Failed leather and a duck streetwalker

[avram]

Headed into Manhattan today, to deposit a check and buy a new sketchbook. (The 9x12 Canson isn’t finished yet, but I’m down to the last eight or so pages.) I went with a 9x12 recycled Series 400 Strathmore, side-spiral bound. Checked three art supply stores: A.I. Friedman didn’t have it, Sam Flax had it for $10, and the Pearl Paint annex next to SVA had it for $6.

Back in Jersey City, I spent a while at Ground. I noticed that Catherine was wearing a leather jacket, and since I’ve been trying to figure out how to capture the distinctive quality of shiny leather, I tried sketching hers. Didn’t work; she kept moving. Will anyone at Games Club this week be wearing one? (Probably not; the forecast is for cold weather and snow flurries. I’ll be in fleece and down.)







I’ve also just watched all fifteen of the finalists for MoveOn.org’s Bush in 30 Seconds political advertising contest. These are the best (as rated by anyone who felt like downloading and watching the things) of a couple hundred ads submitted to the contest. A panel of celebrity judges will pick one winner next week. Check ’em out if you’ve got QuickTime Player and bandwidth. My favorite is “Child’s Pay”, but I thought “Polygraph”, “Wake Up America”, “Bush’s Repair Shop”, and “Leave No Billionaire Behind” are also pretty good.

Comments

[sabaoth.livejournal.com]

I've found leather... especially black leather -- in black and white, has a lot more contrast... less grey/cross-hatched areas. The sketch you did is really great btw... I wouldn't call it a failure at all, maybe try leaving more white/reflective areas on it?

For example... the skirt on your duck streetwalker shows a perfect aspect of leather sketched in black and white. Broad, reflective white areas with minimal middle/grey areas. Maybe if you re-tried the jacket with that method?

Keep up the posts btw... I love getting a peek at your sketches.