Wednesday, December 28, 2005

week #47 - draw a challenge from the past year

There were lots of choices for this week's drawing assignment. This one fits the challenge, plus five more of the categories, so I feel particularly satisfied that I have accomplished something. Besides, this sketch makes me happy. I used watercolor pencils (sans eau) and a pigma pen. 14 - Draw what you see in the morning when you get up. When i come downstairs in the morning, I come into my studio first thing and pull up the blind behind the plants to let in the light. The bookcase (to the left of the chair I have lived in through sickness and health) is filled with my art books and art magazines, and the top is more cluttered than you see in this picture. The window looks out on the street - a drawing for another day. 15 - Draw a tree or trees, leaves or branches. Well, these leaves & branches are on houseplants. Good enough. 24 - Draw a piece of fruit. The plant on the left is a pineapple top. It's a few years old: it grows slowly in the NJ climate, but it amuses me. And it is still alive, which is more than i can say for my avocado plant or sweet potato vine. 26 - Draw anything you like. I did. 42 - Draw something you are thankful for. These lopsided plants make me smile and I am thankful every day that they manage to survive against the odds of my 'black thumb.' Here is the real thing. As you can see, I've edited the scene. Interesting exercise. It is so hard to make your hand do what your eye sees. But I realize that accuracy is not the point if I wanted that, I would stick to photos. I realize that what happens when I sketch is analagous to what I do when I make a fiber piece. I may start out being very deliberate and careful - but find that it really isn't any fun. As soon as I begin to take liberties, to improvise, and to play, things seem to come together freely and speak in their own voice. Yes, our work speaks in our voice also - but there is something that happens when we let the process take over and tell us what it wants to be. We just need to listen.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rayna, I love your thoughts on how "we need to let the process take over". That's one thing I remind myself to do.. I get caught up in trying to make things too perfect sometimes.
I really like your drawing of your plants. Now, if only I could keep plants alive long enough to draw them......

Anonymous said...

Hurrah for you, Rayna! Getting outside your comfort zone and you are liking it! Good work. I signed up for EDM and the e-mails were overwhelming so I unsubscribed, but I do want to work on this sketching thing. I am signing up for a weekly class tomorrow.
Who says they can't teach an old dog new tricks!!

Linda Teddlie Minton said...

Rayna, good for you! As they say, I can't draw a straight line, but you have overcome your (universal, I think) fear of failure and begun something wonderful! I love the fact that you even show the broken and browned ends of the pineapple top. Good perspective, good colors. Are you going to develop this drawing in fabric?

cheers,
Linda

Lin said...

WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL!! From the cheerful, pretty sketch to the philosophy and method behind it!! ALL made me smile, too! WELL DONE!

Nita Van Zandt said...

Hey, good idea to get lots of challenges included in one session! The plants come out really nice, keep going!

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