The first few weeks - school drawings

In terms of my own studio practice my space is beginning to take shape and as well as continuing to research my favourite subject of perception and illusion I have been working on a Tim Knowles inspired drawing project - by collecting drawings made by the school - in order to connect with the site. I see this drawing project as a small thread of work lasting the duration of the residency. It will develop as I get to know the school. So far I have drawings made by the automatic door at the entrance to the art and design building, drawings made by a fire door at the top of a stairwell and drawings made by the willow trees on the school grounds.

Fire Door Drawing, work in progress view

Ink on paper, 2009

Automatic Door Drawing

Ink on paper, 2009

Willow Tree Drawing, work in progress view
Ink on paper, 2009

Drawing

In my last blog I talked about learning the craft of drawing. This is only one of the many approaches. Here are less conventional and more contemporary applications of drawing practice as process and as an end in its own right. 

Using chance, letting go of control and authorship by attaching pens to tree branches and letting the wind control the mark-making

Tim Knowles

The How, Borrowdale, Cumbria

Ink on Paper and C-type print

2005

Drawing on unusual supports, e.g., used coffee cups

Paul Westcombe

Coffee Cups, 9 coffee cups

2008

Drawing with fireworks on paper and in the air (not one to try at home or school)

Cai Guo-Qiang

Same Word, Same Seed, Same Root

Min Tai Yuan Museum, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

2006

Drawing from fantasy but in a contemporary fine art context

Charles Avery

Avators

2005

Drawing in 3-D using black wool

Chiharu Shiota

Am I using the right brain?

For some, art class may seem a little bit more informal. For example, students may think that they can talk while working, however, to do so is near impossible like trying to solve a mathematical problem whilst talking about personal relationships.

It is because of the difference between left-brain thinking and right-brain thinking. The left-hand-side of the brain deals with logic and language. The right-hand-side with creativity. I think that whether solving a logical or creative problem you need to use both sides of your brain at some point. If you are trying to develop your empirical observational drawing skills or your draughtmanship, however, then you need to be able to turn your left-side off. That is, not to think of what you are observing in terms of labels. For example, if it is a face you think of it in terms of shape and colour and line and angle and so on. Not nose and nostril and eye and lips. If you do the latter then your left-brain kicks in and uses the label to retrieve from memory a 'symbol' of what you think is a nose. Not the nose in front of you. 

Betty Edwards,  author of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain explains this well in her books through theory and practical exercises. 

I have always believed that anyone can 'draw' and to be more specific anyone can develop their observational drawing skills and achieve a good likeness of your subject. It takes practice and Betty Edwards unlocks the secret for faster results.

Having said all this - discussion involving critical thinking and analysis of one's own work and that of others is a necessity - just not during a practical exercise. Also art is not all about getting it 'right'.

Getting started...new beginnings

Like a blank sheet of paper or blank canvas writing the first blog piece has been tricky. Where do I start? How much thought should go into the writing or the depth of content? Should it be stream of consciousness or more considered? Hmm. Maybe I'll just be me. In which case you will find a mix. Sometimes insightful, sometimes just meant to be taken at face value and sometimes contradictory. Just like me. Just like my art work.

I'm happy with the contradictions. I hope that if someone disagrees (or agrees) with what I say they will see this as an invitation for a dialogue and post a comment and if I appear contradictory in my own thoughts or processes then this is another incentive for discourse.