Broken but Still Beautiful - Drawing project 2024 an overview

 

Broken But Still Beautiful 2024   pencil on paper ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

All together, 2024's drawing project, broken, seaworn, and stunningly beautiful models. The centre bottom drawing I changed to greyscale for the ensemble, I think I prefer the softer greys to it's original blues. 

For 2025's drawing project I think I am going to go with the theme of spirals so I am sure (well I know there will be) there will be some shells in there amongst the subjects - maybe some will be whole this time. As this month is racing along I think I will need to make a start very soon. I can't quite believe how quickly time has passed since my last post!

I haven't been resting on my laurels quite the whole time, lots of plans have been made and a new project started. Life has just been getting a little bit in the way but onwards and upwards and all that. Anyway, a very happy new year to you all I wish you a happy, healthy and creative 2025.

Broken But Still Beautiful I - January   mixed media drawing 30x21cm   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful II - February   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful III - March   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful IV - April   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful V - May   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful VI - June   pencil on 33x75cm paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful VII -July  pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful VIII - August   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful IX - September   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful X October   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful XI - November   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful XII - December   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful - November

 

Broken but still Beautiful November   pencil on paper A4ish   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Better late than never! November's model is very worn with a couple of more recently broken edges, maybe walked on as she lay washed up on the sand. 

Only one more drawing to go for this project...

Broken but still Beautiful - October

 

Broken but Still Beautiful October   pencil on paper ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Very broken but ohhhh so beautiful. For October's drawing I chose a fragment. Sometimes when I find these they are very fine and delicate at the edges of the outer surface but reveal a more sturdy columella. The whole of this small one was a little more robust and so made it home in my pocket without further damage.

This is posting a little late - I am behind after a fun filled half term with birthday celebrations. I'm not sure how my son can be 11 already but here we are.

Broken but still beautiful - August & September drawings

 

Broken but Still Beautiful August   pencil on paper ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

A little bit different to previous drawings again. August's model suggested line quality should be the focus and I thought 'who am I to argue?'...except argue I did as I wanted to add shadows to the form half way through and added hatching which would have been more sympathetic if I was using ink. I know, I know, I should have listened....it's a lesson I haven't learnt thus far....hey ho. Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.

Broken but Still Beautiful September   pencil on paper ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

I think my listening skills improved this month as beautiful Dame September adorned with a patina of barnacles and sumptuous textures modelled some intriguing shapes and forms. I have a feeling that I will return to this specimen in the future as I enjoyed the interlocking shapes of the barnacles so much.

Fingers crossed the glitch in the comments is fixed. I'm not sure how or why but fingers crossed.

Broken but still beautiful - July

 

Broken but still beautiful - July   pencil on paper 21x30cm   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Back to pencil for this series July offering. Concentrating on the left over columella after the outer surface has been broken away. These spiralling structures are the aspect that attract me the most. I find the geometry in nature fascinating.

Emerging - Broken but Still Beautiful - June

 

Emerging   mixed media on paper 33x75cm   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

A much bigger beauty for June, I felt like a larger scale and a bit of blue. I think it suits her - loud and proud.

Using a swordliner brush in the background for the sinuous lines that I feel echo both shell and the idea of water, it felt good to stretch a bit. I used a combination of watercolour, watersoluble pencils, gouache and acrylic ink to get the darkest darks. Back to pencil next month I think.

Emerging   mixed media   prints, stationery and accessories available at RedBubble   ©2024LisaLeQulenec

Broken but still beautiful V

 

Broken But Still Beautiful V

A little bit of a change this month - after starting out in pencil I thought this one was a dramatic enough shape to explore in ink with more extreme tonal contrasts. I quite like the stronger background. 

Stages of Broken But Still Beautiful V  A4-ish acrylic ink  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

This month's model was acquired in Longniddry, Scotland. I was astonished at the size of the shells I found there. The majority of the whelks (and scallops) that I found there were at least twice/three times the size of the largest ones that I find along the South Coast (size comparison in the photo below). I collected a few beautifully broken ones and one with the most stunning 'pashmina' of barnacles. I will save this one for later in the year, maybe an extra large version when I can work outside... 

Whelks ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautilful II & III

 

I neglected to post February's Broken but Still Beautiful drawing, time ran away with me again. So this month double bubble and two drawings to post!

Broken but Still Beautiful II   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

The shell above I use often in flat lays when photographing my work for my shop. I love the elegant shape of the curves. It is also quite unusually pure white.

Broken but Still Beautiful III   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

No.III is full of elegant curves too, I think this is why I am so attracted to drawing the broken bits of whelks. They are so sculptural and the forms make for dramatic tonal values.

Broken But Still Beautiful I - mixed media drawing

 

Broken But Still Beautiful I   mixed media drawing 30x21cm   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

The end of 2023 passed - I'm not sure where or how - and here we are already the 11th! Armed with new plans for work and hopefully more self discipline blog-wise than I have shown last year I will be here more regularly.

To begin the year a resolution to myself to make more time for drawing. Drawing is another area that I have neglected recently and should be one of the first signs to myself that things are going askew. Life is much better with drawing in it. The act of slowing down and looking is undervalued I think. I am a little rusty but have made a start.

I plan to make one drawing each month this year on the theme of 'Broken But Still Beautiful'. (There may be more than 12 but I want at least 12 by the end of the year.) To start off the project this beautiful whelk shell that I picked up in Norfolk last summer. I have a lovely collection of broken whelks and the project may well be a series from these resources. I obsess over the beautiful internal twisting wave-like spiral of the columella. Even the sound of the word 'columella' I find beautiful. When I look at broken whelks I see a Barbara Hepworth or Henry Moore sculpture - a reclining figure - large scale and monumental. I have no end in mind for these drawings except to enjoy the process and get lost in the shapes, contours and textures. Lets see how I get on....