It's been a long time...
 

I took a portrait drawing class at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts - and this is the result. The first model quit after 2 sessions, so I don't have much to show for that one.

This is the second one, of Ariel. Fusain Nitram charcoal on Canson Ingres paper- in 4 2-hour sessions, using the Barque method of comparative drawing.

I enjoyed the whole thing immensely - I think I just may have to join the open studio sessions on Tuesday nights at the local art league. I just wish I could find something during the day!

Hi Cindy

What a lovely drawing - so fresh and characterful and wonderfully alive - I particularly love the way you have caught her mouth...

So envious of you working with this model too! She looks just my cup of tea, but perhaps a long way to come for me!!!

Beautiful.

All the best
Mary Jane

Hello Cindy,
very nice classical drawing. Thank you for sharing.
Ilaria

Cindy - that is absolutely lovely!

This is lovely, Cindy. You drew from what I find is the most difficult position, where the nose almost touches the cheek. Hard to get that western eye to turn properly and you did a wonderful job with it.

What is Fusain Nitram charcoal, and can you take a photo of a piece of it?

Oh good heavens! My beloved Alma Mater, NOT!

I cannot BELIEVE they ARE ACTUALLY having portrait classes. That was ALMOST beneath them when I was there. They preferred we play with sand and explore abstract shapes in charcoal.

Good start, watch the neck area, it seems a bit long. However a lovely job all in all!

You won't believe how this will advance your work in so many subtle ways.

I thought I could go it without this kind of work until I kept running back and forth to the museum to see how poorly my work compared to Sargent , Reynolds, Gainsborough, Sully, Stuart, Copley, Monet, Manet, the list goes on. It was humbling.

Good for you Cindy!

Hi Cindy-- great work! I especially like how you handled the hair and the mouth.

I'm curious how the class was run. . . were there class critiques of the works in progress, or was each on your own?

Thanks so much, Mary Jane. Yes - this model was a delight. I haven't had much experience with life drawing, so I don't have a basis for comparison, other than the model who left after only 2 sessions. He was like popcorn - bouncing up out of his chair, and even proceeded to walk around critiquing the students' renderings, and even taking up charcoal or an eraser to help strugglers along! I was appalled at his behavior, but the teacher seemed fairly oblivious to it.

Ariel, on the other hand, is a pro - she sat still as a rock, and gave us 5 and 1 minute warnings before she moved.

She is so tiny - so slight, and her shoulders so narrow that when I put them in they didn't look right.

Thanks Linda (and Ilaria & Kim!)

Here's a link to the charcoal:
Fusain Nitram

We were asked to buy this brand. It's very nice - lays down a much more expressive line than vine charcoal. I noticed a huge difference.

It's square so it's hard to sharpen. Costs a lot more, so when it snaps off during sharpening and falls into the trash barrel, expletives fly (under the breath, of course)! And it's dumpster diving time! LOL.

Thanks Sharon.

But I think that you're mistaking where I took the classes. This was not at the Museum School - but rather "Studio Art Classes" in the art studios on the third floor of the museum.

About that neck... I could have used another 4 or 5 sessions to finish this drawing. I didn't get a chance to model any of the neck muscles - which would have, I think, fixed the problem.

Why would you torture yourself so? LOL. Ignorance is bliss.