Drawing People in Santa Fe
People are all around us, so when you include them in your drawings, you are adding life to your sketchbook, and you are telling a stronger story, as the viewer can relate even more to what they see. You might hesitate to add the people that you see when drawing a scene in your sketchbook–they move so fast! When you try to add passers by in your drawing, they are already gone before you hardly even started. I will help you tackle that problem and overcome the ‘fear’ of drawing people.
This is why Madeline Island School of the Arts (MISA) has asked me to come teach a workshop on this particular topic.
I’ve been to Madeline Island last summer, to teach this class. I really enjoyed working with the group of eager students that came all the way to the island to learn and play.
One of the big takeaways I got from teaching the workshop:
During any creative process, you might meed that "hump". It's also called "the ugly phase". The drawing just doesn't have the right kind of balance or focus. Or maybe the proportions are off, the perspective isn't "right".
Some people then want to give up, but then will feel disappointed about the result and they may question their skills.
I then tell them to keep going. Give more attention, and love and spend more time. Bring in more color, dare to use brighter colors and add more contrast. Think about where you want your focus to be in the drawing.
If something is "off" (like proportions or perspective), don’t worry. In the "whole" of the finished drawing at the end, that won’t even be noticeable or important anymore. The drawing is filled with good vibes and energy you put into it.
Maybe this insight can help you too, in your drawing practice.
May 6 2024 -May 10 2024, I will be teaching the class again, this time on the Santa Fe Campus of MISA.
This is not your regular, classic (and to be honest: boring) portrait workshop. We’re not going to study skulls or learn everything about anatomy. Nor will this week have anything to do with life naked model drawing. This is about pushing boundaries, so that you can feel free and creative when working in your sketchbook, and more confident about your skills.
I’d love for you to join me. I will guide you with fun exercises, and help you to pluck the courage to draw people on the move, and on location. We’ll have portrait parties, we will draw figures, and faces and hands and feet, and make energetic drawings.
It’ll be so much fun!
Half of the tickets are already sold, so don’t hesitate too long. Find out more and sign up here
