Life Drawing : Cross Contour Drawing

Last Thursday we explored cross contour drawing.
First we took a look DÜRER, Albrecht (b. 1471, Nürnberg, d. 1528, Nürnberg) focusing on 2 studies. I believed both of these studies where formed into etchings for printing however, I was wrong they both drawings using pen, ink and brush work. That said he is famous for his engraving and for more information I recommend on these I recommend viewing this website www.albrechtdurer.org/engravings/

Cross contour drawing is not easy, often the curves are drawn in a horizontally, diagonally and in single or cross hatched fashion depending of the depth of shade and contour required. It takes longer to achieve and requires careful observation and sensitivity to sense how the skin folds, muscles contracted/relaxed and how the bones are structured. Every line and curve describes the complex structure of the form and once achieved makes for a wonderful study/reference that can be used for paintings.

It is fun to practice cross contour drawing abstractedly on paper with pen and ink, drawing lines close together and further apart and changing the curve and structure with each varying stroke in order to discover the affect each line achieves as a collectives.

Study of Hands
'1506
Pen and ink heightened with white on paper, 206 x 185 mm
Blasius Collection, Braunschweig

Dürer's painting Christ among the Doctors (1506, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid) was based on a number of careful studies, including this one of Christ's gesticulating fingers.'

Female Nude from Behind
'1495
Brush drawing on paper, 32 x 21 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

This female nude seen from behind records Dürer's interest in human proportions during his first Italian journey. The attributes, staff and cloth, suggest that this freely drawn nude study was created from a model. The firmly sketched shape of her body forms a charming contrast with the glazed, freely swinging cloth. The head and cloth are executed with gentle brushstrokes and clearly show a spatially plastic relationship between the figure and pictorial space.'

My studies from the 3rd Sept 2020.
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If you would still like to join for September please email me directly [email protected] and I will set up away for you to book on for the sessions left for this month.

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