Ray discovered his interest in figure drawing by first discovering figure drawing itself by participating as a figure model. He joined the cyberspace-based figure drawing group that I participate with, as both an artist and a model. He also participates with a local figure drawing group. Considering that Ray really hasn't been doing figure drawings very long, he is remarkably good, and seems to just keep getting better. I'm quite impressed. I wish I could draw, and have made a futile attempt or two, but for me, it just doesn't work out. For Ray, however, it's working!
This drawing was one of the first ones that Ray did as part of the group. It was a group project which suggested that the artist do a drawing from an upside down photo. The photo was of me. As you can see, Ray did a good job of drawing, even upside down. I have turned the drawing back upside right for better viewing.
When Ray shared the following drawing with the group, this was what he had to say about it: "I found one of Ben's poses to be especially pleasing and graceful. (He must have studied ballet in a former life). Anyway, drew it in pen and ink and then diluted some ink and washed it on to give a little more depth. I really like this technique and still trying to master it."
For the record, if I studied ballet, it was definitely in a former life, not this one. I was once again impressed with Ray's ability to learn, draw, and even work toward developing a new (to him at least) and specific technique. I think the drawing is quite well done. I am particularly taken with his rendering of the shadow behind and to the right of the figure itself. Ray titled this drawing "Ben dancing".
Ray called this drawing "Ben Resting". Despite Ray's claims to be relatively new to figure drawing, I'm beginning to think that he's just kidding. Like many of Ray's drawings, I am quite impressed by this one, and very flattered that he took the time to draw it. From what I've seen, if Ray's drawings continue to improve at the rate they seem to be to me, I look forward to the day when I can say "I knew him when....". I continue to be very impressed by Ray's ability to draw.
Ray called this drawing "Ben Resting 2". When I look at this drawing, it says to me "this is art". It's very humbling and rewarding to feel like a tiny part of that. I feel like Ray has quite a gift, and I'm thrilled that he seems to be discovering it. It is quite gratifying to me to feel like I'm watching that gift unfold and develop while cheering him on from the sidelines. I think Ray has, yet again, created something very nice, and from a rather challenging pose. I'm only too pleased that Ray has allowed me to be a tiny part of that.
This drawing will require some real explanation. I hope it can be understood for what it is and not taken as something that it isn't. This drawing is the result of some personal exploration on my part, and was not initiated by Ray. To be honest, it took great courage and effort for me to go through with it, and I suspect it took a leap of faith for Ray as well.
I had long wanted to attempt what might be called the "non-pornographic erection". One morning, upon finding myself with the time, and a renewed desire to explore it, I went ahead and did a short set of simple poses hoping to find the "non-pornographic erection" pose. It was an interesting thing to go through, and actually held a lot of surprise for me personally.
It was unexpectedly and extraordinarily difficult to try to deal with basically two sets of emotions at the same time that were very much at odds with each other. But, in order to attempt it, this is what had to be done. I wasn't entirely displeased with the results when I was finished, although admittedly a bit "freaked out" about it. Still, I proceeded to make the photos available to a very few select artists that I thought might not judge me too harshly for attempting to express myself in this admittedly rather adventurous or at least non-conventional and bold way. Particularly so, given that I personally absolutely insist on very high standards for any figure drawing group, or related, that I am a part of.
I want to emphasize that it was not and is not my desire to communicate anything pornographic with this. I sincerely believe that if all were right in the world, a male's anatomy and any and every part of it, in any and every "state", would simply be that - a male's anatomy. Being extremely clear and in all and absolute seriouness, there was most certainly no intent to create a suggestive image with any of this. But, rather only to explore the process, and perhaps the male anatomy itself just a bit further. And, to explore my own emotions and feelings in the process - which it did, probably much further and exhaustively than I had anticipated.
I honestly didn't think that any of the few artists that I decided to make these few poses available to would actually do any drawings from them. But, Ray decided to give it a shot. This was yet another interesting experience. I came to realize that it was an extremely personal thing to do. I suddenly felt an increased level of trust and acceptance from and with Ray that is difficult to describe. He too indicated that he saw nothing pornographic in what was communicated, or intended to be communicated through this drawing.
As you might expect, being incredibly personal to me, I hesitate to share it here, but I'm going to, and I'm going to trust the maturity of those who might visit and see it and hope that they will read my words about it and try to understand what I am saying with them. Ray indicated that he didn't spend an extra long time on the drawing, but I am taken with the sense of "emotional conflict" that he captured in the drawing. To me, this sense seems even more pronounced than the original photo reference. But, it certainly captures the feeling of the experience extremely well.
I was, of course, quite pleased when it was announced that a group project would be done from one of a very large series of poses that I had been working on that I called "Props" - because I used sticks, boxes, tables, etc., to help with the pose. I also created a black background, giving a particular feel to many of the photos. The project was to use this effect and draw on a dark background, working from light to dark, to develop the drawing, somewhat like a a negative. Virtually all of the artists who completed the project, including Ray indicated that they found this approach quite difficult. I really like the effect that the lighting and this approach gives this drawing.
Ray also shared with me a prelimary version of this drawing, and talked with me about it and what he was thinking and where he planned to take the drawing from that point. This gave me the opportunity to understand a little bit better the process that he went through to create it. I really enjoy seeing that and thinking about it, even though I certainly can't make it work for myself, I find it quite fascinating.
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