I Don't Draw Things
Mon, December 14, 2009 at 09:00PM "Drawing, within the visual arts, seems to hold the position of being closest to pure thought."
~ John Elderfield
"Draw on both sides of the line, not just what you're enclosing. The shape you're making on the outside is as important as the one you're making on the inside.
~Leon Polk Smith
"Drawing is one of the best ways to meditate, while staying connected to the world around us."
~ Elsha Leventis
As suggested in Retro| Vintage Drawing Practice, you can use old photographs in your drawing practice. I don't draw THINGS. I mean REAL THINGS. And I am curious whether a few years of drawing pretend things like mandalas in any way helped my ability to draw real things. So I started with the photograph of the facade above and drew my version of this REAL THING with PITT pen (XS) in a 5x8" watercolor moleskine journal. It has relatively simple lines and is an interesting photograph. Looking at it, very tempted to pitch it, but knowing that would be oh so wrong, I instead tried to figure out what I liked (as opposed to what I didn't like) in the sketch. I like the quirky windows and doors. And I liked the experience. More sketches from photos.
Have you sketched anything REAL lately? What did you LIKE about your work?
Reader Comments (13)
I think that's AWESOME! Really!
Lisa
I love to draw; and I believe that ANY amount of drawing, even just doodles and fantastical shapes helps improve your drawing overall.
But, to draw real things realistically does take a bit of time and practise. Learning to really see what you're looking at, learning to reproduce the forms and lines accurately and learnign edit what you see to make a better drawing all have to kinda "snap" together into place.
Just draw for a while everyday, and it will come to you. Do keep everything -even the worst failures- for a while, so that you can look back and see what kinds of progress you've made.
I like the quirkiness of the subject matter and the shading. The first thing I noticed, mostly because I do the same thing myself, is trying to make the drawing fit the page dimensions rather than what the proportions of the subject actually are. I don't think that's inherently wrong or anything, it's just something I've noticed in myself, and in your example.
I usually do try drawing "real" things with varying degrees of satisfaction. I try to remind myself that if I wanted an exact copy I'd take a photograph ;). Like you, I enjoy the process, and as long as I'm not attached to a super-realistic outcome, I'm generally pretty happy.
Hi. I like your result, but have to say - there are a lot of proportions mismatch. Please, don`t use the item`s outline, as main position to draw. First of all, try to compare the visual sizes of an objects - left door, second door, right window. As you can see, left and center doors are almost same with their sizes, but your sketch shows the left one, bigger than central, and you have no place to details. Same for window - there are 9 small frames, and your sketch have only six.
Please don't chuck this drawing! It has a lot of charm and I like the way you've varied your markmaking (hatching, little lines and more scribbled marks) - it does a lot, in a monochrome drawing, to bring the subject alive, and shows that your mandalas have kept you alive to the possibilities of pattern. I think more drawings like this, combined with/influenced by your approach to drawing mandalas, could make a really interesting project.
As for realism/proportion, it is practice, practice, practice, nothing more. I find buildings (and straight lines in general) especially challenging.
"I liked the experience." <---- Ultimately, ALL THAT MATTERS! :)
I think this is wonderful!!! I really like your arc and the steps, it looks realistic to me. This is one area I really
want to work on myself.
This drawing has a LOT of inherent charm, Tammy! Don't chuck it - it's wonderful. As for proportion, the more you draw, the more you'll "see". Hugs, Terri xoxo
Thank you all! I am so thrilled at your comments, suggestions and motivation. I drew this in a 5x8" moly and cropped the rest of the page since it was blank. I am pleased that my mandala work has improved my lines - I doubt two years ago I could draw straight lines! I love to use lines to make textures, that's quite fun. Gotta run!
back again, this time in with coffee....!
one of my favorite sketchblogs to read is Urban sketchers, where artists all over world sketch city scenes, kind of like this. They'll sometimes include photos of what they're sketching, and it's interesting to see what they've decided to include or leave out of their sketches. Often the interpretations are extremely loose; and details reduced to their essential forms and I think that's what makes them interesting - there's rarely slavish attention to detail. Proportion is sometimes exact, and sometimes distorted for effect - it seems used mostly not to directly reproduce the scene, but to heighten the sketchers impression of what's in front of them (towering buildings, sprawling city block, etc...)
That's my way of saying that your picture is you interpretation should definitely not be chucked :)
Nice! I think whatever the result is, the important is trying, and trying again. To answer your question, i drew my sleepy dog this morning, twice (just his head since he was very close to my side). It takes practice, but it is so rewarding! if you haven't, i strongly suggest reading Drawing on the right side of the brain (the main idea is to practice drawing with a photograph that you turned upside down. drawing this way makes you draw what you SEE, and not what you KNOW, because the forms before you, even if you can recognize them, are abstract. this is mainly what helped me, and also lots of practice (and The Creative License by Danny Gregory has great prompts and pep talks).
anyway, your website is very inspiring, i found lots of ideas i'm looking forward to try, thank you!
I'm totally fine with the sketch only loosely resembling the photograph. I think that's why I posted it instead of stashing it away, to show that it's OK to be imperfect in your art.
*Lisa, Thank you!
*Dragonlady, I agree; I have to put time into practice as I have with the mandalas. Perspective is not my forte.
*Decreat, I think the point of posting this was to show that drawing real life stuff is not my area of expertise and so of course the proportions are off. In fact, I'm just happy it somewhat resembles the reality.
*E-J, I'm intrigued by the use of lines, cross-hatching, shading, etc. to create interest. Yay, I'm so happy you noticed!
*Eden, Thank you as always for your positive words!
*Terri, Yes, I agree that I'll see more with practice. And I like the word "charm" a great deal.
*sophie_vf, Yes, it's fun not to worry about the outcome so much. I love quirkiness in drawings, little personal touches. Urban Sketchers is indeed a fabulous blog; so fun to see the interpretations as you so eloquently described.
*Gabrielle, The books you suggested would definitely help. I've read Danny's books but not the other. I look forward to seeing your creations!
Thanks for your comments, just when I begin to wonder if folks are really out there playing along! You've made my day!
I draw "real" things and have problems drawing non-real things like your lovely mandalas. I think that I draw what I see and therefor don't do so well on those things that my mind is making up if that makes any sense. I look at your colorful and lovely mandalas and wish mine came out so even and pretty. lol
Pixie, Thank you for stopping by! Your comment made me think (which is good). I've always assumed that an artist who could draw real things could by default draw imaginary things, so now I feel that the world is in balance and we can learn from each other!!! ~ Tammy