Every morning I reacquaint myself with my art. Can be disappointing – can be encouraging. I often get stuck. What I learned at Art school helps. Even after all these years.
We were told how important drawing was – and would be for our art making. I’d cobbled together a portfolio for the interview to get a place on the foundation course. Bits and bobs I had been working on. If anything the broken arm spurred me on. Making the most of my limitations I suppose. Don’t think drawing figured much at the time. It gradually grew more central for me.
Nowadays – every day – I draw. Whatever is in front of me. I often have a houseplant in my line of vision. Plants are difficult – but they’re not going anywhere. Generally speaking.
I do a line drawing. I don’t worry about mistakes, imperfections or doubts. I do it in one go – I don’t come back to it ( except to see what I did ), I think I might be looking for what I can leave out. I keep it simple.
Straight after, I do another one. Same plant. Still focusing on outline only. I draw the lines but also keep an eye on the blank areas in between ( called negative space ), I leave out anything that doesn’t seem helpful. Difficult to explain what I mean by this – but I want it to look ” under-cooked “. This is because I sometimes do too much in my paintings. They can be fussy. Over-cooked in fact.
Drawing can help resolve all sorts of things. Or throw up unexpected interventions.
There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.
Finally, I’ll do a third drawing – a larger one. I’m usually more comfortable with it by this stage.
It doesn’t always turn out ” better ” – as such – I don’t mind. I can learn something from how the trio have emerged.
I would like the drawings to feed into the paintings – ultimately. There’s still a gulf dividing them currently. If I do a garden picture – it grows slowly – like a real garden. Some elements flourish, some fall away even though at first they may seem promising. I sometimes tie myself up in knots trying to save a ” good bit “. However, sacrifices must be made . I can always come back to a painting – change/improve/erase it etc.
So, with the drawing – when I start to notice I’m forming a new routine, I will dismantle it. Like starting with my left hand/doing parts with my eyes closed/not letting the pencil pause or leave the page. Setting new problems. Finding tiny solutions. It’s not that habits are bad – as such, it’s just that finding new ways is better for me. I want my drawings to open up. Like a flower.
Learning to embrace mistakes/imperfections/accidents can be vital for me. My pictures never turn out how I visualize them anyway. I doubt myself a lot – but doubt can be good. As John Donne said : doubt wisely.