Cover Image Flockhart K, *Life Study* (2025)

Close study of the human figure presents the greatest combination of challenges. Drawing the human form requires a high degree of analytical observation.
It’s important to reduce the importance of what we know and what we think we know as this can blind us to what we really see. Drawing the figure in terms of looking, measuring, analysing, checking and scanning will heighten your perceptual skills in all other areas of drawing.
This is an insight into just how little we use our eyes to ‘see’ in everyday life and what is so different about life drawing. The science of perception is an important area of study for art theorists.

Fig.1 Flockhart K, *Life Studies* (2025)

The guidance in the brief acted as a series of prompts to begin the drawings and focus observation. A model placed in event the most minimal of settings produces a mass of visual output, which can be overwhelming.

I utilised two approaches. Either laying down areas of tone or linear marks that connected each body part. Both techniques gave me something to shape, and the evidence of marks kept or erased, helped to create depth. Often having something to erase provided an opportunity to create light as I took the paper back to white.
After a while, the time spent going back and forth between looking and practice, familiarity takes over and intuition kicks in. I have to be patient and keep the rhythm of looking and marking, until that moment arrives, and then I can let go, it’s the final stage when the drawing comes alive and the work is done.

List of Images

Cover Image Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study. [Charcoal on paper, edited with hipstamatic] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.1 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Studies. [Charcoal on paper, edited with Hipstamatic] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.2 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study Process 1. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.3 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study Process 2. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.4 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study Process 3. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.5 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.6 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.7 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.

Fig.8 Flockhart, K. (2025) Life Study. [Charcoal on paper] In possession of: The author: Volleges.