Hand Drawing Number Five
21st January 2006
This one was done in a bit of a rush. The light was fading fast, but the tones and shadows were nice and I didn't want to miss them. Drawings one to three were all done by electric light, four and five by natural light. I don't know what it is about natural light, but I'm much happier working in daylight than electric light. Tones seem to be more clearly defined, and easier to capture.
I dislike working quickly, although I know its good for me. Because of that, the proportions aren't quite right in this drawing. The ring finger showing behind the two vertical fingers is too long I think, and the little finger looks like it doesn't quite join with its knuckle. I'm quite happy with it all the same, its a stronger drawing than I often produce in terms of the heaviness of the line and the tones, it looks more confident. It being the third one I did today may have something to do with that.
Another exercise in hatching, this one is improvement on the last time I used this technique in the third drawing. Overall the hatching is neater and more controlled, despite being done much quicker. I'd just been looking at a couple of books I've got of old master figure drawing, which is perhaps why this one came out in that style. It kind of reminds me of some of Durer's drawings.