Nudes with Charcoal and Ink

We've been using nude models lately. It is interesting to look at the human form as a subject rather than a living thing.

The first two drawings are done by "subtraction." The whole page is covered with a thick layer of charcoal and the light is erased away, making the artist focus on light and value rather than outlines.

There was one model, half the class she did one pose, and then moved to the other. This took some planning in the overall composition.

And sometimes one model will stay in one position the entire class, allowing more focus on the background elements which should be just as "heroic" as the subject.

I love to paint, and ink is the closest to watercolor painting. This is a mixed media painting where I laid out the ink first for value and really defined the rest with charcoal.