Friday 16 January 2009

Shoe on a Rug


(2B mechanical pencil, pastel, A5 sketchbook)

Too many things to catch up on at home today, so I decided to forgo my second visit of the week to the Art Club. However, just to keep things rolling, I did this drawing of my old trainer on a striped rug. "Draw a shoe" is Challenge No.1 on the Everyday Matters list.

It occurs to me that I must have been wearing these trainers for close to 30 years and they're still the most comfortable shoes I possess.

18 comments:

owenswain said...

Nice drawing and my goodness, you are gentle on your footwear.

harry bell said...

Yes, light on my feet, Owen, although I now only wear the trainers round the house - they've earned their retirement :)

Anonymous said...

Oh I like that Harry. I especially like the black and white shoe against the colors in the rug.

Kind regards,
Amber

harry bell said...

Thanks, Amber. This effect is one that I find interesting at the moment and will probably try some more.

Casey Klahn said...

Brings a smile.

Anonymous said...

Oooh interesting - pastel and pencil. I still have no idea how you get pencil to come out that dark! It looks like a 6B or something! Nice picture.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

brilliant

harry bell said...

Casey - result!

Rachel - I find 2B in mechanical pencils (this one is a Pentel, but they all do it) comes out very dark if you apply a modicum of pressure and cross-hatch a lot. It's got something to do with the formulation of the lead.

harry bell said...

Andrea - one word, but a nice choice. Thank you!

winna said...

Seems all qualities of this sketch have been addressed---I did want to mention the pastel gives the towel great towel texture--will you bury these when the end comes?

harry bell said...

I hadn't thought of that, Winna. I guess they do deserve a respectful end, but it's not something I want to contemplate - life without those trainers.

MILLY said...

It works really well, pastel coloured stripes and pencil. I am a big fan of the pentel mechanical pencils, as you say the leads are very black. It is always having a sharp point that attracts me most.

Seth said...

Having recently taken a class with Danny Gregory and completing the same assignment, I know that shoes are not easy to draw. I really love what you have done here.

harry bell said...

Milly, Seth -- thanks both.

Trevor Lingard said...

Hi Harry
Good subject, Nice complimentary colours. Love the reds again.
Bye the way, what do you use for the left foot?
Regards

harry bell said...

Curiously - and fortuitously - enough, I have another shoe, not entirely dissimilar to this one, which fits the left foot perfectly!

Anna said...

That's a great drawing, Harry. A shoe with great character; they do bear the imprint of their wearer in rather an intriguing way. Van Gogh's were terrific.

harry bell said...

They were. They weren't Adidas, though, were they?