To Color or not to Color?
That is the question…
I often find it difficult to decide whether a drawing should be left alone as a simple drawing or to go further and add watercolor to it. I really like them both ways. There are times when a drawing just seems incomplete without the addition of color. Other times, a drawing is “finished” in and of itself. With these drawings made of my son from photos of his 12th birthday, I thought about this over several days and decided to photograph them “avant le couleur” and “apres le couleur”.
Which do you prefer? I like them both for different reasons, but I’d love to hear what you think.
Ahhh Faces…
Umm…and a hairdryer too. Well, I adore drawing faces! I much prefer to do so from life though. But when I’m unable to draw from life, photos will do. My own photos are more interesting since they are of people I know. But my photography doesn’t always have good lighting, or I’m too far away, etc. So I got this Mary Kay advertisement in the mail and sat down with some of the faces in the magazine. Good training for seeing the shapes of the face, and trying to get proportions and all that jazz. It’s mesmerizing to me. I often put down a mid-line for the eyes and the “center” of the face. But sometimes I draw the line far too curved and off center. I love drawing with a pen. You may wonder why, when I could so easily erase that faulty mid-line if I used graphite, but that is precisely what I like about drawings with pen or ink. YOU CANNOT ERASE YOUR MISTAKES! And they become part of the drawing, showing a history of the artist’s hand at work. Restatements, and re-drawn areas are fascinating to me and are what make artist’s sketches so intriguing and full of wonder. The above drawings were done with a cheapy bic pen, while the following were made with a Prismacolor pen 03. These below are also “from life”, rather than from photos…I think there is a life and vitality to them that is missing in the “based on photo” versions.
Both are certainly valid ways to draw, but “from life” offers a richer experience of drawing in the zone where one’s creative brain is clicking and the analytical brain is shut down more. When I draw from photos, I am analyzing and critiquing everything. There is room for both in any drawing. My self-portrait here also has restatements and bits left out. Leaving lines out of drawings is something I want to improve on. When I draw from a photograph, I am more tempted to draw every line and detail. But when I’m drawing from life, these wonderful non-statements happen more naturally. They allow the viewer to engage more with your drawing and do the “filling-in”. We err to think that “getting better” in our drawing skills means that we put more lines down or more detail in the drawing. We couldn’t be more wrong! The masters knew how to load mounds of information in a simple line, or in lines left out completely…they were poets, not with words, but with drawings! I’m not really interested in writing novels with my art…a simple, meaningful poem in lines is my aspiration.
Of Teacups and Memories…
Simple things can bring back worlds of sweet memories…like my “china”, which isn’t really fine china, but is what I chose to be my china when I got married 21 years ago today. These were the dishes my grandmother Catherine had in her home that she had chosen as a bride as well. Franciscan Desert Rose handpainted stoneware has been around for many years. I received a full set when I got married and then years later, when my grandmother passed away, I received all of hers. There is a difference in her dishes and mine–hers are not as chunky, they are finer and have more of an embossed edging, and the handpainting is lighter and more delicate. They take me back to days of our whole family sitting around her table eating amazing home-cooking while she sat on a stool at her kitchen counter ready to serve us during the meal. Both of her boys, my dad and his brother, would plead with her to come sit with us at the table, but she would refuse. It was not done in a martyrs fashion, but she rather seemed to delight in providing and serving a scrumptious full-course meal crowned by her famous pecan (pronounced “pee-kan”) pie. I have loved serving meals on these dishes over the years. I have perhaps used them more often for tea parties with girlfriends. These dishes have seen numerous types of scones, devonshire cream, jams, fruit compotes, and of course, English Breakfast tea–my favorite. And lest you think that I have been the one cooking the Christmas and Thanksgiving meals…it is usually my incredible chef husband who has cooked standing rib roasts with Yorkshire pudding, asparagus and au gratin potatoes, etc. I am thankful for this man, for 21 wonderful years together, for my grandmother, and her legacy, which is not just her dishes. And I’m thankful for drawing…the simple act of slowing down enough to remember all that I have been granted.
Le Voyage a la Plage
To see what one draws when one goes somewhere, is to have a peek into what captures the person’s imagination. Upon arriving at the lovely house where ALL of my husband’s family (parents,siblings, and nieces and nephews…14 of us in all) were spending the week together, this line of shrubs in the back yard captivated me. There they stood, hunched over, gnarled, stuck between being a line of trees or just dense shrubbery…they served as the last defense before the sand and ocean. I loved the angular nature of their shape and cast shadows. Then of course, the ocean…
I do not generally find the ocean to be very inspiring to draw…perhaps it’s the flatness, the sameness, the overall lack of value contrast. But when one is at the beach, one must draw/paint the beach. But there is so much else to be drawing:
Most of the adults and my oldest daughter brought multiple books to read. I did manage to finish reading a Jan Karon book I had started previously, but the book I most often had in hand was this little red Hand Book to draw in. Then I squirrel away to my room to add watercolor to the drawings made that day. We took our kids to the NC Aquarium by way of the ferry…and while waiting, I had the most wonderful tree to draw. I actually think I should have left this one UN-watercolored…the lines were fascinating.
The house we stayed in was architecturally creative with several different roof lines, multiple decks off of bedrooms, and these wonderful round windows, very nautical indeed. There was one in our bathroom…
…And one in the high-ceilinged living room…
These are just a few of many sketches, collages, and thoughts logged during our beach week…non-drawn highlights were conversations with my sister-in-law, successful tie-dying projects for everyone, home-made ice-cream and a peach & blue-berry pie that was out of this world. I must say that I’m having to rest up from the vacation…seems like a contradiction in terms, but there it is. Now it’s back to summer time paintings and drawings. I have a new “old” easel my mom just gave me to handle larger canvases and papers (yippee!). I’m looking forward to tackling a bigger playground!
I feel a collage coming on!
I don’t mean to imply that collaging is like catching a cold…it’s just that every so often I’m seized with a desire to pull out my papers, glue, and scissors to tear, rip, cut, paste, splash, etc. It may be a need to break away from line for a bit–who knows?–but it is SO fun! Our family is headed to the beach for a week and I plan on taking my papers and glue with me to make some beach scenes. I’m hopeful my sisters-in-law might join me! OF COURSE, the little red sketchbook is going too…I can’t wait! When I collage, I’m not thinking of anything specific…I just look at the odd pieces of papers, torn leftovers, and let them “suggest” something to me. I really try to just PLAY! Which should be the driving force ANYTIME I create…but in my drawing, I do love to set myself a “problem” to solve, or ask myself “What if I tried…” which is really a form of play as well, just done a bit more “form”ally. I do hope this collaging cold lasts for a while:)
Fun with Cross-hatching
Line, line, wonderful line…I love it scribbly and organic, love it straight and criss-crossed! I’ve dabbled with this approach to drawing before, but this week I’ve been going crazy with it! I’m inspired by the drawings of Alberto Giacometti and Peter Cusack (featured in Danny Gregory’s latest book: An Illustrated Life). The process of drawing in this manner is far more beneficial to me than the end results are successful. It refines my ability to see the shapes of light and dark and see the connecting patterns. This one of three friends was especially difficult since my photo was too tiny to really see the definition in the faces, but perhaps that was good to keep the broad shapes of light & dark and not get side-tracked by the details. Here’s another couple of pages from my red Hand Book Journal of both of my daughters:
I’m then tempted to try splashing some watercolor on these drawings…here’s one I made yesterday morning of soap and lotion bottles in our bathroom (how ordinary is that?)
I love how the drawing serves as a strong form to hang the color on. The color doesn’t have to work so hard, because the structure is already there and shows through just enough! I made the following picture a few weeks ago of one corner of my studio. I do like how the Hand Book paper takes the watercolor…and the cream color gives the bright watercolors a hint of a nice subduing…well, you know what I mean!
Art & Motherhood
Being an artist and a mother is sometimes frought with unwelcome surprises and detours. The juggling act is an art form in itself. Motherhood is filled with bussing kids around to all their activities, helping with homework, being available to talk, guiding, and caring for them when they are sick. This does not often allow for much art to be created, even when you have a very helpful and supportive husband as I do. I do like to try capturing these “real life” moments in my sketchbook when I can. My youngest is sick again, has been for a few days:( This drawing was made the last time she was home from school with sickness. My heart breaks for her as she is missing some of the most fun days…the last days of the school year! There is much about motherhood that is joyful and sweet…then there are the hard times, times when you wish you had a magic wand that could make it all better for them. 
On a different note…I’ve just finished the latest of my art journals. Now I must confess I keep about 5 going at a time, various sizes and papers, but this is the main one and I’m going to miss it. This and the last one were made in the same kind of sketchbook. I really like the square 8 x 8 format and I’m going to have to get some more. I’m determined though to finish some of the others through the summer months. When I finish playing the game Guess Who (for the umpteenth trillionth time!) with my sweet girl, I’m gonna break out the sketch book and draw…my life, both inside and outside these four walls. Art is the key to sanity in motherhood!
Inspiration from little things
My youngest daughter has a ritual of changing out the stuffed animals at the end of her bed every season. This is both a delight and a hastle! Every time she wants to change them, the bins of stuffed animals she has acquired (some passed down from older siblings and some she’s been given) must be pulled out, dumped on the floor so she can survey the entire collection and make her choices. This occurred just the other day for her summer animals (sea creatures, birds, otter, badger, etc.) and I have not had a chance to sketch these yet. 
The above drawing is her spring collection and here is her winter group…
Her selection prior to that was very spring-like, but put together in the fall I think…
It seems I’ve tried a different approach each time, not intentionally…this just confirms that I am completely unable to settle in on any one particular way to draw or paint…as I’ve said before, the only thing consistent about my art is its inconsistency! 
But that makes it all the more fun and exciting. I’m afraid I would get bored too easily if I had to “stay put” with one technique, one medium, one style, etc. Art is for exploration; for asking the question,”What if I…” and actually be free to try it!
Line, line, wonderful line!
Blind contour drawing is not just for kicks…it can actually give you a most unique flow of lines, both expressive and descriptive. You can use your contour drawings to develop into “paintings”. So much of sketching is free-flowing, done in a zen-like trance. They are “pure” creativity…when the analytical brain-modes have been shut off, and you are just responding to what’s in front of you. Then you can apply some of your art analysis to further develop the drawing, making every effort to maintain the freshness and lyrical quality of the line work. I’ve been in several shows where I was asked to make an Artist’s Statement. I have several of these…each presenting a different approach to art..whatever is inspiring me at the time. Here’s one of them if you’re interested: http://drawn2life.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/line-line-wonderful-line.pdf
The above drawing is titled “Butterfly Pose”…hopefully you can see that. This one is called “Sylvia”, drawn of a dear lady who was a regular at the Drawing Circle years ago. I choose color to express how I feel about the subject. In her case, warm, vibrant colors for a very youthful mature woman. Such a dear!
Explorations in line continue for me…I think when I’m 80 I’ll still be discovering wonderful new aspects and possibilities in line.
Drawing from Life
This is the BEST way to draw:
1. from life (as opposed to photos)
2. from your life (your experiences, people you know, etc. as opposed to drawing things or people you know nothing about or have no contact with).
I have been a part of drawing groups for many years…it is the best way to train your eye to see and your hand to record your unique vision. I used to be a part of a Saturday morning sketch group through Associated Artists of Winston-Salem. It was wonderful! Wonderful people, wonderful drawing time, everything. My life is now too full on Saturdays with family activities, but I try to find other groups to draw with in and around the area. I love this painting, titled Drawing from Life, because it is a painting of one my favorite things to do. The original sketch was made during one of those Saturday morning drawing sessions. All of us are drawing while trying to sit as upright as we can so others can draw us. Occasionally we would take turns posing for the rest of the group to give us practice at something other than a person engaged in drawing. I want to get something like this going in Kernersville. We had a small group meeting at Salem Kitchen Cafe this spring before a fire hit the business next door and has caused the Cafe to close:( So I hope we can start back up again this summer or early fall in a new location. If you are at all able to join or start a group like this–you will be much rewarded, both in your drawing skills and in meeting new friends who love to draw also.
Ode to Watercolor
Your oozles & wazzles delight me no end.
Your drips, runs, and splatters I shall not try to blend.
Your sedimentary washes, your crisp clean edges
Cause me to make a bouquet of pledges:
I shall not restrict your frolicking play
Only when needed to enhance your display.
I will freely allow your surprising mingles.
I shall employ dry brush, but only in singles.
I watch others wrestle you within their bounds…
I almost hear you wailing, “Call out the hounds!”
If others accuse that my paintings are sloppy,
I secretly vow to be even more gloppy!
Your colorful allure has me aflutter;
This lovely chaos verges on clutter.
To let you breathe,run, and skip is my daily delight.
May others be willing to let you take flight.
–Jennifer Edwards 6/1/09
Though watercolor is at its best on good 140 lb.+ paper, I do like how it behaves on cheap paper! Here are a couple of quick sketches of the outside of my house and the inside of my kitchen. Mmmm…love that paint!
Beauty in Suburbia
Taking a break from Favorite Artists, I wanted to show you some drawings from my own yard…literally. So often I think I need to go elsewhere to have something “worthy” to draw…mountains, countryside, ocean, europe, etc. But often it is found right under our noses. For these drawings I sat in my front yard and merely turned the folding chair around by degrees. I set my eyes to looking for the abstraction in nature…the shapes and connections of them, the shift in values and textures. I specifically drew them within an imposed rectangle or square to further hone in on abstract shapes and lines. I completely lost track of time and when I finally “came-to” I had forgotten to eat lunch (which is highly unlike me). Working with line automatically means you are working in abstraction, since there are really no lines in nature. And then using line to suggest value or texture or movement heightens the abstract quality of what you’re trying to draw. Such fun! Taking the time to really see what’s around me creates for me a greater awareness of the beauty of the life I’ve been given. No need for greener pastures…they are right in my front yard.
