Light and Form.

Michael Whynot. Red chalk.

Tiepolo.

Tiepolo.

To depict the figure convincingly, one needs to understand how form is constructed and, also, how light will behave when interacting with the form.

Doing this with the live model, under well-lit conditions (a single light source), is the best way to study light. But once you have an understanding of light and form, you are free to create images from imagination and play with pose and composition.

The drawing, above, was done from imagination, last evening. It took about two hours from first gesture line to completion. There are so many aspects to consider when doing drawings like this from imagination, without the luxury of a model; like a juggler trying to juggle six balls, instead of three.

The two drawings below mine are by the Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770). He was a master of light and form, and these pen and wash drawings show this master's complete understanding of both, and highlight how much work I have, yet, remaining.