Monday, August 24, 2009

Dalvero Academy workshop 2


Drawing the Taiko drummers in Japan at Epcot one evening.

Throughout the 10 days I would draw faces of the tourists and many of the characters at the parks as they passed by. The woman at the bottom right asked me to draw her and then took a picture of me holding the drawing. I figured when at Disney...

Sitting against a building on the shady side of the street to avoid the midday heat as much as possible, I sketched Sunset Blvd at MGM. I would look up and could spot others from the group dotted along the street bent over their work. This was a quick sketch because soon I would have to wrap it up get in position for another parade.

I positioned myself at the curb under a tree for some shade waiting for the parade to pass by with only the usual 10 minutes to capture what I saw. But instead of continuing through the streets and passing us by, this one came down Hollywood Blvd and stopped. I was basically at the feet of the Toy Story float watching and drawing giant toy blocks and Mr. Potato Head as they jumped around at my feet and then the parade receded back the way they came. What a mess, but that's what I saw...even my foot in the lower right!

This final drawing at Animal Kingdom is quite large for me at 28"x 12". I found a shaded spot just out of the way of the foot of the thousands of people visiting Disney. Across from the Prayer Tree I spent the major part of the day drawing a panorama of people moving through the park as they walked from the Asia to Africa. It was a challenge for me to do something this large, but I enjoyed the process of watching and recording what I saw. Then I was off to get ready for one last parade...

After 10 days of reportage drawing with Dalvero Academy I can honestly say I am quite exhausted and it has taken me days to get up the energy to scan and post. However, it was truly an amazing experience and I will take what I have learned forward in my life as an artist and a now a reportage sketcher. Plus, Disney World ROCKS!

10 comments:

CreativeKristi said...

What a great experience! I love your drawing style and how great to be able to create so many drawings so quickly. Thanks for sharing.

Linda T said...

Wow, what a cool thing to do! I love the variety of your sketches. Thanks too for the narrative. It's interesting to hear of workshops people take.

caseytoussaint said...

Jennifer, these sketches are wonderful! I especially love your use of color. It sounds like an incredible workshop - and congratulations for having gotten so much out of it.

Anonymous said...

Hi there!,

Really enjoyed going through your sketches. Very lively!

Thank you for the inspiration :)

Best,
Pratyusha.

Sandy said...

Double WOW - what a onslaught of exciting events and perspectives and lively pen/brush work. Sounds like a fabulous adventure and you have certainly "drawn" much out of it (pun un-intended but clever?)

Sandy said...

Double WOW - what a onslaught of exciting events and perspectives and lively pen/brush work. Sounds like a fabulous adventure and you have certainly "drawn" much out of it (pun un-intended but clever?)

Anonymous said...

These sketches are amazing - congratulations. I can't imagine how you managed to work so quickly and capture so much. I have so enjoyed looking at your work.

Shirley said...

Thanks so much for posting the information and illustrations from your 2 week experience. I think I now understand what you (and Laura) were learning. Love your sketches - and quiver at the thought of drawing a parade!

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

Your post ROCKS. I have always wanted to see Disneyworld, but never considered a workshop to do it. What a great experience it must have been, life changing I imagine. You drawings are full of energy and life, and they are just plain wonderful!

Margaret Ann said...

Spectacular obsevatiions Jen!