In this exercise we were tasked with producing a small body of work using the techniques we've covered so far, in any medium we liked. We were to find a corner, a scene a set of items in our surroundings and draw without the need for the drawing to perfect or likeable.
I went around my flat and looked for interesting angles. I've altered between different mediums and drawing standing and sitting. Using a mix of controlled, and fractured marks I've tried to depict different materials. Drawing from memory and outline drawing came in handy when dealing with smaller items and distant buildings. The hardest part, as always, was setting the proportions and perspective down first. My trusty barbecue stick always helps me with that.
For the first drawing, I've set up the easel in my kitchen corner, looking out through my balcony and facing an outward corner towards the living area. I've focused on the ramen bowl, the utility table (an IKEA hack I'm particularly proud of) and my Sansiviera plant.
I've altered between a mechanical and regular pencil, but drew all in soft graphite. I've struggled with putting down straight lines in such delicate medium on a large A3 paper, and made a mental note to practice my shoulder more in different materials.
In the second drawing, I've sat opposite another window in my living room, this time facing a corner made by a chimney running through the West-facing wall. I've alternated working in HB graphite, conte sticks, grey chalk and pastel pencils. I've used similar shading as with graphite, but since the chalk is much softer, I got very soft wall edges. I did like the chalk for the fluffy faux fur chair throw, though. For the painting on the wall, I've done the continuous line technique.
Color pastels I absolutely aimed to use because this is my "yellow reading nook" and I wanted to do it justice. Overall, I'd say working in softer materials is so much more forgiving and relaxing.
For the third drawing, I went into the bedroom and concentrated on the corner next to the bed. I left some white paper to show the light coming through the window, but tried to show the walls via different tones. I worked in charcoal and was delighted to use side of the charcoal stick to draw almost perfect straight lines. I think they work nicely with the fluffiness of the duvet. At the end, again very satisfyingly, I've used a putty eraser to lift up charcoal from where it meets the darkest shadows, which brings more tonal variety.
For the last drawing, I sat down again, this time facing my hallway. The shoes we left out drew my attention and I liked the contrast with the dark floor boards. I've selected about 6 colours aside and worked only with them. I've used pastel pencils on a dark brown paper, and worked from lights to shadows. I was flicking the pencils to get different textures again, and working in bursts for the walls. Adding light walls was such a joy to do, and then by the time I've put down the last blue hue into the shadows, the drawing over before I knew it.
