Today was the first class of the 2 month long pastel painting course I’m taking.

I was completely taken by surprise when the instructor went to the closet and pulled out a male plastic torso (life size) and gave us 10 minutes to draw it. What? I thought we’d be learning theory or watching the teacher demonstrate technique. We did both, but we were also tasked with drawing Nude Torso Dude so that the teacher could determine where we were, skill-wise.

I pulled out my new charcoals and got to work. I found out quickly that charcoals don’t work like pencils or blend like pastels. My drawing ability was rusty too, with shadows that looked like unruly clumps of body hair and a tendency to draw the sculpted chest more like rounded man boobs.

The teacher wandered the room, examining our efforts as she went by. As the time wound down, I frantically sketched and erased and sketched some more. Finally the teacher called time to stop.

Below are the results of my efforts:

The teacher said we did pretty well, and given how unprepared I was for this snap drawing quiz, I think I did ok.

At least I managed to get correct the unintended (and inaccurate) man boobs.

Can’t wait to see what she throws at us next week!