Completed Bargue Drawing

Bargue #1

graphite on Stonehenge paper

copy after plate from Charles Bargue drawing course

Last night was the final class of the first module of the drawing course I am taking at the new atelier in Saskatoon. I still can't believe my good fortune that this school of art opened right at the time in my journey when I was ready for it to appear. I have been so busy in the last couple of years with various shows and events for the promotion of my art that this year I really wanted to slow down and regroup. Although I have been busy it has been nothing like the pace of last year. I envisioned this to be a year to take classes, experiment and seek out adventures; with this class under my belt and the canoe trip looking like it is a-go, I finally feel like this vision is underway.

Taking the drawing class pushed me to new levels of understanding in so many ways: the range of use of graphite, how to use a kneaded eraser as a drawing tool, how to sharpen a pencil old school style, what to consider when rendering form, what happens when light hits the surface of an object, how to measure ... and most importantly, how to see better. The three hour class was ten weeks long and I also spent several hours working at home. It was a huge investment of time to put into a drawing, but well worth it considering the learning that took place. I actually thought my drawing was done at the fifth stage but the instructor, Craig Berry, really challenged me to push it further and reach a more refined finish than I ever imagined.

Here are the stages of my Bargue drawing (at least the stages I remembered to photograph):

 

 stage 2

 

stage 3

 

 stage 4

 

stage 5

final stage

I am sorry if it seemed like I disappeared for awhile there- I was really quite ill for about ten days and I always forget how busy it is at the end of the school year. I'll try to get myself back on track!