PROCESS
Make two drawings, the first based on
Constable’s V&A study of The Leaping
Horse and the second on the RA
painting. Pay close attention to the
way the rhythms are set up and where
your eye is led. Half closing your eyes
from time to time will emphasise the
tonal variations and heighten your
awareness of the extreme lights and
darks. Be aware of the importance of
each figure and their action. Look at
how carefully the shapes and forms
were orchestrated and how much
attention Constable gave to them. The
more you draw, the more you will see.
As you draw the V&A study, take
note of the use of light to pick out and
emphasise certain areas or forms.
Notice the specific human
interactions and the contrast
between movement and stillness.
Think about the care with whichthe
clouds have been represented.What
sounds might you be able to hear?
Moving on to the RA painting,try
to be very aware of the differences
between this painting and the last.
If you look closely, you may justbe
able to make out the red beak ofa
moorhen startled from her nestin
the bottom right-hand corner.
Have a look at how the following
elements have been removed, added,
altered or repositioned: the talltrees
on the left-hand side; the barges;the
willow stump; the figures with poles;
the masts; the diagonals. It is also
interesting to note which details
remain the same – for instance,the
beautiful way the movement upthe
tree trunk from the water glides
through the rider himself.
Finally, I thought it might be
interesting to reverse the RA painting
on my computer. I made a third
drawing from this mirror image and
was immediately struck by howlight
and open the scene suddenly
became and that my eye movedina
rapid but much less satisfying way
across to the right of the pictureand
up. If you have the ability to turnthe
picture round on your screen orlook
at the previous page in a mirror,
I encourage you to make a third
drawing and see what you think.
http://www.laura-smith.comDRAWING 1
V&A STUDYDRAWING 2
RA PAINTINGDRAWING 3
RA PAINTING
REVERSEDNext
month:
Learn to compose
with the help of
Pierre Bonnard