Here's one of yesterday's studies from my sketchbook:
"Study of medical rescue from news broadcast"Dianne Mize
I've always loved looking at quick studies. One of my favorites is from Rembrandt's Notebooks entitled "Woman Sleeping".
"Woman Sleeping" by Rembrandt van Rijn"It's amazing what can be captured in a few gestural strokes and Rembrandt's mastery enabled him to give such life to those strokes that I never tire of looking at this drawing.
Here's another recent page from my sketchbook:
These are quick ballpoint pen sketches from photo references. The game with both of these was to grab as much as I could from memory before going back to the reference for more.
Both the exercise at the top and these are good training for the eye, the mind and the hand. I am in a habit of grabbing my sketchbook and a ball point pen whenever I perch myself in front of the TV for a newscast. I probably won't show many of these on the blog and Lord knows they'll probably end up in the recycle bin years down the road, but they serve their purpose for me and that is to keep my mind, eye and hand totally in touch with one another.
Meanderings:
I am discovering that beginning a new series can take many turns. The current painting would have been finished yesterday if I hadn't decided to change its emphasis which meant pretty much making a second painting on top of the first. That's the reason you got sketches today instead of a finished piece.
Blogging does add a certain pressure to being an artist, at least it does for me. When deciding to change the emphasis of this painting, I argued with myself that I really needed to post something on the blog, but then I argued back that I'm not painting for the blog, but for my artistic discovery and growth. Well, then--that's settled.
Here's another recent page from my sketchbook:
These are quick ballpoint pen sketches from photo references. The game with both of these was to grab as much as I could from memory before going back to the reference for more.Both the exercise at the top and these are good training for the eye, the mind and the hand. I am in a habit of grabbing my sketchbook and a ball point pen whenever I perch myself in front of the TV for a newscast. I probably won't show many of these on the blog and Lord knows they'll probably end up in the recycle bin years down the road, but they serve their purpose for me and that is to keep my mind, eye and hand totally in touch with one another.
Meanderings:
I am discovering that beginning a new series can take many turns. The current painting would have been finished yesterday if I hadn't decided to change its emphasis which meant pretty much making a second painting on top of the first. That's the reason you got sketches today instead of a finished piece.
Blogging does add a certain pressure to being an artist, at least it does for me. When deciding to change the emphasis of this painting, I argued with myself that I really needed to post something on the blog, but then I argued back that I'm not painting for the blog, but for my artistic discovery and growth. Well, then--that's settled.
14 Comments:
I have always preferred viewing an artist's sketches over their paintings. I feel so deeply about that it has been my intend to post about why I feel that way one day.
Thanks for sharing yours here today!
I'm with you, Tina. There's something direct and honest about a quickly done sketch. Perhaps it's that we can see deeper into the artist's soul when the piece is more raw and direct. I'll be interested in what you have to say about that.
I agree that sketches can be more interesting than paintings...particularly true, imho, with Rembrandt and Van Gogh (for different reasons.)
Thanks for the reminder about sketching quickly and capturing what the memory saw - I need to do more of that.
Finally, Dianne, thanks for the accurately summed up "I'm not painting for the blog, but for my artistic discovery and growth." That is something that I have been trying to put into words I can remember all week...you've done it for me!
Dianne, I meant in my first comment here it has been my INTENT to post about why I feel that way one day, not intend. Sorry!
I also agree with Rose. Your last paragraph was on the mark! I don't post as often as I'd like due to time constraints, and certainly way less than most bloggers I know. In the end I can't stress, I don't want a blog to be another chore! I want to own my blog, not the other way around!
I am always intrigued by sketches - they seem to have so much more life than finished pieces.
And don't recycle them - some day, you never know, when they mount a retrospective of your work, your sketches will be an integral part of the exhibition!!! :-)
You are so right about blogging - I had just come to that conclusion myself last week. No chicken/egg quandary there - the blog came second!
I also love to see sketches, because they directly tell the story with no fuss. Your medical rescue is brilliantly done.
Given the choice I will always opt for a more finished piece than spend time sketching, but now I fell I may have to rethink that. You show that there are huge benefits, thank you.
Anita, not to worry. I'm so fond of my sketchbooks I'd dare not allow a single one of them get near the recycle bin. My heirs, though, might see it differently. Or not!
Sharon, my bet is if you get really hooked on spending time sketching, you'll find stuff in the process that the painting process doesn't give us.
There's something mighty honest in the hand pushing a pen around when the mind knows it's not going to be displayed our sold. That's given me pause for thought for a long time.
P.S. I like the ballpoint pen for doing sketchbook studies because there's no temptation to erase, you don't have to wait for it to dry and it doesn't smear. I like Bic's fine black point.
Late coming in but I have to agree with the comments the others have made, there is something special about sketches and I love the bit about there being no pressure as it is just for you.
I enjoy blogging but there have been times when I felt that pressure to post something. So your words say it all for me too, "I'm not painting for the blog, but for my artistic discovery and growth." May I use your words and give you credit for them?
Of course,Ann, use my "not painting for the blog.." quote anytime you want to. It seems to have really hit a chord and I was just making my affirmation. I will be happy for you and others to do the same.
Thanks for the comments.
Thank you Diane. It really did strike a chord.
That Rembrant piece is inspiring. I think you did a good job with the mulitple figures. I tested one time and the screen image hardly ever lasts for more than 2 seconds. I use the pause now with the DVR.
Your sketches are so loose and free. Really love the one taken from the TV. And your painting for yourself and not the blog quote really is a good reminder of why we are painting.
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