On the Move...

Sketchbook Study    Maine Coon

Drawing from life involves patience, much patience, and a bit of luck.  Our son and daughter-in-law have two beautiful Maine Coon cats, as well as a beautiful balcony that overlooks a wooded area and stream in their apartment in balmy North Carolina.  One lovely morning, I sat, watching and sketching, while Gus spent his time catching bugs and admiring the woodland activity.  In this sort of endeavor, I try to have three or so sketches going at one time.  Over the years, I have found that beings of all kinds tend to return to comfortable postures time and time again.  If one is lucky, extremely lucky, some sort of artful drawing results....and sometimes I prefer these small works to more calculated paintings and drawings.  There is a freshness from errant lines and the searching of the pencil. 

A morning well spent.

Deb Drawing Me...but not feeling well

Deb Drawing Me   conte crayon and pastel on unknown bumpy paper   10 x 10

There is nothing more exhilarating than drawing and painting from life.  We hone observation skills, editing and quickness.  The relationship between the model and the artist is heightened.  Feelings are there right in front of you to take in and reciprocate.  I find that working from photo references becomes a slavish process...we can easily be mesmerized by the less important details, thinking erroneously that each and every detail should and must be included. Working and overworking these passages leads to a deadening of the overall work.

Strokes made from life are less accurate, but often more expressive...and the search for truth more impulsive.

This small drawing was completed in about an hour.  Deb, who is usually the perkiest artist in class was not feeling well.  While her feeling of malaise was nothing I would ever wish for, I am somewhat satisfied in the truth of this drawing. 

Personally, I can never understand why the viewing public seems to prefer the photo-studio smiles of the sitter.  What are we really after? 

And....Deb was feeling much better the following week.