Matisse: Reclining Odalisque (Harmony in Red)

In depicting this model, Henri Matisse seems to focus on her interaction with her surroundings. Instead of simply drawing the model and the details in the model, Matisse captures qualities about the surroundings of the model as well. There is not much detail overall, but the scene is still interesting because of the quantity that it contains and the relatively accurate proportion in which everything appears.

One very notable thing about this painting is Matisse's use of color. The vivid red in the background is the most obvious. However, the way in which he used subtle colors of green, blue, purple and gray to capture the woman's skin tones is impressive. Matisse used non traditional bright colors to depict a realistic scene.

Nov 4

Oct 28

Nude Models

Sketching the nude models was a very new experience for me. While I was initially very nervous, I came to realize that this was something unlike anything that I had ever done and in may ways it was significantly more interesting. Instead of drawing the same still life for hours, drawing a person doing different things was a lot more dynamic.

However, because this was something unlike anything I have ever done, it came with its challenges. Adhering to the correct proportions proved to be very difficult, especially with the hands, feet, head, and face. Also foreshortening was an extremely difficult thing to encounter. During one of the sessions, I was in such a position so that no matter what the model did, one of her features was always being foreshortened.

While these difficulties continue to appear with each session, it also seems as though each time gets a little easier. Due to practicing, it seems as though I have developed a more formulated way of approaching these problems. One of which is sketching the surrounds. Another is using the shapes of negative space to form relations between the model and the objects surrounding her.

A quote by Hoffman that could be applied to these sketches is: "Art cannot result from sophisticated, frivolous, or superficial effects." Drawing the figure requires observation and the ability to convey what is being viewed onto paper. Doing this requires nothing but natural abilities, and no extra effects.


Some of my sketches from the different sessions are shown below (and in following posts).
Oct 21: