Archive for October, 2009
this is how it was
Photographic evidence, albeit with camera shake, that I went to the recent Dr Sketchy event in Nottingham. (The wobble is presumably due to low light levels rather than an over-excited photographer.) I’d post my drawing of that pose if it merited public display, but it doesn’t.
UPDATE 09 Nov 2009: Lots of photos and some video of the event now available on Dr Sketchy’s Facebook page, including one of me looking rather concerned. Presumably I’m not happy with my drawing. I’m looking forward to the next one in December.
happy times ahead
Hurrah! Machination, the new game from Amanita, the makers of Samorost, is now available. Get playing.
can a ceramics designer change her spots?
While it’s good to see local ceramics designer Emma Bridgewater amongst such internationally-renowned designers as Vivienne Westwood, Dolce and Gabbana, Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta, I can’t help feeling that her spots suffer in comparison.
It may be some form of retro chic or possibly an ironic statement about design, but in the context of a skin for the Chrome browser, where there are no curves or reflections to disturb a flat rectangle, the repurposing of an existing, self-conscious non-design is empty. It would be fascinating to see the relative number of downloads of each design.
reclining nude
The second pose at Monday night’s class was challenging – a lot of foreshortening – but I enjoyed it.
not the dry cleaner
I recently heard about Dr Sketchy‘s anti-art drawing classes, which are an attempt by an American to make drawing classes more fun. After researching these on the Internet, it appears that the phenomenon has already been to Manchester and faded away, and Nottingham was the only place near me which still holds them. Indeed, they’ve only just started in Nottingham, in August this year. So, not really knowing what to expect, I booked a place on the second one.
It turned out to be great fun, like drawing in a cabaret. The MC sang rude songs and was very funny, there was a stage assistant in drag, dressed as a waitress, a contortionist manoeuvred his shoulder in strange ways and there were some unusual and exotic ladies. We sat and drew them all, amid much music and hilarity. The poses ranged from two minutes to twenty, which meant that they could be more dramatic than ones that have to be held for longer.
The drawing abilities of people varied a lot, but there were several very good artists. It’s amazing how much they managed to draw in such a short time. My drawings weren’t great, but I really enjoyed it, and have booked for the next one in December. I’ll know for next time to sit more centrally rather than at the side, and to take some much softer pencils.