Glenda Pitt – Life Drawing Exhibition

My love of art began at 16 in high school. I was Initially impressed by the European renaissance period, in particular Michaelangelo. Subsequently Australian artists Albert Namatjira, Lloyd Rees, and later Brett Whitely drew my attention. However, in contrast and more recently, I have been attracted to the challenge of the Chinese/Japanese art of sumi-e, where every brush stroke requires relaxed but carefully placed marks, each being accountable and unaltered to create a clear image.

Although I consider myself an acrylic landscape artist, I do enjoy the spontaneity of a 2 hour session in life/figure drawing. My preferred medium here is charcoal. Landscape and life drawing complement each other as both have back, middle and foregrounds which connect features, leading the viewers eye in and around the composition. Like sumi-e, every brush stroke, in quick succession, is accountable for creating the subject’s recognizable image, in one’s own unique style.

A two hour life drawing session begins with three two minute warmup poses, then two five minute and ten minute poses, a fifteen minute, and ending with a thirty minute pose. Model and artists rest between each pose.

When I lived in Queensland, I frequently attended art groups in which the nine artworks in my exhibition were drawn, most likely in a 15-30 minute pose, then enhanced later when I had time to spare, with emphasis on details, tone, shadow and colour application.

I’ve since had a pause from life drawing and have been enjoying illustrating children’s books for local author Lyn Knight. Shortly I will reunite with sumi-e imder the guidance of local artist Sandi Faulkner. So, as you can see, being a creative person can be broad and varied.

Glenda donated the proceeds of her exhibition to Fusion Australia, an organisation that supports young people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

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