Tuesday 5 April 2016

231. A Little Chamber Music at the NPG

Staedtler 0.05 pigment liner and Unipin 0.05 fine line pen
in Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook, 8.5" x 5.5" (x2)

Last Friday evening, I popped into the 'Drop in Drawing' session at the National Portrait Gallery. The subject was supposed to be 'Striking a Pose' but a few of us followed the sound of music to another room and sketched some young and gifted musicians who had put on a little chamber music. We had a great point of view; due to the openings on either side of each gallery, we were able to congregate right behind the musicians and face the audience which (unless you are in a choir or at a bandstand) is an unusual viewpoint.

I love diving straight in with ink as you're then committed to each stroke yet I find that, if I use a fine pen, it's easy to go over it lightly again to correct/straighten if necessary.

I was fascinated by the feet of the people on the front row so started sketching them from the floor upwards but the music came to an end and, after a brief chat with a couple of the musicians, we dispersed, hence the disembodied figures in the audience. A great evening.

6 comments:

  1. Great sketch, you've captured some of the atmosphere of performers and audience in such a short time!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Millie. It was such an enjoyable evening and such a unique viewpoint.

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  2. Not easy to draw moving arms and legs...and in INK!!
    Great job! I think you captured their stance perfectly. I also love the way you did the paintings on the back wall.
    How fortunate you are to be able to go to such a prestigious place to sketch.

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  3. Not easy to draw moving arms and legs...and in INK!!
    Great job! I think you captured their stance perfectly. I also love the way you did the paintings on the back wall.
    How fortunate you are to be able to go to such a prestigious place to sketch.

    ReplyDelete