Many years ago I took a painting class where most students
traced their photographs from a projector onto their watercolor paper. Everyone
told me that they were more interested in getting to the color, instead of struggling
with the drawing.
Of course, as a drawing teacher, I believe everything starts
with pencil and paper. I call it visual thinking: when an artist sketches out
her ideas on paper for a project. Take Michelangelo for instance. He sketched
100 to 150 drawings before he ever struck stone. He knew his subject and was
known for his swift carving. A skill you can accomplish when you’ve planned
things out in advance.
 |
| Projectors are being used by some instead of drawing |
But now with digital cameras and projectors at our disposal,
folks don’t feel like they have to know how to draw. One instructor announced
some time ago that 90 percent of artists trace, while the other 10 percent just
won’t admit it. I don’t believe that to be true, but we students chuckled
anyway.
Unfortunately, cameras cause distortions, especially when it
comes to perspective. They also have things that disappear into the night
(blurred backgrounds or foregrounds, unidentifiable shadows). I can often
identify a traced painting versus one whose conception came from a free-hand
drawing because usually the subject is too photo-realistic, too perfect, dare I say, a bit
lifeless.
Fundamentally, tracing instead of drawing is simply
imitating instead of interpreting your subject. What I mean is that you are
limited by what the camera sees and imitating that viewpoint. The lines traced,
come from the camera, an imitation of its mechanical ability. Conversely, lines
freely drawn by you are your interpretation of what you are seeing, part of
your soul, the inner you.
This is not say, I don’t believe in using photographs as
reference tools. Heck, I use them all the time in my classes! I rely on photos
a lot. There is no way I can draw tropical plants while living in the Northwest,
unless I take a trip to Hawaii. So I must rely on photographs to help me know,
for instance, what a Cordia flowering plant looks like. But I use the photographs for reference
only—to gain visual knowledge. Moreover, I usually study many photos of the
same subject (from sites that allow me to do so).
For example, I once had a watercolor commission to paint red
poppies. Of course since I don’t grow them in my backyard, I had to go to the
Internet and find some reference photos. I ended up drawing 30 or more poppies
in all sorts of positions before I created my composition and subsequent
painting. I got to know poppies so well that I can draw one on the spot to this
day.
And yes, it is a struggle to draw first. I know how
intimidating it can be, how scary that blank sheet can be (the same fear
applies to writers as well). But once you get your sketches down on paper, you
can break away from your tracing dependency and become the master of your work.
You become the interpreter instead of the imitator. You and your painting are
one.
Next month: How to use a photo as a reference tool.
New Six-Week Classes Session Starting at Glastonbury Studios
New Six-Week Classes Session Starting at Glastonbury Studios
Week of October 23th through Week of November 27th
Pre-registration required. Seating is limited.
(All students must
pre-register for classes. Please email me at jjgoodell@gmail.com to get your
form and instructions for the following classes.)
Tuesday evenings (7-9) Drawing:
Pen, Ink and Watercolor
Wednesday mornings (10:00 to 12:30) Sketching (Miscellaneous)
Thursday evenings (7-9) Fun with Acrylics (beginning to
intermediate)
No class on Thanksgiving
Mediterranean Cruise News
Information Meeting
at Glastonbury Studios
Sunday, October 9th
Workshop payment due October 9th
Mediterranean Cruise: Looks like we only need a couple more people for the cruise, planned for May 22-28, 2012. For more information go to
the trip blog.
