Did you find it easy to approach the figure as a whole or were you distracted by details of the sitter’s dress?
I think I was at times too focused on details of the folds. But most of the figures work quite well as a whole. Still I think my folds do not really work, because the hatching doesn’t correspond well to the linear marks I made.
How did you create volumen in the folds of the fabric?
Creating volumen worked well when I used the pencil to create shades rather than hatching. Where it worked, there was a close correspondence between the general line for the cloth’s form, and the hatching to set off the darker areas.
Does the finished drawing give a sense of the figure beneath the fabric?
Yes, I think all the drawings provide a relatively good sense of the figure, although the proportions look a bit strange in those drawings where I put my feet on the chair legs instead on the floor.
How would you tackle a drawing like this again?
I think before starting a complete drawing, I’d make more studies with a soft medium like pastel which permits to create subtle blendings between dark and light tones. Selecting just a tiny section of a draped cloth seems to work well for me to reduce the overwhelming effect of all the folds.
Then I’d have to practice hatching and slowly bring together my line drawing and hatching to set off lighter and darker areas. I think as the final picture I’d rather envision a painterly effect where the folds are indicated by economical darker and lighter shades, reducing detail and avoiding exaggerated contrasts.
One more thought
I feel that I made some progress in my approach and working style. Maybe for the first time I was consciously reflecting while working on the task and then trying to change things which I felt didn’t work, for example change of paper size and trying different mediums.