A Blast from the Past

Charcoal sketch ©1975 Dora Sislian Themelis

Going through some past artwork, I dug up the charcoal figure drawings I drew in college.  As art students usually do, we had to respond to the nude figure with charcoal on these huge, 24x 36 newsprint pads.  Quick, expressive studies of short poses and more intense drawings of longer poses of either male or female models are the norm when learning one's art.

When I was in school the models we liked most were those that had an animal quality about them.  Let me say right now that this was the later 1970's, with leftover Woodstock hippies mingling with new disco people.  Interesting to say the least. 

Charcoal Sketch ©1975 Dora Sislian Themelis

Two models come to mind, a male and a female.  The female model was quite interesting as she was a large girl with wiry red hair and set up interesting backdrops for her poses.  In between poses, she would retreat to the next studio room for her break.  There her chiropractor would set up a portable massage table and give her adjustments, which was as fasinating as her poses!

When the favorite male model would be posing we were in for a treat!  He also had big, wiry hair, was really tall, lean and muscular.  This wasn't the exciting part.  His poses were big and theatrical.  He would bring huge tree branches or spears to pose with and made his body do strange stances in front of a blaring light to emphasize the shadows of his body and props. 

Yeah, that was always a really good drawing day. 

Close up ©1975 Dora Sislian Themelis

Charcoal Sketch ©1975 Dora Sislian Themelis