Nigel Robertson | Academic Drawing |

Today’s progress on my charcoal figure:

Finally after almost two months I passed my Advanced Bargue Drawing

New Charcoal Bargue

It seems like every day of drawing is very enjoyable lately, mainly because my figure is working decently. One of the great things our instructors always remind us of is that “The human body is a complex machine, and every reaction within this machine is a reaction.” What this means is that when the model moves anything, it causes other things to move as well. Essentially whenever you draw the figure you have to construct your own, and everything in the machine has to work. Based on that principle, I give my machine a tune up every day, observing the anatomy very closely to see how my figure compares to the one in front of me.

Lately I have been working on a system to organize my values to achieve a naturalistic effect. This is the point that I am at today.

Im a big fan of Apple Computers. Im an iPhone user/developer as well. Im a total nerd when it comes to technology. Im sure DaVinci would be the same if he were alive today. Im proud to announce that Steve Jobs has announced the new iPad! It looks marvelous to use. Almost too good to be true! Here is the video of steve announcing iPad:

I cant wait to get my hands on one!

I just found a song made with iSample on YOUTUBE! The artist’s name is Homogenized Terrestrials I have been anxious for this day to come! Pretty cool song! I like it alot! For more info on iSample check out the WAY OUT WARE website!

Since I started on toned Roma Paper it was much easier to reach this point. At this stage of the drawing we are supposed to divide up the drawing in three tones:

1. Light Shape = Lightest tone

2. Shadow Shape = Middle Tone

3. Background = Unified Dark Tone

This is basically the second week of our long pose. We lost a week because the model was ill. The model look a lot better today though.

I started a new block in today on Toned Roma Paper that I toned myself with willow vine charcoal. This makes it easy to block in the drawing quickly because when I do not like a line I can use a chamois or a paper towel to rub the bad line into the background. Also its a lot of fun subtracting out the light shapes.

Im also making good progress on my Advanced Bargue Drawing today. Its almost there. I still have some mistakes to fix, its just a matter of getting my hand to do what I tell it to.

A few students and I got together for some portrait drawing. Miko volunteered to model for us. He dresses really cool, and he also kept very still.

Aside from having fun drawing my week was madness. Gorgeous models suffering, fainting… Poor student attendance on the behalf of other students (I only missed a day because of immigration) Saw a bird get ran over and the guts shot out the ass, went on some sweet scooter rides, made new friends, got called at 3:00 in the morning by a mongolian in korea, people turning into zombies…. what more could you ask for out of a week?

Every Tuesday, Wednsday and thursday night we have a figure drawing session at Casine where the intensive drawing program is held. Evenings are a lot of fun because you can experiment a little more.

Charcoal on gray Toned Canson paper

Three Hour Pencil Sketch

Added some values. Tomorrow Ill refine it a little more.
To me the hand is still not working, and the values are still a bit broken and disorderly. It has been quite a fun study.

Today was a good day! Florence was quite beautiful!

Today’s figure study was done much bigger than usual. Tomorrow I plan on doing a full value study, and either starting a charcoal friday or monday.

I feel I made significant progress on my bargue today. I like when that happens!