15 June
Starting with this project I was a bit apprehensive – due to my own fears for getting perspective right. I tried to focus on the basic rule of perspective and let my mind move towards the vanishing point.
Exercise 1 Parallel perspective – an interior view
I did a sketch whilst standing in my bedroom and looking onto the door leading out from my bedroom into a passage. This is the drawing without rulers and mark of my eye level. Interesting to note the areas where I went darker – almost as to find lines, but to no success, the door looks like it is wobbling and at a very bad angle, being open.
Next I used tape to put my eye level markings in the area I am drawing – used masking tape coloured with bright light blue pastel and stuck it to the door as well as to the doorframe. I then used a ruler to draw a horizontal line across my drawing at my eye level. The drawing continued in a much easier way after implementing these actions. I find the ruler and markings helped me to create much better parallel perspective drawing.
Exercise 2 Angular perspective
The idea of this exercise is to use every possible vertical or horizontal reference to ensure that receding lines are drawn at the correct angles. I used our own house for my fist exercise. I did a quick sketch, then added perspective lines and the outcome is not too bad. I used charcoal sticks to add colour, then sprayed a bit of water for extra texture and give this ‘new’ house a bit of character.
I decide to give angular perspective a try with the copy of the city scene, Rome, by Sir Muirhead Bone, 1910
I found this part of the exercise exciting, but not easy at all. I tried to use sight size and measured that my drawing was the same size of the copy in my study material. I did not focus enough on the street scene as part of the perspective and battled with the parallel as well as vertical lines trough the buildings. I was thinking of doing an ink study, after I learned this artist was a great etch master. The scale is small and it was almost as if my concentration span was not enough to carry through.
I came back to this part of the studies when we moved to Dubai – in the older part of the city, Deira I found buildings, ally ways, interesting perspectives which fascinated me. When we arrived in Dubai in early August 2018 I spent a day in the older area, called Deira Creek. The Creek divides greater Dubai into two areas, the Deira side (Northern side most known for its souks local markets) and the Bur, meaning old Dubai side. This is a heavily residential area with live markets and small shops integrated in residential streets. The 14 km long Creek is actually an inlet of the sea that cuts into the land. This Creek has been very important in Dubais history and its emergence as a top class global city .I have visited this area a few years ago, but was surprised by the new developments and almost gentrifying of the area, but keeping the history of this city as a reminder. These sand coloured buildings makes one forget you are in a modern city with skyscrapers and huge fly over bridges and roads. Our plan for the morning was to go to the Spice Souk and find good quality Saffron.
I knew I need to work more on perspective – two-point or angular perspective creates beautiful opportunities for drawings and ink paintings.
I love the feeling of discovering around a corner or through an interesting view point.
I feel the atmospheric perspective drawing, capturing a hot day walking and discovering interesting buildings and almost old worldly markets with the sand colours of the buildings, asked of me to focus on tone to create this drawing.
The sand colours of the buildings, dark wood, interesting bright fabrics captured me. It was before 10 am and the area was almost deserted – we came upon a restaurant which apparently opens in the evenings – seating is on the floor – I later learn that the fabric with the reds/black/orange stripes is seen as real Emirati colours.
Colourful boats, old wooden type, move up and down the creek, loaded with anything from a TV to an ironing board. As the morning continues, this area becomes very busy. It is the Creek side where traders and merchants met from nearby nations to conduct trading. do a few short sketches, but will have to rely on photos, as it is to warm to spend more than a few minutes outside – at this stage the humidity is also very high. I plan to do much more drawings in this area during the ‘cooler’ months as from November to May. I experience a type of ‘window’ look into a life that reminds me of a busy morning in India. Merchants in the Spice Souk are hard at work and the colours and smells are inviting.
Trying to show the view onto the mountains from the grasses on the hiking trail. The mountains are overwhelming and I get lost in the vastness and detail during these short sketches. It is not easy and I am not positive to put it into the blog. I am almost lost at technique to show any skills of drawing and seeing what is in front of me in this situation.
By end of July we are on the farm again and winter has changed the surroundings. This was done at sunset
Exercise 3 Aerial or atmospheric perspective
Aerial or atmospheric perspective means that objects and features in the middle and far distance appear lighter and less detailed, and become more muted and blue in colour as they recede.
A visit to a local art gallery (Circa, Rosebank, South Africa) – and my favourite part of this building. My cousin is standing looking onto portraits – I loved the perspective created by the walls and roof and the light flowing into the room.
The curves of the building is almost accentuated by the figure watching the exhibition in side the building. The little handbag looks like a window? I also like how the shadow runs like water into the foreground.
I am contemplating to do a bigger study – the conversation could be ongoing – or is it the looking, gazing, contemplating, seeing… that should be on going?
I share a pastel drawing of an atmospheric perspective attempt of a slum drawing in the Cape Flats, Western Province, South Africa. I used bright colours I would like to see if this was the place I had to find myself living in. I do not think I got the aerial view right
