OK, so I began the day feeling like a fraud. Not only did I baulk at repeated sketches of the same part of my room, I took the following photograph and printed it off.
I then used a light box (gasp) to mark down the parameters and perspective of my chosen composition. The reason I did this is I was having trouble getting enough of the scene into a preliminary sketch in order to create an interesting composition. Confession over.
I then took another sheet of paper (A2 this time) and, using the lightbox sketch as a visual guide only, I sat on the edge of my bed and drew the scene from life.
Initially the colours were a little on the warm side, so I added a cool yellow and an even cooler blue. I tried using graphite pencil with the coloured pencils, but felt this was too heavy-handed. Graphite pencil leaves a shiny surface that catches the light. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but out of place in this composition. I’m pleased that the outcome, so far, expresses how I feel about my favourite living space.
The following stages took several hours.
It’s not yet finished. I feel it requires further shading in order to create more depth. But I am happy with the media I have chosen, the composition and my colour choices.
Looking at this again, I realise the benefit of repeated initial sketches from varying angles. If I had followed this advice I would have avoided this much-too-symmetrical image. I think, if I’d moved a couple of paces to the left, the vertical demarcation line of the corner of the room would not have been slap bang in the centre of the picture. As this is one of the first lines drawn, I feel I ought to have realised this error early on. The placement of the shoes in the foreground goes some way to alleviate this.
Another criticism is that some of the lines are not quite as straight or parallel as intended. I shall try to rectify this and re-post the completed image later.
Update:
I’m not sure whether this exercise has been a success or not. But as a learning experience it has been very useful. I have learned to take note of advice, such as carrying out preliminary sketches, rather than launching straight into the final composition. I think I may have played it a bit safe with the medium used. Coloured pencils are something I’m already fairly familiar with. I used them, as I knew I could render detail sharply as opposed to using Conte sticks or pastels. I am happy with the colours used but not entirely content with the composition. For Assignment 2, I intend to use different media and do several studies prior to the finished article, as I now realise how valuable a planning exercise this is, having omitted to do so here.
References:
Walker, M (2020) Sofa of Serenity (An Interior) [coloured pencil on A2 cartridge paper]
Maureen Walker's blog: An Artist's Journey 