observed drawing I / 觀察畫法（一）

繼大英博物館的密集式訓練後，老師開出同樣的作業，可以選自身週邊的任何物品，但這次要畫完一本四十頁的速寫本，週二週三除了演講之外，其它時間就讓我們做作業，週四要給助教看，下週一要完成整本速寫本。我因為週末有點事，所以必須盡可能地畫，一天平均花上五個小時畫圖，真的是很盡興啊！只不過到了週三傍晚，我的觀點已經不清新了，還好愛理桑需要心理咨商，我和她聊了很久，也算是給自己喘息的空間。

After the intensive drawing lesson in the British Museum, Matt gave a similar assignment--we can draw an object of our own choosing, but this time we will have to fill a 40-page A4 size sketchbook. Apart from one-hour speech on Tuesday and Wednesday, we could spend the rest of time drawing and in the critique session on Thursday, we had to show it to the tutors. Next Monday we will have to finish a whole sketchbook. Since I have plans for the whole weekend, I had to draw as much as possible. I guess I spent about five hours on average each day drawing, which was definitely ultimate joy for me. However, by Wednesday evening, I have lost that freshness. Luckily, Elie came for a long talk for her parents had just left her dorm room. I also gave myself time for a pause.

週四進畫室時，貝絲和維琪等不及要分享畫冊內容，我們三個總是最早到的學生。

When I went into the studio on Thursday, Beth and Vicky couldn't wait to take a look at my sketchbook and vice versa. We three are always the early birds...

剛開始選物品時有好幾個選擇，很想畫小方和阿楷送我的電車、小蕙送我的圍巾、愛雪買的Camper鞋，最後因為多方面考量決定畫愛雪送的跑鞋，因為感覺很有故事性，而且鞋子有兩隻，左腳畫膩了可以換右腳。

At first I hesitated among several objects such as the toy tramcar given to me by Von and Kai, the scarf given by Hui, and the pair of Camper shoes given by Mom. In the end I chose the Nike sneakers given by Mom again because there are tons of stories to tell. Besides, if I get tired of drawing the left shoe, I can draw the right shoe for a change. 

我謹記周一老師們在博物館給的建議，儘量以客觀的方式觀察我的物品，之前因為太貪心，選了太多雕像導致後來只能畫一堆線條，這次我決定練習色塊，所以用了很多碳筆。

I bore in mind the suggestions given by the teachers in the museum and tried to observe my object with integrity. I was so greedy back then that I ended up using mainly lines to sketch the sculptures. This time I determined to practice drawing color blocks, so I used charcoals in many drawings. 

維琪和貝絲都選了公仔，早上維琪可能沒睡飽，老嫌自己畫的張數不夠，不過她很會畫人物，筆觸非常細膩。等大家陸續進來，維琪瞥見愛理，嘴裡喃喃說：超會畫小姐進來了。我很久沒當學生了，重新感受那種同儕之間的競爭很有趣，愛理坐下之後，維琪忍不住問她畫了多少，愛理說她還沒開始，維琪立刻對我做了一個耶的表情，這些小孩真是妙啊！

Vicky and Beth both chose their favorite figurines. I guess Vicky didn't get enough sleep because she was kind of fidgety in the morning and kept saying that she didn't do enough drawings. She is good at portrait-drawing though with a very delicate style. After others started to stream in, Vicky saw Elie and murmured, "Here comes Ms. Amazing-drawing!" I haven't been a student for a long time, and it's really fun to feel that competition among peers. After Elie was seated, Vicky couldn't help asking her how many drawings she had finished, Elie said she hadn't started yet. Upon hearing that, Vicky turned to me with a "Yeah!" facial expression. These kids are just lovely... 

助教傑克因為忙收尾一本圖畫小說，所以沒空來上課，只剩下露意絲要對付我們這麼多人，她把我們分組指派時間之後，大家就各自走人。我不想回家，就留在畫室和少女們一同畫畫，我可以明白為什麼學生都喜歡美術課，因為可以一邊做一邊閒話家常。維琪很興奮地和我說她和男友在一起兩周年，這個周末要去倫敦水族館慶祝，我說：唉呦，周末到處都是約會的人，真的很不公平！她說：我剛開始以為你二十歲，後來發現你居然三十五歲了！去找個男人啦！我回答：好，我會努力的！（其實我從頭到尾都在家畫圖。）真糟糕，這種只有和薛吉之間會產生的對話居然也可以發生在我和異國少女之間，代表我已經接受她們了，不過連她們都知道我的問題也不是什麼好事。

Jake, one of the tutors, was busy wrapping up a graphic novel, so he didn't show up. Louise was left with so many students that she put us into groups and told us to appear at the time assigned. Then most students left. I didn't feel like going home, so I stayed in the studio with the girls to draw. I came to see why students enjoy art class more than other classes because they can create and chat at the same time. Vicky told me with excitement that it was the two-year anniversary of her and her boyfriend. They made up plans to celebrate over the weekend, and one of the places they are going to visit is London Aquarium. I said, "Oh, there are couples everywhere on weekends. It's not fair!" She replied, "In the beginning I thought you are 20 years old, but you turn out to be 35. Go find a man!" I said, "OK, I'll do my best." (But the truth is that I am always home drawing.) Alas, this is the kind of dialog I have only with Shaggy, but now it takes place between me and British girls as well. On the up side, it means that I have totally accepted them, but it's really nothing to be proud of when they all know my problem. 

我同時觀察愛理的工作方式，她很大方地和我分享繪畫技法和畫圖理論，我趕緊抄下來。轉過頭維琪用了我沒見過的墨汁畫法，我也趕快把牌子抄下來，雖然那天我沒畫太多東西，可是這些技法都是我在家沒法見識到的。接下來特雷莎跑過來和我們閒聊，我吃完午餐後又跑去看艾登畫的樂高人，玩著玩著就輪到我們最後一組和露意絲討論了。

I observed how Elie worked, and she was generous enough to share drawing skills and theories with me. I quickly copied down the key points. When I turned around, Vicky was using ink drawing, which I had never used before, so I quickly wrote down the brand. I didn't draw much that day, but I had learned much more than drawing all by myself. Next Teresa came for a chat and I learned that she had meant to stay only for three months in the UK at first, but like what Barbara said, three months turned into a year and even more. After I ate lunch, I asked Aidan if I could take a look at his sketchbook. It felt that I was playing all the time, and soon it was our group, the last one, to have a talk with Louise. 

正如我自己所知，接下來我得畫跑鞋和空間的關係、光和影等等，反正畫本還有幾十頁嘛！

As I already knew, I have to draw the sneakers' relationship with the space, light and shadow etc. I am not worried for there are scores of pages in the sketchbook! 

去聽演講之前廣州少女欣和我談了一會兒，她去年就來到倫敦，但當時很不如意，到後來得吃安眠藥才能入睡，有一次還用藥過量睡了三天三夜，是老師去敲她家的門才把她叫醒。每個人都有故事，就像維琪雖然很活潑的樣子，但她十二歲才從烏克蘭搬到倫敦，她說媽媽突然想要改變，就支身來了，過一年才把她接來，維琪中午時一直問我欣的事情，我說我直接把欣叫來和她面對面聊，欣說她英文不好，我對她說儘量講沒關係，後來維琪又喃喃自語時我發現她有一段時間沒有朋友，都是自己一個人，難怪對於我們這些外國人會很有興趣。欣其實是個很直的孩子，她對我說：我本來就很喜歡你了，今天和你講話就更喜歡你。不是我愛說，我還真是少女殺手啊！

Before going to the lecture, Xin from Guanzhou had a talk with me. She came to London last year, but the foundation year wasn't smooth. Later she had to take sleeping pills to fall asleep. Once she took overdoses so that she slept for three days and three nights. Everyone here has stories to tell. Take Vicky for example. She is very outgoing, but she didn't come to London from Ukraine until 12 years old. She said her mom felt like having a change, so she came by herself, and it was not until the following year that Vicky came. Vicky kept asking me about Xin at noon, so I told her that I would ask the latter to talk to her face to face. Xin was afraid that her English isn't good enough. I wanted her to do her best because this was a good opportunity for making new friends. When Vicky murmured again, I realized that she was all by herself for a while. No wonder she is interested in foreigners like us. Xin is a simple and straightforward young girl. She said, "I liked you, but today after the talk, I like you more." Well, you can call me a "young girl killer!" 

走去演講廳的途中，維琪說：為淳，我們應該要做語言交換！你上中文課，我上俄語課！沒錯，因為上學校的外國語課還要繳265磅呢！

On our way to the lecture hall, Vicky said, "Weichuen, we should have language exchange! You teach mandarin, and I teach Russian! Exactly, after all, it costs 265 quids for us to attend foreign language courses at school! 

啊，因為這些少女們，我真喜歡上學啊！

Ah, because of these young girls, I really love going to school! 

後記：今天畫了十個小時以上的畫，已經打破之前的記錄了！

PS: I drew more than 10 hours today. Well, I have broken my previous records!