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Still Life Week 6: Looking with David Hockney

February 11, 2022

Still Life with Tulips and White Gloves
Coloured Pencil Sketch by Jo

For the last week the challenge will be to make a still life drawing taking inspiration from the coloured pencil and crayon drawings of David Hockney, born in 1937. He made a number of still life drawings in the late 70’s, sometimes of tables in restaurants and also of plants in pots, including a very representational drawing of a yellow jacket, hat and a suitcase on a chair.

Examples of these can be seen on my still life Pinterest board at

/https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jhall1282/still-life/hockney-david/

together with examples of Hockney’s etchings, lithographs and i-Pad drawings.

Some are relatively simple drawings, for example the two peppers, but note the proportion of white space and that it appears “right”. One deceptively uncomplicated but elegantly drawn composition is of a double bed with a green cover where an astonishingly even tone of green has been laid down.

It’s worth studying these works for the techniques used in drawing; where Hockney used line and where he hatched or scribbled or made other marks that show us what he was observing. Look for fast frenetic marks as in the drawing of peppers and where he uses slower marks.

Is it possible to tell what the artist is feeling? Look at that smooth green pasture of a double bed for instance. Look out for instances where Hockney works up some areas more than others, literally drawing our attention to what he thinks is important.

Also study the structure of the compositions and where composition relies more on line and form and where composition depends more on colour and shape for impact.

These days we are probably more familiar with Hockney’s later i-Pad drawings of still life subjects and you are invited to take inspiration from Hockney for your coloured crayon or coloured pencil drawings. Worry not if you have no access to coloured pencils, just draw with a graphite pencil or pencil plus pastel or pastel pencil.

I hope to add my as yet unfinished work, inspired by the other artists we have taken inspiration from over the last few weeks, to this post. meanwhile I am very much looking forward to seeing your Hockney inspired drawings.

Your Drawings inspired by David Hockney:

Tulips with Jug and Spectacles
Coloured Pencil Drawing by Heather C
After David Hockney
by Pam
Flowers in a Glass Vase
i-Pad drawing by Maricarmen
Coffee with Flower
i-Pad drawing by Maricarmen
Daffodils
by Maricarmen
Hyacinth and kettle
Coloured pencil drawing by Heather N
Candle and Fruit
Coloured Pencil by Ann
Topiary
Coloured Pencil by Ann
Cactus Pots
Pencil drawing by Virginia
After David Hockney
Pastel Pencil by Mali
Arm chair
Coloured Pencil by Anne
Red Pillows
Pastel Pencil by Mali
Pens and Pencils
Rotring Pen drawing by Sandra

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