Blog – Page 8 – Matthew French-Holt

More sketching homework

After my last sketching assignment, I was ready for the next one. Both because I wasn’t please with the fifth sketch and because I wanted to move on. And so, my next bit of homework was to draw an image using 5-7 continuous lines, one for each major structure. Time was limited to 15 minutes.

I adjusted my script accordingly so that the time was accurate, and set about to work on the sketch. Didn’t take a photo of the line-drawing only as the timer was running and I wanted to get my darks in place. Here’s the finished sketch:

Sketching homework

I love the look of “urban sketching” which is the act of going out and recording the world around you from direct observation. One of my old sketchbooks has drawings of classmates in highschool, captured while in class. At least they were paying attention! 😀 So, apparently, I’ve been doing a version of urban sketching since before it was a thing. (Not that it’s some new concept…)

While researching, I ran across this post on Citizen Sketcher with sketching assignments. Since I’m working on getting back in practice, I figured why not!

The assignment that I worked on is to create 5 small sketches using a single, continuous line in each one. Set a timer to limit each sketch to 4 minutes. Afterward, go back with a brush pen to add dark shadows (which I didn’t have, so I used a dying sharpie instead).

Instead of going out on location, I found photos online to work from and wrote a script that automatically displayed them for four minutes, one after the other, with a 5 second break in between. So my focus was on sketching and not having to worry about the clock.

The initial line drawings:

Then with darks added:

Sketching at Starbucks

Stopped at a convenient Starbucks to pass some time and caught some baristas working and patrons in line. The one girl was pretty bundled up – long sleeves, vest, apron, fluffy scarf.

And some friends chatting and reading over their coffees.

Eventually the crowd thinned out and I ended up drawing my table and sketchbook of sketches (as seen in the very top picture). For whatever reason that always strikes me as silly and makes me smile. 😀

Back in the Cafeteria

Back in the hospital cafeteria, I continue sketching the people that I see. When there’s no one paused in line I capture some quick details of the counter itself. And, during a lull in the traffic, I switch from graphite pencil over to pen for variety.

Speed gesture drawing

Since I’ve been drawing people in the cafeteria, I realize that my speed needs some work. Even in drawing classes I struggled with gesture drawing, trying to put in too much detail in a very short amount of time. For practice, I found SketchDaily.net, which allows me to set a timer (ie: 30 seconds) and work through sketching people very quickly.

Additionally, since I’ve got a collection of partial sketchbooks from over the years, this gives me the opportunity to finally finish them up! I believe that I inherited the concept that you don’t get rid of unfinished notebooks from my grandparents (learned from growing up in the Great Depression and WWII).

I finally finished the sketchbook that I put together in one of my first college art classes (from the remnants I’d had floating around from years before). Yay! Next up were a few pieces of loose printer paper.

Cafeteria Characters

Coffee shops and libraries are great places to see a variety of people, who will pause for a few moments so that you can quickly sketch them. As are cafeterias and restaurants. While waiting for Ashley to finish work in the mornings I’ve been sitting in the hospital cafeteria, sipping on a coffee and sketching.

Almost everyone goes to the utensil/condiment counter, so it’s a great spot to catch them stationary for a few moments:

My favorite of the day was the elderly gentleman who sat at the table in front of me to eat. Quite the hair-do. Ashley said I can’t grow mine like that…. 🙁

Though, the lady in the serape poncho was pretty fun, too.

And when no one’s there, you can draw the condiments themselves! At least you know they won’t be moving on you.

Sketching, for the fun of it

Confession time, I’m not very good at just making art for the fun of it. I used to sketch and doodle a lot, but after college got out of the habit. Over the last year I’ve started again, in fits and starts. While I haven’t really made any 2017 resolutions, I am making it a point to make more art. Nothing serious, just art for me, for the fun of it.

Actually, I started in 2016. I re-organized my art supplies so they’re more accessible and tucked some sketchbooks and pens/pencils in a bag so they’re easy to grab.

Here are some doodles:

Sitting in the hospital lobby, waiting for Ashley to get off of work.

At a coffee shop, enjoying a French Press.

Someone at the register, ordering their coffee.

Old Portraits

My focus while in art school was figurative work, which built on a few years of working as a portrait artist. Here are a few blasts from the past:

The superhero was drawn with chalk on black paper in 2011. Entering it into the 2012 National Arts Program netted me a Best of Show award.

A friend posted this picture as her facebook profile image. I thought it would be great fun to recreate with some charcoal in 2010.

Another facebook profile image, Bethany has really bright blue eyes, and she happened to be wearing a matching dress. Charcoal and pastel in 2010.

My wife modeled while I explored a new take on an old concept. This triptych was painted on canvas with acrylic in 2010.

Super Wire Stick Figure

One day, in a prior life, I was bored in the office. In a (successful) attempt to avoid tackling my inbox, this little guy was created.

He lived outside the office window for a few months, suspended from a nearby tree branch. On windy days, he really got a workout.

As I transitioned from that life to the next, he migrated from the tree branch to a collector’s private gallery (ie: a friend’s porch).

Sketching at Hetch Hetchy

Out for a 2-night backpacking trip up past Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. After a full week of exploring the park we took a lazy day at camp. While there I sketched Ashley as she enjoyed the view out over the valley, and a few of the awesome, gnarly branches of the shrubs surrounding the rock she was seated on.