class & this blog

I had class last night.  Left early again.  Too tired.  I probably won't do much on this blog this week.  

Thursday--ugly art

So, my biggest fear in art is creating "ugly".  And then have to face the fact that I have no talent.  I thought maybe, instead of worrying about making a pretty drawing, I could make an ugly one.  Voila.  This picture was much more of a pleasure.  I would grab a pastel without even looking at the color, and then draw a line, or a smudge.  And just watch the ugliness unfold.

So, then what is beauty?  Some say it's truth.  But Picasso said "all art is a lie".  Which is true, so how can any art be beautiful?  The original glimpse of an idea, inside the artist's head is the truth. In my opinion, the great artists are the ones who can most closely recreate that vision.  Whether through painting, sculpture or concept art.  If you can most clearly articulate your truth than you've succeeded.  So, since I sat down to draw an ugly lady, I feel like my finished product is a masterpiece.  Cuz she ain't pretty.

 

That's my theory.  All I know, is I want to make more hideously, ugly art.  

Tuesday--last night

Figure drawing class was ok.  But, I was really tired.  Just couldn't get any kind of flow.  This drawing was the best I could muster.  Also, I was having some serious ADD, and I could only stay on a drawing for a few minutes, before I wanted to move on.  The last pose, the model fell asleep.  I was drawing her face and it was all I could do to stay awake.  Sympathy sleepiness.   

Weekend--head study

So, I redid the head.  Sorry for the stripe across it, I'm not sure why that's there.  Again, my scanner is quality.  In the background (slightly above the head) you would see two yellow plates, a glass and a dish of salt.  They didn't fit into the scan, so you have to imagine them.  Also, scripture references.  And of course the jar is near her shoulder (it's hard to see here).

Figure drawing is tonight.  I saw some etchings online.  They were amazing.  Ethereal and unlike anything I've ever seen. I'm going to try to reproduce the effect with charcoal/crayon.  Should be interesting.  

Thurs--profile sketch

Wow, I'm not doing such a hot job with this blog.  I've been so tired the last few days.  By the time everyone's asleep, I want to be doing the same.  Like right now, sitting is making me drowsy.

Anyways, enough of my excuses.  There's always time to get things done, it's all the other junk that stops me.  So, here's my work from today.  It's far from an hour of art, more like 15 minutes.  But, it's a good start.  I'm suppose to be painting this week, but so far that hasn't happened.  Procrastination is my weakness.  Also, I get sidetracked by lots of other things.  

(brown pastel crayon on newsprint.)

Mon--Figure drawing class tonight

It was so nice to go back!  Same people, same model.  It's great to see how everyone's styles have evolved.  Also, since it's very loose and casual, there are people moving around the room.  I sat on the floor for the last hour, until my leg fell asleep.  But, it made for more interesting poses and opportunities to draw foreshortened angles.  Right now, my whole bodys about to fall asleep.  Only got 4 hours of sleep last night.  So, I don't feel like going downstairs to get my drawings and then schleping them up to the scanner.  (which probably won't work anyway)  Soooo, tomorrow?  I haven't been very good at posting my things.  But, at least I'm doing them.

Oh, also, I work more on my sketch for the painting.  In fact, I killed it.  Yet again, I need to learn when to quit.  I'll redraw it tomorrow.  

But, it was a good art day.  Oh, also I heard a quote that I liked.  Paraphrasing, it said something like "Creativity is the process of creating something out of nothing"  That was Amy Tan (Joy Luck Club author).  She also joked that "creative" people have some kind of mental disorders.  Ha!  That explains it. :)  

found the pose

Here's the pose I'm going to use.  With a table in the background (not quite like the photo).  I started a drawing tonight, and I really like it.  I'm too tired to fight with the scanner, so I'll have to do that in the morning.  But, I did draw today. 

Sat--does this count?

Paige was perfectly still playing webkinz, so I started drawing her.  But, since I couldn't get her to look away from her game, I started drawing silly things.  This got her attention.  She thinks it's one of my best drawings.  

Thursday-start of head

This drawing didn't happen until tonight, and as you can see it's not finished.  I tried a new angle, one that put the viewer at a lower position.  

The right eye was killing me!  In fact, I erased it so many times the paper finally gave way.  So, after the hole, I decided to quit for the night.  

What's amazing is how all of our faces are so similar.  Just a millimeter completely changes things.  

Tuesday--tomorrow is my first day (I promise:)

So, if only there was 25 hours in the day.  I could get everything done.  Sleep is not really necessary, right?  Not much art happened today.  Oh, and tomorrow (my first day with the kids all in school) I'm getting my hair done.  It hasn't been touched all summer, and is looking shabby. So, I'll try to pull something together tomorrow night.  

Mon--guardian

Dang it, I don't have a big sketch done for the painting. But I finally have an idea in my head.  Two actually.  I'll draw a larger version tomorrow and post it. (I promise)  

This picture is of a drawing I did today outside.  It was part of a larger picture, but I didn't like the rest.  In fact when I got home, I tried to "fix" it.  But, sort of destroyed it.  So this is all that's left.    It was originally a male angel hovering over my mom.  It wasn't a perfect likeness, but I liked it, especially since it was coming from my imagination.  I wish I wouldn't have messed with it at home, because I killed it's looseness.  I'll have to make her another one.

What was new for me, was when I sat down with my paper, I didn't have any idea what I was going to draw.  But, as I started I was just laying down loose gestures of a face.  This eventually developed into a man.  And after I drew two lines, it was clear that he was crouching and looking directly at the viewer.  He looked protective.  So then I put a young woman in front of him.  It sort of went from there.  My Mom's pb says she has guardian angels, so I guess this is how I picture them.  Male with beautiful eyes, standing over her. 

 This was one of the first times, I've really been able to "see" like that.  Sort of close my eyes, and see what's in my head, then draw.  That was the best part about drawing today, even though I ruined the finished product.