Reflections on my Progress

Introduction

I started ‘Drawing 1’ knowing my technical skills and confidence with drawing need much input and development. I always considered drawing as a means to an end – just as a technical map that is required before starting the more exciting, rewarding, immediate act that is painting. I am quite an impatient person and this was reflected in my attitude to sitting still to draw. I was looking forward to finding new techniques, a new outlook to the task of drawing and improve my ability.

I actually found inspiration and teaching in the introduction of the workbook and now understand a little more of the depth of the language that is drawing. I am beginning to realise that drawing/mark-making is a rich, alternative language to sounds and the written word.

The activity itself is way more complex than putting a pencil on to a pad. There are so many things to consider: what do draw? what to draw with? what to draw on? angles, texture, construction, composition, light and shade. Knowing what you actually want to convey is a challenge too. I can see that drawing also has a relationship with maths and physics – not just thoughts and feelings.

I am quite daunted (but excited) by my need to exercise my own creative muscle. What and where is the creative ‘personal voice’ I need to find? After years of prescriptive, often draining, office work and day-to-day domestic tasks and worries, has this muscle shrivelled up to nothing? I didn’t naturally follow an art route at school – it was out of my sphere for all sorts of reasons. But the love of things visual was always with me.

There is creativity in my life though: love of music, clothes, dancing, decorating my home, my new-found passion for gardening, the 60s mod/scooter scene. I’m inspired by other people’s amazing creativity. I have friends who are DJs, artists, gardeners, dressmakers, musicians, teachers, actors and poets. Perhaps I will find inspiration in some of these places.

Over the years I followed various evening classes and completed small projects on my own. I’ve always loved a visit to a gallery/exhibition and found others’ work is food for my head. I do this as often as I can, though some of my companions over the years have wondered what the hell I’ve bought them to! We’ve seen the mad, the bad and the sad! We’ve also seen the amazing, challenging, brave and beautiful.

Exercise 1 – Temporary Drawings

I enjoyed the temporary drawings. This activity loosened me up a little. Drawing doesn’t have to be a pencil on a pad, it doesn’t have to be for anyone else, it doesn’t have to be permanent, it doesn’t have to be an indoor activity.

Project 1 – Feelings and Expression

Exercise 1 – Expressive Lines and Marks

It was interesting to try and get inside feelings and put them down on to paper. It helped me start understanding mark-making as another language. Again – a drawing implement doesn’t have to be a pencil, what you draw on to doesn’t have to be paper.

Experimenting with Texture

I liked that this meant I could go outside and look for materials, e.g. leaves and twigs. Highlighting to me again that projects don’t always need to be indoors. That was quite a liberating feeling that I hope to work with further.

Basic Shapes and Fundermental Form

This took me back to the thought that drawing has some roots in physics and maths. I realise that my lines always drift to the right as I’m right handed!

Groups of Objects

Oberving Shadow using Blocks of Tone

I do have a tendency to over-work things. My impatient nature shows as I press too hard and go over and over marks – and pictures turn into a sea of black!.. Black has its place (Odilon Redon shows this) but there is also a need for a lighter touch to express and convey what you want to say effectively.

Creating Shadow Using Lines and Marks

Again, this task demonstrated to me how I do need to keep my technique light and not overwork. Also, I need to practice using marks to better effect. I need to be more careful and selective with marks made. Sometimes my work looks rushed. I need to put more care into it. I liked the dipping ink shape best – it was bold and solid.