Drawing Conclusions.....

23/10/2014

I wonder, can you help me?

People quite often tell me how much they enjoy my posts, so I know that they are being read, even though I rarely get any online comments. I wonder why that is? Don’t you have any questions? I will try my best to answer if you do.

Are there any aspects of drawing that you would like me to tackle? Or go into more deeply?

My New Year’s Resolution for 2014 was to post a blog every week, and I have managed it, more or less. It’s been fun and very interesting, as it made me think about how to explain in words a lot of the things I demonstrate in classes. I have had to distil my rambling notes into – I hope – readable snippets that are both interesting and useful.

I have also opened my old sketch books for the first time in years, looking for drawn images to illustrate the blogs with. I have so many of them, dating back to my college days in the early 70’s and they have brought back many memories.

How about this one – I drew this from my hospital bed when I was about 21, after having a pretty serious op to remove my infected tonsils.

I have come to the conclusion that I have always been obsessed with drawing.

gosh, I was thinner then....

...... and interested by Escher's idea of drawing the drawing, drawing itself.

I would love to infect a few people with that obsession too.... there is nothing to compare with the feeling of losing all connection to time and ‘real’ life and being totally absorbed in the lines that magically appear. It is, I realise now, akin to meditation as it generates healthy alpha waves. Worries switch off and all that matters is the careful study of something outside yourself that you can translate into a different manifestation. The act of creation is thrilling, even if the results aren’t always perfect. If it was easy to draw perfectly every time then there would be no challenge, no reason to practice and try until you make drawings you can be proud of.

draw yourself drawing your feet

A distant ex's very untidy college digs!

What to draw? Draw anything and everything. Complicated things are somehow easier than seemingly simple ones, as there are more ‘hooks’ to get you hooked. And yes, that’s it, drawing is addictive. I’m definitely hooked, and I’m a pusher too.

16 Comments

Susan Waitt

23/10/2014 10:49:46 am

I have always preferred drawing over painting, say, mostly because I used to become very confused at the riot of colour in almost any natural scene. There was always something raw and essential about the "line" for me! Thankyou for your instructives thoughts on drawing in general, Jeni. They are always most helpful!! Best, Susan

Jeni

24/10/2014 09:54:05 am

Thank you Susan!
I like your description of being confused by the riot of colour in Nature. She certainly does like to put on a show for us! To me, drawing a scene helps me to sort it out visually. I feel that I understand things better when I have focused on them intently for a while.Painting can then be just pure fun - and a riot of colour too!

Bruce Bingham link

23/10/2014 10:58:43 am

I always love seeing you pop into my inbox. I know Carol has been following along as well and always asks about you when I see her. You are so wonderful at getting people going with their creativity maybe you could share some of the assignments here and we could do a draw along with Jeni! I'd love that!

Jeni

24/10/2014 10:00:44 am

Hi Bruce!
I am so glad that you and Carol are following :-)
A 'paint-a-long' sounds interesting! How would that work though? Must put my thinking cap on and see what I come up with..... maybe I could pick a subject - say a cup - and we could all make drawings of one using different methods..... hmmm.
Thank you! I am thinking!!!

Tamara

23/10/2014 11:56:48 am

Hi Jeni! We spoke during last week's exhibition at the Carmelite Priory :) I think people are generally reluctant to answer posts sometimes (whatever the nature of the blog) because, maybe, deep down are afraid that their opinions are going to be dismissed. (I for one have that problem)

I have a question to ask you. Sadly I lack the discipline to keep a journal and faithfully draw/paint in it religiously. My problem is that I rarely find things which are of inspiration to me. When I'm abroad it is a different story, but again I lack the discipline to just go with the flow and do it.

How to get that self-discipline? I really need a good dose of that!

Jeni

24/10/2014 10:12:15 am

Hi Tamara
Of course I remember chatting to you!
That's a really interesting question - how to get disciplined in drawing. It is difficult sometimes, as there are so many others things that want our attention. There's something called the '5 minute miracle' though - you tell yourself every day that you only have 5 minutes to spare for drawing, and so that's what you set out to do. 5 minutes every day. Even if you are watching tv you can draw your other hand for 5 minutes. Draw the closest thing to you. Or the furthest thing that you can see. The smallest thing, or the biggest thing.
As you can see from the pics in the blog, you can draw your feet, or draw yourself drawing yourself..... It became an ingrained habit for me at college, where we had to show our tutors how much we had drawn in our sketchbooks every week.
It's a good reason to join a class or find a drawing buddy, as then you have someone else to encourage you and give you new ideas. Creativity grows more creativity!
Sharpen your pencils and find 5 minutes !!

Tamara

29/10/2014 01:53:06 pm

That is some GREAT advice! I love the 5 minute sketching idea! I'm definitely going to try it.

I have no more excuses now :P

David Blowers

23/10/2014 04:50:31 pm

Always enjoy reading your blogs and I thank you for helping to release my artistic talents... many years ago! I'm currently doing a bit of urban sketching and life drawing. One of the many things I have not yet mastered ( ;-) ) is drawing in the negative i.e. using black paper. I've had some success with pastels, but nothing else.

Jeni

24/10/2014 10:21:52 am

Hi David
How lovely to hear from you! Drawing in the negative is really interesting - I'll see what I can do about a post on that. Most of the old Masters worked on coloured paper to make their studies so that they could put in the shading as well as the highlights. Black paper and pastels are a great way to make dramatic drawings.
I'm glad that you are tackling life studies too - that's one of my favourite subjects. When I was at college I was often in trouble for sneaking out of the boring third year lectures (where they were trying to turn us into marketable illustrators) (maybe I should have listened) and sitting in with the first years' life classes.
Hmmm - but now I'm off to look for examples of negative drawing in my studio cupboards :-)

Andrew Redman link

23/10/2014 07:57:10 pm

What time is it? Oh no! Jeni, I read your blog as usual many hours ago.
I always find them interesting and 'healthy', unpretentious and practical
which always goes down a storm with me. I've been racing around all day, fell into bed about 12.30 and woke up 10 minutes ago remembering I'd promised to reply.

To the readers:
This is about as good as it gets though folks because I have to get up again in a few hours to meet Jeni at Villa Bologna where she has been
teaching my wife Sallie to draw and reminding me of all the stuff I once knew and have forgotten! Contact her to join us. It's always time well spent!

Jeni

24/10/2014 10:24:44 am

Ha ha - Andy!! So that's why you looked tired this morning! Your tree studies were beautiful though.
Drawing at the Villa is always a delight, isn't it?
...... and now I have to get ready to meet you and Sallie later!
The Fun never ends :-)))

Andrew Borg link

24/10/2014 01:30:33 am

I admire your determination, Jeni! True sometimes feedback is not very apparent on the net, but am pretty sure that posts are followed (at least I do follow some of them!). I'm also jealous :) You have much more than the one comment entry I have on my site :) I do track activity on both my website and the mailshots I send and I can confirm that people do interest themselves, albeit few actually interact! I only have one 'unsubscribe' out of hundreds, so that probably shows that people do wish to remain updated.

As for drawing, I think your drawings are super! Like you, I am a strong believer that drawing is an essential skill, but it's also a standalone skill. Drawing can be so expressive! They're also the basis of a good painting. I find that some drawings I see have a very limited tonal range; drawing, even with pencil, can enjoy tremendously from a wide tonal range.

Well done, Jeni!

Jeni

24/10/2014 10:39:15 am

Hi Andrew
It can be very strange sometimes, sending out yet another blog and not knowing if anyone ever reads them. I don't track or analyse or anything organised like that :-) But these comments have really bucked me up - they ARE read !!
I agree that the basis of all good work , even abstract , depends on having strong foundations, which are best learnt through drawing. I also agree that some drawings, and also many paintings, suffer from a lack of tonal variety. It's a common tendency to not make pictures either light enough or dark enough, so that the range is really limited. It's relatively easy to study this with drawing, as colour brings its own tonal challenges.
There's another subject for a blog - tone!!
Thank you!

William Gatt

24/10/2014 01:03:20 pm

Hi Jeni,

I truly enjoy reading your blogs, they are a breath of fresh air full of positive vibes ...so keep them flowing, and you give great tips and I feel encouraged to get splashing!
William

Jeni

25/10/2014 06:00:00 am

Thanks William - I am glad that you are keeping up the splashing! I think watercolour is such a happy medium - it's so unpredictable that it's best if you try not to control it too much and just let it do its thing! Splashing is JUST the right way to approach it!

Jeni

29/10/2014 02:09:17 pm

Tamara - I'm so glad that you found that helpful! Just DO it!!!! X

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