In response to the feedback from my tutor with regards to my assignment, I used my camera phone to help crop the composition of my final piece. I also as advised spent some time building the tone on the right hand side and lightning the left – the result is shown below. I am quite astonished at how much of a difference this makes; on the first version I had felt the trainers dominated the image, however with just a few subtle amendments the composition is much more balanced and each of the items seems to share the attention of the viewer.
During my feedback discussion we also talked about the value in using the photos I had taken of stages through my drawing, to reflect on what had added value to the overall result.
I found this difficult to do initially – I could understand what was being suggested, but I was also reminded that whilst I had been completing my assignment I was conscious of building layers, starting with the detailed elements. This had been a deliberate act on my part in wanting to get a true sense of the form and texture before adding light and shade. In some way I had felt that to not do this would be deceitful. However, in completing a subsequent exercise today (see post ‘Drawing Skills 1: Pt 2; Project 2 Detailed observation of natural objects – Ex 1 – Detail and tone’), I realised that some detail can be added later in the process without compromising the end result. In the exercise today I worked in a completely opposite way to the assignment by working on the light and shade and building tone before working on the more detailed elements. This is in part because the exercise called for this, but nevertheless has helped me to understand this possibility and consider different ways of working and I intend to practise and build on this approach in future exercises.
Deborah McAulay 