Studying the Female Back - in Charcoal - Original content for Steemit

First up, a bit about the paper and charcoal. I used Strathmore 500 charcoal paper in white. Usually this paper is really good, it's my go-to paper for pastel work - but this particular sheet seemed 'dry' and a bit scratchy, the charcoal didn't flow as easily as i was expecting. The paper presented a little challenge but that's what this drawing is about - it's a study.
The intention when making a study compared to attempting a 'masterpiece' is to learn something new, so to quote Bob Ross it was a 'happy little accident', it threw up a bit of an obstacle to deal with and to work out a solution.

In the first couple images, i've blocked in the general shape of the subject using Alphacolor Char-kole which i sanded into a powder and wiped on with a paper towel. Alphacolor is the blackest charcoal you can get, it's very high quality material. Sometimes a vine charcoal will turn brown when you wipe or rub it in so i tend to only use vine charcoal if it's in detail or isn't going to be worked too hard into the paper. I think if i had started with a different paper, maybe Strathmore Bristol Vellum i would have had a bit more range in the mid-tones which would create more opportunity for finer details.

Next i took a General's Charcoal pencil and started finding the edge forms. Notice i didn't try to draw perfect rounded forms with the arms, shoulders, hips etc. The reason is, round lines are hard to draw and you'll most likely make a mistake and ruin the form your trying to capture. Draw short straight lines, focus on just finding the angle and the changes to the form where muscles and bones exist. The lines will evolve and smooth out as the drawing is worked.

I realised the head was in need of some attention and was probably a bit large with the blocked in area. I drew an egg to help define where i thought the skull would be. It was going to be covered in hair and largely in shadow but it did help in judging the size by just making that simple shape. In the final image below i've refined the head some more and made a few more touches to the core shadows and spine. There's more muscle groups and details i could have attempted but with the paper issues at hand, i didn't want to over work it and ruin what i had. It was a study and i'm happy with what i learned today.

And that's it, a relatively quick study in charcoal of a females back. I plan to do a couple more as i'm focusing on back muscles this week in my studies. I'll post again if i can get something together worth sharing.

Thank You