An Artist’s Nightmare to Draw

The following was originally published in July, 2010: 
For an artist, a nightmare to draw is called "foreshortening." Foreshortening is a trick of perspective. When you see a person laying down, and it looks like the largest part of their body is their feet, you are seeing foreshortening. Here is a photo example of that, using the timer function on my camera. My feet are HUGE compared to the rest of me. We all know this is not really how I am built (I hope!).

Me, circa 2010, showing foreshortening by having my feet closest to the camera and my smile farthest away.

​When a model poses laying down, there is a collective groan from the artists because to most foreshortening is difficult. Not me. I relish the challenge. I was the only artist cheering! It is fun to see how to translate something so out of whack into something that makes sense.

How did I do? Do these look like the curvaceous female model we had at the Bakehouse Art Complex?

All of these are 11 x 14 inches, ink on watercolor paper. 

​2020 Update:

Wow. Me, 10 years ago. Andy and I were renting a townhouse. Simon cat was still with us. We weren’t married, yet. The Bakehouse is still around, but I haven’t had the opportunity to do a figure drawing class since about 2010. Figure drawing isn’t really my favorite thing, but I do enjoy it when I have the chance. 

These are also done in only black india ink washes. Lately, I’ve only used india ink to practice lines, lol.

These sketches are available. All are on watercolor paper and will be shipped rolled in a tube with instructions of how to flatten and frame. The set of 4 is $100, or each $35. Please email me if you’d love them for your space, at angeline @angelinemarie .net