Drawing Inside Out

Some of us seem to be naturally gifted with an ability to see abstract space, and therefore have an advantage when it comes to drawing realistically, but we still need to work hard to hone our skills. Those without that head start often overtake us though. Maybe this is because they have had to make such an effort to see the world differently. When it ‘clicks’ for them the revelation is like a creative catapult. 

The discipline of academic drawing can be tough, but has so many benefits that it’s really worth the effort. If your drawing is ‘good enough’ (no one is perfect, we are all practicing) you have a stronger platform to base any creative work on.

 You can venture into mixed media, abstract, colour experiments, any medium you choose. You can distort reality or make it almost photographic. Underlying your adventures will be the lessons learnt through sheer observation and study. Lessons about how things really work, how they move, how they grow and how they are affected by atmosphere, mood, and a hundred other influences. You will also have a second sense for tone, perspective, composition and all the other components of strong design, because you will have worked on them in your drawings. 

I feel sorry for art students who have not been taught to draw. The vogue for years in European and American art schools was to completely discard academic disciplines in favour of ‘self expression’ and experimentation with photography, Photoshop and installations. Those paths could be so much richer and more expressive if their creators had been first taught to see more deeply.

I know that when I was faced with a blank canvas and oils on the ‘Fine Arts’ semester of my foundation course I just floundered. The only advice from my tutors was ‘just express how you’re feeling’. It was terrifying. I wanted to draw something first, but I didn’t know how to do it well enough. Besides, I was told, that wasn’t the way to creative freedom.

 I changed my mind then about which path I wanted to follow, and instead of applying for a full time fine arts degree course I opted for Illustration. I drew solidly for three years under the guidance of excellent tutors, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  

I have to admit that it took me a while to ‘loosen up’ afterwards, until I felt that I was able to express myself beyond the bounds of the discipline, but I am so glad that I took the route I did. I’m a pretty hopeless illustrator. I find it hard to do as I’m told, and draw someone else’s vision. I think I’m getting closer to drawing from the inside out though.....

Classes Update - After this Tuesday's class on the 2nd June at Le Meridien hotel, there will a two week break. We'll begin again on the 23rd, and then continue throughout the summer. I'm looking forward to the A/C!
Sessions at Villa Bologna will begin again on Friday 19th June and continue until it gets too hot. 
We may then move to evenings. 
We are also planning to have another Full Moon painting evening in early July. This is only open to my students and will be free, as I can't paint and teach :-)