Visual Expression: Painting Wednesday #1
This week’s WIP posting has not materialised, nor will it, because I didn’t work on anything I felt like posting. Ie. I only worked on things I have posted once already or things I cannot (for one reason or another) post.
In lieu of the WW posting, I’m posting a short reflection on what I got from the first session of the course “Visual Expression”. Our theme for the course is “Glocal — Encounters” and every work should tackle that in some ways. On Wednesdays we paint, on Thursdays we do printing assignments (lino, mono, serigraphy, etc.). This Thursday’s posting will come after Wednesday when I get to assess my accomplishments. (There were none, to be honest, so I’m just trying to postpone the inevitable “don’t have anything to report” posting.)
So, Wednesdays are for painting. On the first lesson we started from the beginning, which, by the classical way of thinking, is drawing. First we reviewed the different ways and techniques to use a pen and lines.
The assignment itself was to practice values through drawing either from still lifes or doing a emotive/memory drawing. The added guideline was to use a line type you normally don’t use. Because I’m thoroughly lazy, my drawing turned out to be stylistically the same mess as everything I do. So I aimed to do smaller elements in different styles (the clearest example probably being the wood that frames the main subject).
I chose to try my hand at the “emotive” thingy and my aim was to create a soft, calm and warm feeling. At the same time I tried to bring out the centre of the drawing as well as possible. Added to that I attempted a slight fish eye distortion, but it’s surprisingly difficult to draw crooked walls on purpose! To further add more clashing elements, I gave the horse a slightly worried, even a little intimidated, look especially on the (our) right side. I’m still considering adding a whip to my girl’s left hand to give a slightly scared/nervous feel.
Due to having no earthly (or heavenly, for that matter) references, I needed to take a slight break from the piece and leave especially the head and hands in a bit too unfinished stage. I try to mull them over before next Wednesday and fix them if I have the time.
So, any learning experiences?
Well, at least that I can’t stick to a predetermined look or style.
That “mindless” shading is sometimes quite fun.
And sometimes forgetting the right perspective or light directions (ie. breaking the rules) really works AND adds something to the picture.
I need to draw more without any refs.
I am a terrible snob when it comes to art materials.
Next week we’re on to painting. Very nice. Drawing is not my game.
Currently untitled work, A2, graphite.
