Sketching the portico
Trying to improve too much at once I approached another dead end. In lesson 4 we had to draw a front of this building, We could also choose only the portico or even a single column. Well, I was so happy to be there so I have choosen the whole building (great idea).
After the first 30 minutes I had to change my place because of the cold wind. Automatically I had to start drawing from the beginning. Sketch below shows the result of over 120 minutes drawing. Why it's a disappointment?
What were my main points to focus on after all earlier classes:
Because I wanted to reflect the real look of this building and correct ALL ;) mistakes from the earlier classes, I have overdone points 2 and 3. At the same time point 1 couldn't be achieved.
Even that I followed points 4, 5 and 6 it couldn't help to finish the sketch in a way I wanted it, again. And finishing the work is one of my main rule to stick with!
What and how coult it be fixed next time?
First of all, no one except me needs that precision, no one except me wanted it to look as a photo, no one even wanted it to look similar. BECAUSE it's an art and because these classes aren't for any masters of the art. That EASY.
So next time I need to remember recent lessons, BUT also to change again the balance between all I know already and all new pieces of information.
With these reflections I'll go to have fun in lesson 5. I hope you've found something useful here and thanks for the visit!
Trying to improve too much at once I approached another dead end. In lesson 4 we had to draw a front of this building, We could also choose only the portico or even a single column. Well, I was so happy to be there so I have choosen the whole building (great idea).
After the first 30 minutes I had to change my place because of the cold wind. Automatically I had to start drawing from the beginning. Sketch below shows the result of over 120 minutes drawing. Why it's a disappointment?
 |
| Initial pencil sketch of the neoclassical building |
What were my main points to focus on after all earlier classes:
- - increase observation speed
- - improve accuracy of observation
- - improve the way and the speed of checking all the proportions and sizes
- - reduce drawing details in the first stages, remove less important details
- - use the hard H pencil or similar at the beginning
- - do not shade
- - finish the work (or get colose to the end)
Because I wanted to reflect the real look of this building and correct ALL ;) mistakes from the earlier classes, I have overdone points 2 and 3. At the same time point 1 couldn't be achieved.
Even that I followed points 4, 5 and 6 it couldn't help to finish the sketch in a way I wanted it, again. And finishing the work is one of my main rule to stick with!
 |
| Front of the Orangery in Wilanow |
What and how coult it be fixed next time?
First of all, no one except me needs that precision, no one except me wanted it to look as a photo, no one even wanted it to look similar. BECAUSE it's an art and because these classes aren't for any masters of the art. That EASY.
So next time I need to remember recent lessons, BUT also to change again the balance between all I know already and all new pieces of information.
When I start to learn something, even if I know a lot in that area, I follow this rule by Bruce Lee:
"Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality"
"Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality"
That's why I didn't show my best works to our master painter and I don't show what I did at home. He only sees what I paint and draw during the lessons, I want him to have an empty cup too.
I'll show some of my works to him probably at the end of the course.
I'll show some of my works to him probably at the end of the course.
With these reflections I'll go to have fun in lesson 5. I hope you've found something useful here and thanks for the visit!
Mmmmm, I think I recognize this problem.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school I was studying both Technical Drawing and Art. The tech drawing involved using a ruler and set squares, measuring accurately and drawing plans, elevations etc. We drew house plans, drew the thread of screws with all the curves and angles, drew mechanical tools from all angles and did a bit of navigation and map plotting as well. I loved it and thought it was great fun, but straight after tech drawing I had my art class. I took all that precision measuring and perfectly straight lines into my art work and it showed. My art teacher commented that although my paintings and drawings were very precise and technically correct, they had lost the feeling from them. I passed my exams that year, I got 2nd highest in the school, but I really struggled to loosen up while I was in class. I finished a lot of my work at home with the radio on, well away from any thoughts of my tech drawing class. It was the only way I could separate the two very different ways of working.
A couple of years ago my Mum in law was meeting a group of people in an art group once a week. (They weren't having lessons, they just met for company while they worked)One day she came home from her group and showed me some photos she had taken of what everyone was working on. They had all been working in different mediums and styles and there was a wide range of subjects. One of the works that she showed me was of a river and mountains and I commented that it looked just like a photograph. She told me that while everyone else had worked on a number of different works during the year, this man had only worked on this one painting. Sometimes only completing one rock in a night. The detail was so fantastic he had caught all the different colors in the trees and rocks, the reflections in the water were so real it looked like your fingers would get wet if you touched it. It looked exactly like the photograph he was working from, so much so that she said she thought he should have just framed the photograph. I guess what she was saying was, there was none of him in his work, it had no feeling. It didn't convey how he felt about the place at all, it was just purely technical.
I still struggle with this daily. I'm often tempted to pull out a ruler for a straight line. Recently I have been trying to draw fun things, silly things, drawing with my wrong hand and painting with my fingers all in an attempt to loosen up and put 'me' in my art. My daughter is helping me with this :)
I think art should be fun so if I find myself getting uptight about something I'm working on I know it's time for a break and some fun exercises.
Oh one thing I learned recently, if you hold the pencil near the tip, like when you are writing, it tightens up your style. The further up the pencil you hold it, the looser your style :)
Have fun! ;)
Lucky you, I have never had any art lesson as for the recent course :-/ Drawing with a ruler is completely not for me though, although I understand the purpose.
DeleteAs you said, I need that "feeling" too, otherwise it's no pleasure to create. Congratulations on your exam result then:)
You used the radio and I needed these classes to free my mind from everything I've learned before.
Yes, while working from the photo it's good to not to copy every inch of it, because cameras can't truly show what they have captured. Colors are false and there is too much detail. Although if one want's to copy 100% that's fine. Depends of what he wanted to achieve.
I am trying now all the mediums available, like different pastels, markers, acrylics, watercolor, gouache, pencils, graphite... it's a completely new arsenal for my world. I wanted to use all of it since I was a kid, finally it happened ;)
I am going to post a short list of what I knew before, what I learned and how the priority balance changed, so you'll see my progress and how do I fight some of my limits.
Yes, breaks and the distance are essential to the work, same as tools and talent.
Holding a pencil may drastically change your style and that's one of the problems I had to face. ALways thought I can draw anything my way, yes I can BUT it may be finished faster and easier by only holding the pencil some other way. Check this out http://youtu.be/-OwezLgGvaI
Thanks for the COMMENT :)
Great video! I need to practice my pencil grip, I'm still a guilty tip holder lol.
DeleteFor the moment I'm still working on mastering watercolor techniques and now also trying acrylics as watercolors cos I'm cheap :P
After that I thought I might try some lino carving. I bought some small bits of lino when I was on holiday. I already had some carving tools so I've got some interesting things to try later :)
Fun, fun, fun :D
Holding a pencil right, or in a different way makes a whole difference.
DeleteI am waiting for you to show some more! BTW. I hate acrylics drying time, it drives me crazy and I cant blend right, even using the drying retarder.
Lino carving ? Oh wow... I am sure I won't try this one. Anyway I would really like to see what you could create.
What I could try is sculpting, maybe some day. I sculpted only in 3D and it was pretty easy;)
Beautiful building ! The details you have sketched in that column is great ! Yes, many look for precision and perfection but as you say, if time is the constraint, finishing an art piece within a time frame becomes important.
ReplyDeleteGreat points by you ! I understand that unlearning something which you already know and learning something new in an easy way is a great challenge !! I experienced that with my driving lessons in UK ;)
Good luck for your next lessons !
Thank you JJ, well.. I had to squeeze my mind with it to get free of that precision. "Limited time to finish" is a great teacher.
DeleteYou make me smile with that "driving lessons" as I recall that weird street traffic in India. :)) And yes, that's the same.
Thanks for the visit, new works are on the way