I think I’m getting into the swing of things. Our topic this week in drawing class: flowers. We were supposed to bring a flower and a vase and of course I forgot mine. Luckily a class mate offered to let me look at her set-up and I was depressed to see Daisies. It’s not that I don’t like them, but they have so many petals! Other students were smart and brought Hibiscus (only five petals) or Anthirium (no petals!)

I did the best I could to really slow down, and I also decided to start at the center of the flower and work my way out. Here is the result.

I wish I had time to put in some kind of background, but I like this one.
I wish I had time to put in some kind of background, but I like this one.

Next we did another arrangement with a Hibiscus and small Tuberose, but I didn’t have quite enough time to finish it.

One day I'll be able to capture the delicate quality of the Hibiscus petals.
One day I’ll be able to capture the delicate quality of the Hibiscus petals.

While I was out at lunch, I was checking my Facebook page, and saw that a friend had posted a copy of a portrait painted by Jacob Van Loo. I loved it so I pulled out they small sketchbook I keep in my bag and did a quick study.

Sketch of Jacob van Loo's portrait of Sophia Coyman
Sketch of Jacob van Loo’s portrait of Sophia Coyman

Then at home I decided to do another still life. I picked up a centerpiece from a Honolulu Pen Women luncheon, created by the ever-so-talented Elsha Bohnert. I mean a shoe wrapped in ribbon, how cool is this. And the perfume bottle for scale, but I didn’t get the scale of the shoe just right.

From a Trash2Fashion show luncheon, a great centerpiece idea.
From a Trash2Fashion show luncheon, a great centerpiece idea.

In my mother’s collection of treasures I pulled out a brass pitcher and tried my hand at it with slowing down again and trying to get the outline right.

Poor thing is very tarnished.
Poor thing is very tarnished.

I also picked up a book recently called, “Lessons in Classical Drawing,” by Juliette Aristides.  In it I found an exercise that asks you to begin your drawing using measure lines and looking for basic geometric shapes and blocking those in first. I kinda like the technique, I think I’ll try some more.

The idea is to look for all the geometric shapes first and then work on the detail.
The idea is to look for all the geometric shapes first and then work on the detail.

That’s it for this week. I hope you have enjoyed what I’m trying to do, which is practice, practice, practice. You are welcome to use these images in your blogs, all I ask is that you credit them to Rachel Funk Heller and add a link to this site, rachelfunkheller.com  Thanks for stopping by!