Leith.. Ink and Bleach

Today at Leith School of Art was a new experience. We were handed some blue ink, brown ink, a one inch brush, a stick and some bleach. There were two models. One in Japanese costume and one nude and they alternated betwen the main studio and the sculpture room.
First was a series of 3 minute sketches with ink, brush and stick on A4 paper. Then came some more 3 minute poses but this time using bleach to take away from the drawing in order to put back more correct lines.

I found this extremely difficult as I was not sure what I was doing and then the bleach made everything run so much that there was a real mess on the paper. I could not draw into the bleach because the lines went fuzzy, also the stick was unwieldy. The blue ink turned green and trying to do a life drawing with the tools getting in the way so much seemed impossible.

The afternoon was spent in doing a pose for an hour. Point of despair came quickly and I had to ask for help from the tutor, Jane. She suggested covering the paper with ink and drawing with the stick using bleach to take away rather than using the ink on white paper. This helped.

First of the life drawings using ink, brush and stick.


 My drawing suffered as a result of trying to use the stick, which seemed to have a mind of it's own. It was two feet long and slightly bent.

I was also experimenting on putting the figure to one side of the paper instead of in the middle. Trying to work on composition as well as the form.
The left drawing did not work so well but I am more pleased with the ones on the right.

This was more successful as I got used to the materials.











However, when using the bleach, my drawing went completely off track. Shoulder problems! Tired to use bleach to get rid of bad drawing but made a great mess instead.

 This one was a nightmare as the model was practically in silhouette and I did not know how to start so left out the bleach!
Told by tutor, Jane, to persevere.. ( Leith School of Art motto)

Result was another mess.












After lunch was the hour long drawing. I chose the Japanese girl thinking it might be easier. Wrong!


A1 paper and too much to think about. Her Kimono was highly patterned and she was sitting on a chair on a patterned rug.
The angle of her knee made it look as if she were standing and as I was drawing the ink and bleach was running everywhere.

Hopefully, it was beginning to get somewhere after half an hour. Detail was out of the question and so was any attempt at pattern. Feet turned into a blur and despair took over once again.

However, at the end of the day, I was very glad to have had such an interesting experience and might even try it again..