12.08.2008

Life Drawing Weakness



I was visiting the Society of Illustrators this past week with my friend Arkady, for the bi-weekly "sketch & jazz" night, for figure drawing. Even though one of the models was great, I was distracted by what I am always drawn to: FACES. I am inspired by the quick doodles of Canadian artist Seo Kim. Frequently she posts sketches on her blog from life drawing sessions, where she strays a bit and sketches the other artists. This can look a bit creepy to a bunch of strangers (I got a few weird looks), but it was really fun to test out a quick and cartoony observational sketch. I was clearly influenced by her work, and it was really a fun exercise.



Next time I'll have to draw the models some more. I had plenty of nude sketches of those girls, but they are a bit weaker than these cartoon faces. That's another reason I must go every week... to improve where I feel like I'm lacking in my craft. That's what it's all about! Maybe I'll see you there?

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18 comments:

SEILER said...

These are great Joe! Yeah, Seo's work is really nice! These are so cool, post more!

Terri Kae said...

Gosh... I'd kill to be able to draw Caracitures like you. They've got so much character to them, just amazing.

I think that drawing exactly what you see is far easier than the stuff you do. You've got to have an eye for exaggeration without having the portrait turn out unbalanced.

I'm trying to teach myself to draw caracitures. Haven't done the theme park thing. Might you have any advice on improving? What types of exercises/practice helped you in the past?

Seo Kim said...

no way!! I'm inspired by your faces when I do those drawings! :P

Nico Di Mattia said...

Great stuff Joe!

Unknown said...

haha whoo doesnt do that?

anyone who doesnt do that isnt an artist and they should get a desk job. im putting my foot down haha

tinylittlesandra said...

Well, I for one, cant wait to see more - this is great stuff!

Bat said...

How bout posting some of your weaker stuff every once in a while? Just to show you can do some weak stuff. =)

Craig Zablo said...

Really nice work, Joe!

Aaronphilby said...

I love middle and top left on the bottom one and top left and especially top right on the top one.

ramanjit said...

hi sir(guru),
i cant do live sketching
but after watching these i thing i should do some.
thank for inspiring me at every step.

Jeff Pecina said...

Joe, do you have a particular type of paper and pencils to sketch with?

Anonymous said...

Great sketches. I do the same thing. If a life drawing pose is lasting too long, I start drawing the other artists.

Will Appledorn said...

great sketches, really like the handling of the lighting in these, especially on that bottom one on the first page.

A.M.Bush said...

Ha yea, all my life drawings are real bodies with cartoon heads. That guy on the bottom left with the glasses, that's a really nice drawing.

Fabian Molina said...

Joe great stuff, You are right about Seo stuff. Shes amazing. Fabian

andres alvez said...

Muy buenos trabajos!!!!

Danny said...

Nice drawings Joe. I'd love to see some more of these quick sketches from your sessions.

Everybody's gotta be in a Gang said...

Cool- those are great- I can see the influence from Seo, and it's cool that she's influenced by you as well. Hopefully I'll see you at one of the Society's figure drawing nights- I've just been too broke to go lately...