Deb is starting a new course: " Design, Development and Finish".
For a while I wasn't sure if I was ready for this. My realistic drawing didn't seem to be going anywhere. I didn't mind doing some bits and pieces, but I couldn't visualise anything I would want to work on for weeks.
Till last week when I decided to go with design and then apply realistic drawing techniques. I don't know if that style has a name, for the time being I am calling it "organic geometrics". In other words: geometric design that has become more fluid, more random and has perspective applied to it. LOVE Deb's "Wonkies"!
So I enrolled and it will start on the 6th October. Not sure if I will stick to graphite or go with colour, but that seems to be a decision that we will explore at the class.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
What about realistic drawing?
I tried.
I really tried.
I was even successful every so often.
However, I found myself not wanting to do the actual drawing. I knew I should practice, practice, practice. I read books and articles, I tidied my work table. I downloaded a lovely reference photo of a pair of old boots, graphed it up and intended to copy it that ways, square by square.
It went OK, but I wasn't happy doing it.
I started to think back about projects that I enjoyed so much that I couldn't wait to get back to them and I realised, I am a designer rather than a fine artist.
I love design, I love using all kinds of pencils and pens, I love working on paper. Why fight that? Why not combine my knowledge and years of experience of design and my newly acquired knowledge of realistic drawing?
Here is the last quilt design I did. "Spice Stars" Please note: this is 2.50m x 2.60m and has some very intricate machine quilting.
I was very happy with that design.
Working with fabric and sewing, there are many more restrictions than there are with drawing.
As I have mentioned before, I am a member of the newly formed Somerset Art Scy Inc. Each Wednesday some of the members get together to work on their art. I decided to join them and also decided I was going to work on something enjoyable.
Got my pastel paper out and pencils, but found ordinary pencils didn't work well. Got my pastel pencils out and just drew some curvy shapes and then filled them in with further shapes.
I made them go over and under to provide some depth, I LOVE overs- and -unders
It is still a work in progress: initially I coloured in very tentatively. RS suggested that I push down harder, to get more intensity. It stuffed up my work, because the pen outline is done AFTER the pastel pencil, having to go over it again meant I had to go over the black lines again.
You can see which parts have been redone.
I put the work where I can see it, and I know now I that the shadows I put in aren't correct. I should have put shadows where the shapes cross over, so I am not sure I want to continue with it as I can see so many ways I can improve on this now.
The main thing is: I enjoyed the process tremendously.
Deb is having a new course and I'll make that a separate post.
I really tried.
I was even successful every so often.
However, I found myself not wanting to do the actual drawing. I knew I should practice, practice, practice. I read books and articles, I tidied my work table. I downloaded a lovely reference photo of a pair of old boots, graphed it up and intended to copy it that ways, square by square.
It went OK, but I wasn't happy doing it.
I started to think back about projects that I enjoyed so much that I couldn't wait to get back to them and I realised, I am a designer rather than a fine artist.
I was very happy with that design.
Working with fabric and sewing, there are many more restrictions than there are with drawing.
As I have mentioned before, I am a member of the newly formed Somerset Art Scy Inc. Each Wednesday some of the members get together to work on their art. I decided to join them and also decided I was going to work on something enjoyable.
Got my pastel paper out and pencils, but found ordinary pencils didn't work well. Got my pastel pencils out and just drew some curvy shapes and then filled them in with further shapes.
I made them go over and under to provide some depth, I LOVE overs- and -unders
It is still a work in progress: initially I coloured in very tentatively. RS suggested that I push down harder, to get more intensity. It stuffed up my work, because the pen outline is done AFTER the pastel pencil, having to go over it again meant I had to go over the black lines again.
I put the work where I can see it, and I know now I that the shadows I put in aren't correct. I should have put shadows where the shapes cross over, so I am not sure I want to continue with it as I can see so many ways I can improve on this now.
The main thing is: I enjoyed the process tremendously.
Deb is having a new course and I'll make that a separate post.
Having a go at collage
OK, so I was all excited about finding the right technique, but being a realist, I didn't jump in immediately but got some 4" square canvasses to try it out.
The theme was to be: Kitchen. Maybe these little trials would make proper little artworks to give away or even to sell!
I printed some kitchen images from one of the Dover books. I cut them out, glued them on according to the instructions and played with some mediums ( should that be media???) and some paint.
The result is awful!
But it shouldn't be surprise. I didn't quite follow the instructions. This seems to be an ongoing issue with me! LOL The book suggests liquid acrylics, I used watered-down tube acrylics. I didn't want to have to purchase a whole lot of new materials when I haven't even used much of the ones I have!
Not only does the book suggest liquid acrylics, everything is identified by the brand name. I am not sure you can get that brand here, but the obstacle remains: I have dozens of tubes of cheap-brand acrylics I would like to use.
The theme was to be: Kitchen. Maybe these little trials would make proper little artworks to give away or even to sell!
The result is awful!
But it shouldn't be surprise. I didn't quite follow the instructions. This seems to be an ongoing issue with me! LOL The book suggests liquid acrylics, I used watered-down tube acrylics. I didn't want to have to purchase a whole lot of new materials when I haven't even used much of the ones I have!
Not only does the book suggest liquid acrylics, everything is identified by the brand name. I am not sure you can get that brand here, but the obstacle remains: I have dozens of tubes of cheap-brand acrylics I would like to use.Anyway: I can still paint some more over it, the ugliness is partly due to the revolting colours!
I might glue some more stuff over it and I probably need to be more aware of composition. And improve on the colour scheme!
I might glue some more stuff over it and I probably need to be more aware of composition. And improve on the colour scheme!
Piano improvising
My friend Kathy lent me a book " How to play the piano despite years of lessons" when I mentioned I would like to learn to improvise. Us textile artists don't just chat about visual art!
Well, that book really changed my thinking and piano playing practice.
It claims" no need to know scales or chords" and that may well be true, but I have done scales and chords all my life, but I never knew how to apply what I knew.
As per usual, you take from instructional books what suits you. Once I understood how the chordal system applies to music, I had this lightbulb moment!
I got out some of my old song books. They are also called "Fake Books" because they have the melody line only plus the chord indicator and you "fake" the left hand. It was amazing, all of a sudden it no longer took months and months of frustrating practice to play a song!
It is now so much fun to play, I spent a few hours every day.
I have ordered another book " How to play from a Fakebook" so I can give Kathy her book back.
Thanks Kathy!
Well, that book really changed my thinking and piano playing practice.
It claims" no need to know scales or chords" and that may well be true, but I have done scales and chords all my life, but I never knew how to apply what I knew.
As per usual, you take from instructional books what suits you. Once I understood how the chordal system applies to music, I had this lightbulb moment!
I got out some of my old song books. They are also called "Fake Books" because they have the melody line only plus the chord indicator and you "fake" the left hand. It was amazing, all of a sudden it no longer took months and months of frustrating practice to play a song!
It is now so much fun to play, I spent a few hours every day.
I have ordered another book " How to play from a Fakebook" so I can give Kathy her book back.
Thanks Kathy!
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