More Moore...

As promised, here is my drawing in an attempt to vaguely emulate Moore's style of drawing (e.g., his drawings in the 30's-40's of London's underground tunnels during WWII bombing campaigns)

This is my drawing of "Seated Woman" (1957) which was at Tate recently... I loved this sculpture, with its curves, shapes and shadows... the small and somewhat ridiculous tiny head has an "alien" feel about it... she is vulnerable, she doesn't belong here (or anywhere) and still she clutches her strength and maintains her dignity...

Today's observation...

Today we had a fella in to give us a quote for roof blinds in our conservatory. When I mentioned we'll be needing a quote for blinds in the art studio after it's built this summer, he remarked upon one of my paintings displayed in the lounge and says something to the effect: I wish I could draw, I'm dreadful at that sort of thing, I mean, I can draw a stick man, but that's about it.

Now, I've not been recording conversations with strangers or anything, but whenever my occupation as an artist comes up in conversation, that person nearly always says, I wish I could draw, but I'm terrible at it (or something like that).

It's quite cute, in a way, and certainly amusing (though I never laugh in the person's presence)... it's nearly always the same thing that happens when I tell people I work in I.T., they might say something like, I am terrible at computers, I can barely send an email.

What I really want to know, though, is, what is up with that? Why do people very frequently feel the need to state an "excuse" why they aren't an artist too? Or a computer expert?

Would love to hear some thoughts on this one...

Moore exhibit at the Tate

I really love the expressive, moody quality of this set of drawings by Moore... and next to his sculptures, with their undulating shapes and shadows, I'm inspired to draw my favourite sculpture of the exhibit, "Seated Woman" (1957).

Though I wonder what is WITH Moore's habit of leaving the heads and other appendages off of his sculptures? They are recognisable as human, but something other than... alien and some are even unfriendly...

And I still like them all the same.

I'll post up the drawing when I'm done with it.

Til next time...

White stuff

I couldn't resist two posts in one day... but I thought this one turned out pretty cool. The brief was to draw "white objects" using a technique the Italians called "chiaroscuro" (light-and-dark)... and what's whiter than a pith helmet and afternoon tea? ;)

Here's how it's done:

- draw the objects using a single contour line (mind negative spaces!)

- draw the shadows, again using single contour line to describe the edge of the shadow

- fill in the shadows with dark charcoal (it will kind of negate some edges of the object at this point)

- smudge/muddle the entire page so, except for the darkest shadow, the page is now a dim gray (this really "flattens" the image)

- finally, pick/rub out the lightest parts of the objects (the highlights) with your eraser. If necessary, you may want to darken some of the shadows again with charcoal to accentuate the contrast.

In short order, the objects now seem to "pop out" in 3-D.

Fun times!

-- kelise

Que sera, sera

Woke up this morning with the sinking feeling that I woulda-coulda-shoulda have written my Personal Statement differently. It's the thing that will get me an interview before the admissions officer even looks at my portfolio. Garrrr! I definitely worry too much, and I can't stand the suspense.

Anyway, at the moment, I'm studying facial expressions (the final project hasn't really crystallised yet so I don't know what I'm aiming for... but it will come to me eventually). For starters though, I have my trusty anatomy book in hand so I can see what muscles of the face are involved in the making of facial expressions. And let me tell you, after several hours studying muscles and bones, I am really put off eating chicken for a while. Seriously.

So here's what I came up with yesterday in a coffee shop... the facial expression on this figure was unintentional but ended up describing my mood these days: trying REALLY hard to be patient and positive, and feeling really vulnerable at the same time. Or it looks like a meditating Zen Buddhist monk...

Until next time,

Kelise