Weight Series at Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art Vicarious Exhibit

Five drawings from my Weight Series are on exhibit in the Vicarious Exhibition. Three of the five are 6 x 3 feet in size. That was one way I challenged myself in this drawing series. The other was to build empathy for woman in the middle of the financial crises. The series uses metaphor to convey the weight of society on people.

I worked to simply the foot and rock to fade out with less detail.

The light and shadow on the forward hand is my favorite part of this drawing.

This figure is victorious over the weight or pressure of society.

Highlights begun on the last drawing

The highlights on the last drawing have started. I spent a lot time on the rock today. The shapes are separated now, but I will link them up soon. It is hot in Charlotte so I am going to my studio very early in the morning. This drawing has the largest rock of the series. It really dominates the figure.

The hand needs a lot more detail and refinement, but its a start. The highlight on the leg really helps the 3-D aspect of the arm and leg. I am tempted to put some light on the face, but it is in shadow. I'm still thinking what to do there.

Highlights continued for drawing three

I had a wonderful day in my studio on Friday. It was 80 degrees in Charlotte. Wow that is cool for this time of year. So I had to go and draw. I worked on the highlights on this drawing. I am close to being finished. The rock needs a little more work.

Drawing 3 Highlights Started

You can barely see it, but I began to put the white highlights on this drawing. I like the little flash of light showing up on the figure's lower arm. After not seeing this drawing for about six months, I have discovered some areas of the drawing I will modify. The feet are not in this image but they need work!

Drawing Six Highlights Continued

After the initial blocking of the highlight, I began to erase and blend. I shaped the highlight areas and subtracted white charcoal from some of the edges. Then I used a blending stump to blend the white charcoal into the gray paper. I am happy with the highlight areas on the legs, not so much with the back. I will have to work on that area further. Maybe more shadows are needed in the back. We'll see.

Back in the Studio Again

I am back in the studio again! Between final exams, portfolio review, and then the start of the new quarter I did'ot get to my studio very much. That's life! I have started working on this standing figure putting in the highlights. This image shows the first step where I blocked in the large shapes. I have done very little blending at this point. Also, the highlights are extending into some areas where I do not want them.

Highlight Drawing 2 with Charcoal

I began a new sketch to determine my method for adding highlights to my series of drawings. I am using charcoal on this one. I like it right from the start! The blending is going very well; much better than color pencil. I think: Should I stop here? I keep going.



Here I am working on the highlights on the rock and beginning to add some dark values with pencil. I have decided to use the color of the paper as the middle gray value.

At this point I darkened the shadows and increased the brightness of the highlights. Still no outlines. I am thinking about that.

Now I am erasing and blending both the pencil shadows and the white charcoal highlights. This is the same pose as my very first drawing in the series which I began in June of this year. I have made some different decisions at this point. I added the pony tail; I left it off the first time. I have five values at this stage in the drawing: the gray paper, two highlights and two shadow values.