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| 11x14 Graphite |
Those are my own ballet shoes from my childhood. I took them with me one day, to my little gallery space in the old factory building. There are lots of dingy old stone and brick walls in the place, and I had a great time carrying my shoes around and hanging them anywhere I could find a hook or a peg, to shoot my reference photos.
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| The bow suspending the shoes... |
In hindsight, I should have just sat right there in the building for a few hours and drawn them from life, instead of printing the reference photos and drawing them at my desk. I've been discovering the benefits of attending weekly figure drawing sessions and drawing from 'life' rather than from photos. It really helps me to see and draw the three-dimensional qualities of my subjects, and understand how shadow and light affect them.
These are just the preliminary drawings for a colored pencil and pastel piece that I want to do. It's going to be 12 x 24, (tall and graceful, like a ballerina). In the graphite version, I didn't try to draw the background wall behind the shoes. I think the real expressiveness of the wall can best be achieved through color. The wall is going to be the real story of the piece, I'm hoping... I want to create a richly textured, old-world wall, with deep, dramatic shadows.
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| planning the palette... |
But we'll see what happens... sometimes my ideas turn out completely differently than what I originally envisioned... (that's called a disclaimer)
PS- You get 2 points if you remember what
Releve' means from your old ballet classes!
All I remember is that it comes after plie'. LOL This is going to be beautiful. As much as I love old brick walls and all the character they can convey, I think I am so taken with "the dance" that the real star for me will be the ballet shoes. Already have me hooked by these photos. Can't wait to see the final result!
ReplyDeleteWow! Absolument magnifique !
ReplyDeleteBelle maitrise du drapé!
Your work is amazing - congratulations!
ReplyDeleteKatherine it's beautiful. My love for graphite is close to yours but as you know I don't do enough of it. Wouldn't it be great to be closer and have a group of 7 like the old days. Have fun and create my friend.
ReplyDeleteComo dibujo es extraordinario, y con color lo será aun más. Saludos
ReplyDeleteExquisite drawing. The shoes and tied bows are fabulous. I can only imagine the impact against an aged wall. Can't wait to see that emerge.
ReplyDeleteAs for terminology..eleve and releve, with something separating the two...hmmm, its been far too long. :)
Give in. Having never gone to ballet or for that matter any kind of dancing ever . You have already spent more time actually drawing and preparing than I could ever take, although my last few abstracts have taken me more than normal so maybe you are at last making me give serious thought to what I do. I am sure this is going to be another wonderful work of art.
ReplyDeleteJ'admire la finesse et la précision de vos dessins. C'est magnifique!
ReplyDeleteMa chère Katherine c'est toujours un véritable plaisir que de pouvoir admirer vos dessins... Le respect du beau dessin est sous mes yeux. Bravo !
ReplyDeleteJe n'ai jamais fait de dans lorsque j'étais enfant... Ma fille Daphné et mon fils aîné Kevin ont fait de la danse au conservatoire.
J'aime les chaussons de danse, vos chaussons de danse... et j'ai hâte d'en voir danvantage !
gros bisous
I did Tap classes, not Ballet so have no idea.
ReplyDeleteBut ... love the drawing and look forward to seeing the coloured works
Étonnant de voir que vous dessinez chaussons de danse, j'ai eu l'idée de les dessiner pour la danse, mais je n'ai pas en ma possession, je ne fais jamais de ballet. Cela ne devrait pas être le genre de chose qui peut facilement être trouvé pour une somme modique ou à l'occasion dans le marché aux puces. Je suis comme toi en ce moment, je veux travailler de plus en plus de la nature. De temps en temps je retourne aux bases du dessin, de me permettre de laisser de côté l'aquarelle pendant un petit moment.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be special...I can tell!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful drawing of a great subject...can't wait to see your vision!
ReplyDeleteWow - those shoes! I love to paint but really have to push myself to draw. You are such a talented artist - it's amazing to me how well you do with simple pencil and pastels. You definitely have a gift!
ReplyDeleteA different kind of portrait and a wonderful statement! Beautiful
ReplyDeleteDear Katherine - your ballet slippers are awesome - am anxious to see your wall piece with them. Do you always plan your palette? Your work is truly lovely. Take care and have a great day creating.
ReplyDeleteMy daughters both went to ballet classes when they were about 4...when their shoes didn't fit anymore, I threw them in the trash!!!
ReplyDeleteOver 30 years passed by ... I found them on a shelf in my husband's workshop! He was more sentimental than I...BUT now I'm glad he held on to them... This drawing of your shoes is absolutely beautiful, Katherine! and now I can't wait to see more of the wall painting!
So you done your warm up and now it's time to dance :)
ReplyDeleteI love the way you work dear Katherine, because first and most you love it and that's the first thing I sense every time I visit you; your love and your enthusiasm.
The drawing is excellent, as always. Will be holding my breath to see the piece that will come next!
Warm regards.
You have got such a great hand in drawing...ballet shoes with a soul, beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteHey K!
ReplyDeleteYou've given the shoes great expression; this will be another very special piece. Bravo, bravo!
No ballet in my past, so no two points. It's a very attractive word.
ReplyDeleteUn tema fascinante, el ballet es un arte y usted a hecho arte al dibujar estas preciosas zapatillas.
Wow, Katherine; I am thrilled to have found your terrific blog (via your comment on Conservatively Bohemian)! Your works as I browsed captivated me, and I can't wait the see the ballet shoes against an old wall--super idea.
ReplyDeleteAwesome so far!! Keep going!
ReplyDeleteHello Catherine, your blog is also beautiful and every time I come I'm reading
ReplyDeleteEnchanted by such beautiful work! Thank you for your comment ...
A good week for you greetings.
this is so incredible katherine! anything ballet makes me smile. beautifully done. you are amazing.
ReplyDeletethank you too for your very kind comments on my blog.
Very well done, lovely work! Arianna
ReplyDeleteI love the little "planning the palette" insert. I'll be anxious to see the color version. You have redefined what it means to do a value sketch but actually doing a lovely graphite pencil drawing frist.
ReplyDeletePrecioso dibujo, como siempre, junto con los inestimables comentarios que esclarecen aun mas tu trabajo. Me gusta especialmente lo diáfanos que son, la obra de una mente sensible a la luz y la sombra.
ReplyDeleteGracias Katherine por tu valioso comentario, viniendo de una artista a la que admiro tanto. Haré lo que me pides en la página de Facebook que abrí hace poco.
Saludo afectuoso.