I've been drawing in my sketchbook this morning - just because I felt like it and also perhaps because I needed a break from all those wandering hillside lines I've been so preoccupied with lately.
My subject was a favourite old Windsor chair that sits in the corner of my kitchen. Members of my family have sat in it for around 100 years so it's very precious to me.
Still, I wanted to take a fresh view of it so I drew using the blind drawing with 'sneaky peaks' technique because if I hadn't peaked to reposition myself, my drawing would not have been recognisable as a chair and, this time, I wanted it to be.
The sketchbook I chose is square and I usually draw in it in pencil or perhaps pen. It holds all my drawings that 'just happen' rather than being a particular part of my practice when I'm working out a new piece of work. It has a quiet and unthreatening feeling to it so it is where I go when I need a break and I treasure the book as a result.
While drawing in this way, I find my mind goes to work on things I'm trying to resolve quietly and unconsciously.
Then there was the photographing of the drawing ... and then of course Adobe Photoshop and the crop feature ... so this little bit of undemanding fun may yet yield something useful.
Why does that fourth thumbnail on the right there remind me of a woman hanging out wind-blown washing? Funny tricks the mind plays ...
My subject was a favourite old Windsor chair that sits in the corner of my kitchen. Members of my family have sat in it for around 100 years so it's very precious to me.
Still, I wanted to take a fresh view of it so I drew using the blind drawing with 'sneaky peaks' technique because if I hadn't peaked to reposition myself, my drawing would not have been recognisable as a chair and, this time, I wanted it to be.The sketchbook I chose is square and I usually draw in it in pencil or perhaps pen. It holds all my drawings that 'just happen' rather than being a particular part of my practice when I'm working out a new piece of work. It has a quiet and unthreatening feeling to it so it is where I go when I need a break and I treasure the book as a result.
While drawing in this way, I find my mind goes to work on things I'm trying to resolve quietly and unconsciously.
Then there was the photographing of the drawing ... and then of course Adobe Photoshop and the crop feature ... so this little bit of undemanding fun may yet yield something useful.
Why does that fourth thumbnail on the right there remind me of a woman hanging out wind-blown washing? Funny tricks the mind plays ...
Fantastic picture. It would look amazing as a free motion embroidery.
ReplyDeleteThank you , Nora ... I just wish my free motion embroidery skills were up to it. It's definitely not my strong point!
DeleteLove those cropped line drawings. Oddly enough, so many works of art look better chopped up into little pieces. Love your square journal -- I'm always on the lookout for those.
ReplyDeleteI chop up bits of drawings a lot - mostly for my own entertainment. I find the little bits are interesting in themselves and the whole is so often much more than the sum of the parts - though quite why that should be I can't pin down.
DeleteI love square sketchbooks and get mine from a couple of stockists here in the UK - don't know whether they're of any use to you in the US. The one I was using above is hardback and to be found on http://www.colnart.com/collections/drawing-sketchbooks/products/seawhite-black-cloth-cover-square-sketchbooks-1 ... The other source sells square spiro bound books in various sizes on http://www.the-pink-pig.co.uk/ who may well send abroad as they only trade online. I believe they also trade via Amazon. Hope this is some help.
I too have a favorite sketchbook that just feels more welcoming and comfortable to use than the others I have. Hard to explain why but I find it is the one I am most apt to grab, whether it be to toy with design ideas or just sketch "because I feel like it".
ReplyDeleteAnd once you pointed it out - yes, I can see that woman fighting to hang out the wash. Speaking of thumbnails, did you spot the thumb in the thumbnail to the left of the washer woman?
No, but now you mention it, I do. Funny thing perception!
DeleteAnd won't be able to get it out of your head, I reckon. Once seen, always there in my experience.
DeleteYou're so right - I've looked at it several times since I saw your post and that thumb is what I noticed first!
DeleteFeeling like I should apologize! lol Just put a little nail polish on it...it'll be fine. ;-)
DeleteI might just ... bright siren red, I think. Watch this space!
DeleteOh how delightful!!! I LOVE the drawing of the chair!! and the little thumbnails are always such fun to play with. Lovely!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marny - great fun to do and low, low stress because quirky and not accurate is the order of the day - very relaxing.
DeleteThat chair is gorgeous! The whole of it and the crops too. You could use them all together in a larger work.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ersi - perhaps I will use them, who knows, but for now I'll file them under 'maybe one day ...' while I work out what to do with them.
DeleteI have lots of drawings - and photos - like that and sometimes they creep up on me unannounced and long after I've forgotten all about them.
The method of blind drawing allows a line to go as you say quirky! I like the chopped up pieces as well but the actual chair drawing is in all its easy glory and totally charming!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Ann. Funny how some things seem to work and others don't. I have many other blind drawings that will never see the light of day!
ReplyDelete