Weekly Post of My Work

Welcome back for another installment of the Weekly Post of My Work. This may be unexpected given what I've shown thus far. At the risk of embarassment and banishment from the art establishment, I'm going to share my poor attempt at drawing. Please don't laugh... out loud at least!!!

Roughly a year ago I had a discussion with an MFA friend. She was excited about my painting and where my art was going. She said that I had admirable energy. She highly recommended though that since I've received very little formal training, I should learn how to draw. She said that the ability to draw, to see, is the most important skill for any artist. Although I always hated to draw I followed her advice and enrolled in a course. However, prior to the class I thought I should get my feet wet. Although I always lacked the patience to draw, I embarked on Three Days o' Drawing.

My first attempt (my first drawing since elementary school) was the following:

Pathetic, right? I almost gave up immediately. But I was serious about being a good artist so I continued. The rest of that day was spent making similar drawings. More and more bad drawings. I called it a night and vowed to try again the next day.

The next day I made the following two pieces:

I'm not sure how, but I made a great deal of progress in one day. They still aren't very good, but I started getting the hang of shading and form. I was making recognizable people and this motivated me. I gained a bit of confidence.

The following day, day three of Three Days o' Drawing, resulted in the following:

About a week later, I got a bit more creative and challenged myself to draw Matthew Barney in character:

I'd always respected the talents of those who can draw. This exploration in drawing was immensely challenging and cemented the respect I have for artists with the classic fundamentals. I think I did learn some things although I can't exactly put my finger on what. Soon after the Barney drawing I stopped making any drawings. It was satisfying to see something recognizable develop before my eyes, but after a couple of weeks I lost interest. I yearned to work with color and materials in a more free manner, so I went back to working with wood, handtools, spraypaint and sandpaper. Perhaps in the future I'll gravitate back to drawing. We'll see.

This process brought up a question for me that I'll pose to the readers. If a person lacks the ability to draw well, can he/she still be an artist? Must a person have classic training to be a good artist?

OK... you can stop laughing now!!!

Comments

[Lenny Campello]

When I first visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the thing that burned into my memory the most was all the unknown Van Gogh stuff that they had.... essentially dozens of pieces of Van Gogh teaching himself how to draw... painfully and slowly... they showed him copying other works, etc. in an effort to master the genre of drawing, so that he could then paint.

I think drawing is the basis of good visual arts.

My kudos on the courage that it takes to post your attempts to learn; you're in good company with Vincent so far...

[Lisa Bertnick]

I truly believe: Drawing is the most important skill for a visual artist of any discipline. I recently read a great book that you might want to pick up called "The Undressed Art, Why We Draw" by Peter Steinhart. He mainly addresses figurative art, and communicates a great deal of really valuable insights on the art/act of drawing.

I like this quote: "Drawing is a claim that keeps after us. I meet people who used to play the clarinet, used to tap dance, used to play tennis. I seldom meet people who used to draw."

[J.T. Kirkland]

I visited the van Gogh Museum roughly five years ago and I too remember Vincent's early, early work. I believe it's very interesting to see that delevopmental process and that's why I did this post. Every artist has made bad art. The question is, does anyone ever get to see it? I assert that today there is bad art in most, if not all, museums, galleries, blogs, etc. Sure, as an artist we could choose to only share the best of what we've done. But no one is naive enough to think that all of your work is at that level. I have no qualms sharing my attempts. I just assume (hope) that no one will judge me as an artist solely on my drawing.

Drawing, thus far, just doesn't excite me. I'm hoping that I can create good visual art even though I lack the foundation of drawing... It's a good thing there are many unwritten chapters in my book of art.

[J.T. Kirkland]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for writing!! I have no doubts that the quote you share is true. I think that drawing, once it takes a hold of you, sticks with you. And I have no doubts that drawing is an important foundation for art making. However, I'm still trying to work out within myself how drawing will help someone not at all interested in figuritive or representational art. I haven't seen a class on how to draw an abstract picture, or draw a color field piece, or a minimalist piece. For now at least, I'm enrolled in the School of Doing... I'm going to try to figure it out by making things. Maybe it'll come, maybe it won't!!

[Lisa Bertnick]

Hey! Just keep at it, really. You may not have an interest in represenational art, but I don't know how any artist can begin to abstract from objects if they are not versed in their construction. (the mossbacks would be cheering right now) An easy example: Stuart Davis' prelimnary drawings are fascinating. Check them out sometime.

When I am tired of drawing, I paint abstract. It keeps my arms moving and my mind working. It may feel similar to having your shoes on the wrong feet, but this type of lateral work will inform you in ways you may not immediately realize. So much is absorbed through these experiences. Sometimes I find that it takes months before something I picked up at a drawing session really sinks in.

You are better off doubting and questioning than to think you have arrived at a final answer about your art. Make art for yourself, everyone is a critic. Leigh Conner once told me to follow my instincts. This is the most sound advice anyone can give to an aspiring artist.

I like your first drawing the best. It reminds me of Dubuffet.

[J.T. Kirkland]

I knew I would get in trouble for using the word "abstract." You are right, to make an abstract piece you have to abstract from something. I should have said non-representational work... like most of the work I've shown so far.

It's funny to me that you like the first one best. I almost disowned my hand after I saw the final product!!

I think Leigh is right... so I'll continue to follow my instincts. I have some things up my sleeve that are pretty cool, so we'll see how it all plays out.

[Lisa Bertnick]

There's something profound about that space between abstraction and representation. A lot of play can happen. Good Luck!

[J.T. Kirkland]

Absolutely... but I want to play on the other side of the street... between abstraction and non-representation. I think there is a lot of unchartered land there.

I might even go across town to visit the neighborhood of conceptualism!!

[Amanda B.]

I told you I would visit your blog :) I can relate just a bit to your exploration in drawing. Unvoluntarily, I was involved in a 5 week fundamentals of drawing. I am not ashamed to admit my first drawing looked similar to yours, except without as much detail. I guess drawing stick figures and flowers most of my life I should not have expected much better. Although, I will say that over the five weeks I became amazed at how much more in tune I found myself with space and texture. Before I knew it I honestly drew recognizable objects! Although a short-lived attempt at drawing, because I find myself not having enough patience to pick it up again, I must agree with Lisa. The "techniques" achieved through drawing can only further develop a person's maturity in other areas of art.

I too vividly remember the Van Gogh Museum. It was as if you could see Van Gogh's experimentation with different art forms throughout his life. It begs to question though, who ever determined what pieces were labled "masterpieces?"

[Anna L. Conti]

To your question, "Must a person have classic training to be a good artist?" I would say, it depends on your definition of "a good artist." My answer would be that drawing forces you to spend quality time in direct observation, which helps you to see better, and see differently. If you're a visual artist of any kind, that would seem like a worthwhile goal.

Audrey Flack wrote in "Art and Soul": "When I'm working from a photograph, a transparency, or direct observation, I am always amazed at how much more I see as the painting progresses. After I think I have completely perceived a particular area, something else reveals itself. As the work continues, the level of awareness deepens. The process takes its own time. I have come to accept that time and not fight it. I know that when I begin my work, no matter how hard I try, I'll never observe as much on the first day as I will on the last. Like life, the development will not be rushed, nor will there be full realization before completion."