– Each note number corresponds to each slide –

1. Composition: Went for a simple composition that combines a number of contrasting forms: drapery, hard lines, soft fabric, reflective glass. The reflection introduces another space and other objects/materials (the wardrobe, my jackets, the ceiling).
2. 5H pencil, seated, 3 minutes – didn’t give myself enough space – clear, fine lines – noticed that I ignored the reflection.
3. 6B tip applied flat/sideways for softer coverage and then smudged – used 6B, rubber and finger to recreate slight tonal shift on reflection of wardrobe. ALAN – Is the writing part of the drawing? I suppose it is, I’ve always liked annotating sketches, mostly because I want to get thoughts down but also because I like what it adds to a drawing visually and contextually.
4. 5H and 6B, standing, tried cross-hatch mark-making – I wasn’t enjoying success with the cross-hatching – it’s maybe better suited to softer materials, more gradual tones – I do like the exaggerated curves of the wood grain.
5. *Try to be a bit looser than in previous drawings* Left hand, 6B, no look, standing, 1 minute, effectively continuous line (stick with it a bit longer next time, I kind of gave up when I looked at the page) – words evoked: angle, space, vertical, unbalanced.
6. *I tried out a way to combine different approaches with a grid e.g. left hand and no-look, or right hand and look for 5, draw for 5* – Top left corner drawing was 6B, right handed and five minutes looking, five minutes drawing – noted that the mirror exists in space of my room but also contains space in its reflection, so I’m drawing two angles of the same room – noted that I keep avoiding the fabric and so I drew it in after – larger drawing on the right of the page was with right hand, 6B, rubber and drawn looking down on the composition – was originally no-look but abandoned it half-way through, I should make more use of a timer and set out guidelines for each drawing – I was happy with the sense of space and perspective introduced by the radiator which I hadn’t included in previous sketches (I need to consider whether the radiator is part of the composition) – was particularly heavy on the shading because of carpet – used the rubber to outline lettering on the fabric and think it works well – also works well for replicating white frame of the mirror.
7. *Reflected at this point that the composition might not be giving as much variation as I thought it would – will try approaching from different angles and distances, will decide what my approach for each drawing will be in terms of media and time spent* – This drawing was with charcoal and rubber, right hand, 2 minutes – I enjoy the crude simplicity of it – hard, forceful pressure of rubber into the charcoal is evident.
8. *Try close-up, further away, from the floor, above, focus on specific areas and the whole composition* – 9B, close-up, began no-look then tried introducing texture and shading, 10 mins – I like the bunching of the fabric in the top corner and I think I successfully captured the weight of the folds – there’s a contrast of hard and soft lines – I will try another no look where I make more commitment to shading, trying different types of pressure with a 9B, maybe a finer pencil as well.
9. No look, charcoal and fine-liner, both hands – found that I paid more attention to left hand than right.