing I am holding tool at the top, just grasping the tool at the top 1cm/2cm, not having control of the quality of lines, for dry and wet medium. My favorite is my Dad's old fountain pen. Although drawing with the non-dominant had was my go-to in the past, I haven't tried it yet.
Tools: I started with thin black markers, color gel pens, highlighters I found while cleaning the office, gold and silver felt tips; then added a refillable fountain pen, water-soluble crayons and watercolor/gouache, in part to reduce plastic consumption of pens. (I've only bought gel pens and felt tips recently.) I usually use only dry or wet medium in a given session, but have mixed them up occasionally.
Paper: I started smallish, either multiple faces on A4 pages or one on A5 pages, but recently I'm spilling out of A4 sheets. I have considered bigger, but each face sessions are relatively short, (2mins-something to just under 5mins,) I haven't. As well, I tend to sit during the sessions; I'll most definitely consider bigger if I were to stand and draw, always a possibility.
Even with the wet medium, I tended to stick to 110g-ish paper, white for the most part but black also. Now I use different colors and weights, for the strange reason: there seems to be a distinct lack of inexpensive 110g black paper in Nelson! Previously black sketchbooks were available anywhere inexpensive white visual diaries, (usually 110g,) were sold, though I can't remember if they were more expensive.
Now if they are available, they are twice or more times as expensive, and/or with 2/3 or even half the number of sheets. I have sourced 140g A3 paper in fantastically saturated black, but this costs more than the higher priced black sketchbook sheets, and the paper is too smooth, while I prefer bumpy/rough. One of the $2 Stores had breathtaking dark-mid-grey pads, around 100g, with rougher surface, 30 sheets for $2.50. (I know!!!) which holds water pretty well for the weight. I'm also trying out color printer paper. (If that dark-mid-grey came in cashmere or merino, I wouldn't hesitate to get a few kgs right away.)
I'll keep looking for thin, rough black paper, but I know my preferences will change over time. I am, though, sticking to the inexpensive materials, because paperwork is therapy, in contrast to weaving. I work quickly and go through a lot of material. And it makes more sense for a pensioner.
I'll stop here for this post. These pics are from January, before I got paper in different colors.
Even in this short time, I noticed a changes/widening of my setup, so I'll start with those:
Technique: I like blindish drawing, though it depends on the day how much I peek, or even if it's only occasionally blind. Looking at the photos, I think I'm actually drawing more without looking in recent times than two months ago, but facial parts are more and more falling into the right places.
Increasing I am holding tool at the top, just grasping the tool at the top 1cm/2cm, not having control of the quality of lines, for dry and wet medium. My favorite is my Dad's old fountain pen. Although drawing with the non-dominant had was my go-to in the past, I haven't tried it yet.
Tools: I started with thin black markers, color gel pens, highlighters I found while cleaning the office, gold and silver felt tips; then added a refillable fountain pen, water-soluble crayons and watercolor/gouache, in part to reduce plastic consumption of pens. (I've only bought gel pens and felt tips recently.) I usually use only dry or wet medium in a given session, but have mixed them up occasionally.
Paper: I started smallish, either multiple faces on A4 pages or one on A5 pages, but recently I'm spilling out of A4 sheets. I have considered bigger, but each face sessions are relatively short, (2mins-something to just under 5mins,) I haven't. As well, I tend to sit during the sessions; I'll most definitely consider bigger if I were to stand and draw, always a possibility.
Even with the wet medium, I tended to stick to 110g-ish paper, white for the most part but black also. Now I use different colors and weights, for the strange reason: there seems to be a distinct lack of inexpensive 110g black paper in Nelson! Previously black sketchbooks were available anywhere inexpensive white visual diaries, (usually 110g,) were sold, though I can't remember if they were more expensive.
Now if they are available, they are twice or more times as expensive, and/or with 2/3 or even half the number of sheets. I have sourced 140g A3 paper in fantastically saturated black, but this costs more than the higher priced black sketchbook sheets, and the paper is too smooth, while I prefer bumpy/rough. One of the $2 Stores had breathtaking dark-mid-grey pads, around 100g, with rougher surface, 30 sheets for $2.50. (I know!!!) which holds water pretty well for the weight. I'm also trying out color printer paper. (If that dark-mid-grey came in cashmere or merino, I wouldn't hesitate to get a few kgs right away.)
I'll keep looking for thin, rough black paper, but I know my preferences will change over time. I am, though, sticking to the inexpensive materials, because paperwork is therapy, in contrast to weaving. I work quickly and go through a lot of material. And it makes more sense for a pensioner.
I'll stop here for this post. These pics are from January, before I got paper in different colors.
