A Kick-Off
This pastel drawing ‘Model Session – 23-01-24’ is the first I drew live since a long time. Probably last year I think and that was spring if I remember correctly. After that I did a couple of big oil paintings and fall 2023 was all about redesigning my website. Obviously it was time to kick off a new live model drawing season. Luckily for me and all the people present during the session I had a wonderful model called ‘Yulliana’. Location: ‘De Blauwe Tram’, a well equipped studio and community center in Leidschendam.
Practising my Skills
Last year’s live model sketches I didn’t find particularly interesting. Of course they were made not for publishing or for sale in general. As a matter of fact, last one worthy of publictation was my pastel drawing at the end of 2021. Most of them I consider to be just practising my skills, nothing more. One time I sold one from a live session though. Wouldn’t that be great? Just to create all day long, surrounded by models and selling the produce the very day you made them? I’m realistic, that won’t happen any time soon now. Lucian Freud made live oil paintings even though he didn’t complete them in one day. However, the dream lingers on. Klimt and Rodin surrounded themselves with several models each day. That’s a luxury I can’t afford myself unfortunately.
Pastel in Blue
Surely it must be the first block of new Clairfontaine Ingres Pastel paper I used since ages. I must say I am quite content with it. The first pose I did on a yellowish paper with sanguine Conté but the second pose I liked better. For some strange reason the first drawing always is a failure just like the first pancake. The second time around I got the hang of it. In order to limit myself I decided to use only black and white on blue paper. I kept the focus on the head and upper part of her body with some white accents. I kept her lower part quite simple, sketchy so to speak. A gorgeous model and I hope she will react positively to my invitations in the near future.
Pastel drawing on Clairfontaine Ingres Pastel paper (24 x 30 x 0.1 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers
