Tessie by Roger Tessie by Patrick
The Field of Dreams by Tony Noble
Yet another new model today, Tessie, recommended by another of our super-models, Sue Vickerman. I sometimes think of our big studio at Redbrick as our Field of Dreams - we built it (well, we cleared the crap out of it) and they keep coming. Tessie was great! She held the pose brilliantly, hardly moving at all, and went straight back into her position after only two breaks through the whole day with unerring accuracy. She looked wide awake, alert, purposeful and was thoroughly professional. The only disappointing aspect was hearing that she will only be staying around these parts until late May when she will conclude her studies and set off for the Middle East. Thank you, Tessie, and I hope we'll see you as often as possible between now and your departure.
Once we started today I was confronted by the image of Tessie in front of the geometric-patterned backdrop. Thankfully the dark circles in the backdrop introduced some contrast into what was an assembly of tones which can only be described as close. So, there was my challenge for the day - to make and image which explored this narrow tonal range, yet to try and introduce some drama and interest through the use of the backdrop. As ever, the result was clumsy and rather disappointing, but I did enjoy the challenge and feel that I learnt a lot from it. Sometimes I start the day as if I'm appearing on 'Stars in their Eyes' - today Matthew I am going to be Lucien Freud! - ridiculous I know, but a fun way to begin. When I arrived home I had a delivery from Amazon, 'Lucien Freud Portraits' by Sarah Howgate, the catalogue of the current exhibition at the NPG. I've now spent the last of my Christmas money but am pleased to have waited for something good to come along rather than wasting it on something I neither needed or wanted. It looks great and I can't wait to get into it before I go to see the exhibition early next month. Looking closely at the pictures in this book it is clear that even a painter of Freud's stature struggled with certain passages in his work. As all of us do, I don't think he ever found his work easy - it's a constant struggle, a hard, difficult road to tread, but that's what makes it so appealing, so interesting, such fun!
One piece of work really stood out for me today, and that was Steven's painting. A beautiful, small study in oil paint, subtly exploring that delicate tonal range I had hoped to master. It's the way the delicacy is managed that really appeals to me. Steven creates a beautiful equivalent of something which in itself is intrinsically beautiful. I think the same could also be said about Roger's (The Stalker's) lovely drawing. Sometimes, sadly I think, we shy away from beauty as though to appreciate it openly is to be somehow 'soft'. Embrace, enjoy and celebrate whilst we can!
Looking forward to Thursday now with model Rachel. Many of you have worked with Rachel before but I was away when she last modelled at Redbrick so I'm really looking forward to another new challenge.
I'll end with a reminder about our forthcoming specials:-
Saturday 17th March, Costume Day with model Fiona - only 2 places left.
Sat & Sun 14th & 15th April, Two Day Life Drawing with model Suzi - only 2 places left.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you want to bag one of the last remaining places as when they're gone they're gone! mailto:tony.noble3@ntlworld.com
To Pounce or to Stalk, that is the question by Tom Wood
As those of you who are regular readers of this blog might know, I do like to compare and contrast whenever given the chance. It could be seen as a cheap device often used by the lazy writer or as a method to reveal some elemental truth only revealed when two apparently divergent opposites are yoked together. This week for my sermon I've chosen two drawings depicting the head of Tessie our new and excellent model. They could be a before and after from some face-lift ad such is their difference, but more correctly they show two very different approaches to the same subject. One I would like to think of as the 'Pounce' and the other as the 'Stalk'.
In the Pounce as demonstrated by Patrick, the artist makes big decisions, there is drama and contrast, the artist is hoping to solve their visual problems through a series of bold actions as though leaping from one stepping stone to another. Balance is precarious, each leap demands bravery and decisiveness, one slip and a drenching is in the offing. This method of working is best exemplified in the work of David Bomberg and his pupil Frank Auerbach, it's expressionist and bold, images are built up through a series of large marks layered one on top of the other. The work, drawing or painting is the evidence of a passionate search for the essential truth of the subject, the work is the detritus of that journey. It is rooted in sincerity and a scorching honesty where no prettifying or cheap artistic tropes are allowed, it's not easy but when done 'properly' (not as a stylistic mannerism connoting sincerity) then it is powerful and hard to ignore.
The Stalk as exemplified in the work of Roger, is a different beast entirely. It is ordered, thoughtful, small, cautious decisions are relentlessly piled one on top of the other. It's medium is the small brush or the sharp pencil, detail is sacrosanct and time is required as it cannot be rushed. There is something relentless and inevitable about this method, the result rarely surprises but it can impress with it's diligence and persistence. The skill, (for it's sub text is a homage to skill), relies on all this detail making a meaningful whole and therein lies the art. Peter Blake in his legendary Self Portrait makes a clever reference to the role of detail by leaving parts of the painting unfinished, literally unfinished as in time ran out. The unfinished areas allow the fine detail to glisten like diamonds in a mine, we value them more for their rare fragile delicacy. The Stalk once turned on can be a relentless machine piling detail upon detail like a crazed Victorian miniaturist, the art can so easily be suffocated into submission by the insistence on skill and skill alone.
You can probably guess where my preferences lie, what about you, are you a Pouncer or a Stalker or maybe a bit of both?
Paintings and drawings by Abi, Barry, Cathy, Chris, Fiona, Sandra, Steve, Steven, Sue, Tom, and Tony.
Ps. talking of Peter Blake, Chris was so inspired that he made his version of the Sargent Pepper album cover using original drawings from previous life drawing sessions! What a great idea, next week I'll show you how to turn all those pesky old vinyl records into attractive plant pots by using just a simple blow torch!
