Figures Fillière 1(b)

This is page 35 from Figures Fillière 1, available at amazon.com / books / Scott Fillier

It is one of a number of faces shown in the book and drawn in many different media, to demonstrate in this instance, that a mechanical drafting pen can be used to produce a landmark and powerfully expressive image one doesn’t usually associate with the output of that pen. All the more reason to investigate its off-beat potential.

The left-hand page of this two-page spread is of US President Jimmy Carter as the perfect opposite in personality type, and, in drawing tool effect.

Figure Donning Waterproofs

This is one of my favourite ways to initiate and complete a sketch.

I don’t want it to be photographic so I am relying on a memory of a situation I thought had great visual impact: a fisherman pulling on his waterproof pants. A photograph of the action would actually impede my drawing because I would get entangled in its details; when I only want the completed drawing to focus on abstracted essentials memory is the best tool as it will leave room for a creative remembrance.

Drawing with a dry/semi-dry pen allows me to lightly indicate the figure and work out good proportions. After which I go directly to the heart of my intent—fluid pose and positions of arms/legs plus the lines of the clothing which will describe the critical motion. Those centres of clothing stress I build into strong visual presences with a very careful eye to placement, to composition, to textural variation, to maximum effect created with minimal input. This allows ample room for imagination and suggestion to complete the work in the viewer’s eye.

Fillière © Apr 5 2019