Sometimes it takes a big push to try something new. That’s what I’m getting this week by participating in the worldwide drawing event One Week 100 People 2017*, started by Urban Sketchers Marc Taro Holmes and Liz Steel. I barely see 100 people in a week, let alone draw them, so sketching 100 people is taking me to new places, spurring me to experiment with new materials and techniques, and forcing me to study faces and figures after many, many years of not drawing a soul.
I’m just past halfway to the finish line and here you can see the good, the bad, and the way off the mark. But it’s all good and fun, really, and I’m learning a lot. I’ll share the second half and some lessons learned when I reach 100. (Click on any sketch to view larger and see notes.)
1-5 My first sketch took only about 20 seconds, but it marked my commitment to this challenge: I’m in.
6-10 A sense of panic reigned as I began in earnest—the lines are loose, fast and rough; but this is one of my favorite pages from the challenge.
11-20 A lesson in simplification reveals just how much a few strokes of paint can say.
21-24 Learning from the masters is a worthwhile exercise: it’s all about capturing light.
25-28 How different are the strokes of the Japanese masters of the same time period (and what a comparison of 18th and 19th century women)! The Japanese artists had already simplified the features, so their artistry is far more graphic and gave me a sense of lovely flowing lines.
29-33 Here I reverted to fast and rough, just trying to get my numbers up instead of being thoughtful.
34-40 More of the same (see 29-33).
41-43 Slowing down with a water soluble pencil. You can start to see in the faces what I’ve learned from the facial studies.
44-47 I consider the Blue Girls to be my breakthrough sketches. Instead of seeing arms and faces, I began to look at shapes and forms to capture the figures. I also realized that I could slow myself down and be less reckless, even when working quickly. Starting in pencil helped too.
48-54 Back at the library I continued to focus on shape and form, while being more careful with the facial structure. I’m pleased with the results.
55-57 Again, panic. The library was closing in 10 minutes and I want to get my numbers up!
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These are wonderful. Great observation about library people. Funny to read, likely not to draw.
Thanks Lisa! It’s all fun and I feel like I’m part of the cartoon, sneaking glances at people, occasionally getting caught. It’s certainly great practice.
And are people understanding?
Oh…I’ve gotten a few glances that have made me uncomfortable, but I haven’t been ready to engage people just yet and tell them what I’m doing. It’s funny how people can really tell when you’re looking at them…even if you think you’re being surreptitious.
Yikes. Well, be safe.
You are going for it! I am still waffling, like you I barely see 10 people in a week! (haha VERY small town, and I’m a bit of a hermit by nature) But I think I’ll dust off my life drawing skillage and see if I can get a few out too… 🙂 Good for you, this isn’t an easy challenge, but so worth it!
Sheryl- I work from home so this is forcing me to get out in the world– which I need at this time of year anyway. I usually take a pass on challenges, but, ironically, this one seemed so big that it was appealing. Get going!
I’m amazed that you haven’t drawn people in many, many years. These are great! Looking forward to your lessons learned.
Thanks for the encouragement Susan! I’m working the rust out of my pen on these, but I’m gaining confidence and having fun with it.
I’m seriously off track with this challenge but I’m not letting that bother me because it’s such fun. Yours are fantastic – you’ve really got into the swing of it! Love them.
You have to just make it work for you. It has been fun for me and I’m really learning a lot!
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Wow! Very well done! I’d like to impove my people drawing skills too but I think I will try a slower pace. Your sketches are so impressive!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks Jill! It’s important to do things at whatever pace suits you! I needed the spark of this challenge to get going.
Phew!! What a project….well done
Well…75% done! I still have more to go!
Love the sketches and you “breakthrough” moment. Will look forward to you next post of these and what you learned.
Thanks Elizabeth- I’m trying to figure out where I can go to next. I’m ready to move beyond the library!
I’m so impressed! I especially love the Blue Ladies. Now will you come back to Anacortes & teach a people sketching class?
Hi Melissa! I could only give the carrots and beats a passing glance in the supermarket yesterday– had to press on in favor of people! What’s become of me?!
The variety of technique is most impressive, and it’s terrific of you to share your insights – but what impresses me the most is just that you bit this project off and are chewing hard! 🙂
Thanks much– It has been a lot to chew on! The second half coming soon. Hoping to finish today.
This is so much fun! I can´t wait to go outdoors and sketch people (I will have to wait for now, until the kids get better…) You made me laugh with the glances from people, it happened to me too even though the person had their back turned to me! Yikes! 😀 I really like your colored versions.
Thanks! I found that people can really sense when you’ve looking at them! Yikes! It’s nerve wracking to sketch people. Birds are much better– they don’t care if you stare at them.
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I love this! It’s so inspiring, and your drawings and sketches are beautiful.
Thanks Hannah– I appreciate you taking time to comment!
This is so fun to see! I’ve come across a couple people who have posted this challenge….and is such a great idea. I feel behind the power curve by starting late, but I think I’d love to do it for the experience of it (and expand my comfort zone a bit). Thanks for sharing your thoughts on all of these! This is so cool Jean!
I don’t typically do challenges, Roxanne, but I thought this one would be good for me…and it was. I’ll look forward to seeing some people coming out of your sketchbook.
I am enjoying your sketches and variety of tools. I was on a ski vacation two weeks ago and sketched an interesting looking man in the apres-ski bar. I told my husband iwas worried the subject would think i was stalking, but gave him the sketch when finished. He was gracious and his pretty wife carefully stowed it in her purse- good story all around.
Glad your sketching experienced worked out so well. I definitely felt like I was stalking! I wasn’t brave enough to introduce myself…I’ll get there, maybe on the next 100.