Here in Quebec City we’re still waiting for the opportunity to get out of our igloos so we can sketch outside. Until the snow starts melting, however, we get together at someone’s house and sketch.
Stillman & Birn Nova
Stillman & Birn Nova
A favorite in that regard is Yvan’s place because he has a great studio that’s filled with an artist’s version of a cabinet of curiosities so there’s lots of stuff to draw. When several of us gathered there I chose to draw plaster casts of hands. I had a lot of fun with these but I made the mistake of using a water-based felt pen to shade them. I know lots of people love felt markers but I can’t understand why. Whenever I use one the results are streaky and splotchy.
I’m not a fan of the streaky marker look either, and yet I still use them because they are so fast and handy. Don Colley smudges the Pitt ink quickly with a finger before it dries, which makes it blend a bit. I’ve tried that with mixed results. I really like the idea of sketching plaster hands! That would be great practice… I wonder where I can get some?
I’ve tried Don’s smudge techniques and just as I can’t keep up with his line work, I’m not good at smudging 🙂
The two casts that I drew from belong to my buddy Yvan and they are of his hands. He bought a bag of alginite from his dentist, mixed it up and poured it into a couple 2l pop bottles that had their tops cut off. Then he plunged his hands into the stuff and made the mold. Alginite is a one-off molding technique but it works well. He told me that he’s seen the stuff for sale in the art/crafts store but the price is higher than getting it from his dentist. There are also a couple online sellers of plaster casts but they’re pretty pricey.
Here’s a discussion of alginite: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/dental-visits/what-is-an-alginate-impression-
Sounds like a good winter project for me!