Gestures and Notans

I think I've discovered something. Go look at the side bar at right under the topic Notan ... after it is opened, scroll down to the "Notan" examples... open up and look at these.

Now look at my are gesture drawings focusing on my quickest drawings. Both of these methods are principally designed to do similar things ... namely create dynamic figures and powerful interesting compositions in paintings bringing out the central focal point and the composition's power to speak.

The gesture is designed to create a dynamic figure from the beginning as a primitive drawing that has accurate Proportion, Balance, and Movement even in the crudest sketches .... with as little as possible drawn.

On the other hand the Notan exercise is designed to find that same dynamic force in the composition ... in a landscape, portrait, or figurative genre setting .... starting with a set primitive set of black and white drawings drastically simplified. And in so doing the cards revealing another kind of dynamic power in the composition ... telling the same story in so many different ways and so many possibilities. Movement, balance, proportion is also found there. Both are designed to bring dynamic powerful paintings and figures forth. This is how it is done.

I'm beginning to understand how important this is.

This is art otherwise we are nothing more can a zerox machine.

Playing with pastels...

First one is overworked and am thinking I'm going to abandon it . . . but it is a beginning in pastels. I really don't know what I'm doing with pastels. My first attempts in full color.

This second one is a work in progress...flesh tones will be much better...use of more grays is helping immensely and this one is "working up" better ... let's see if I can kill it...ha ha. I need a good instructor but can't find one.

A new class...a new goal!

Tonight I start a another class in figure drawing. The class is basically the same thing I've been doing for about two or three years and is my way of studying with Glen Thomas. By taking the same figure drawing classes consecutively I finally am nearing accomplishing my goals. Eventually, I plan to turn from charcoal to oil painting but I have no illusions, I'm not quite ready to do that for a good reason. I'm still not making art; I want complete control.

Although my drawings have steadily improved over these classes and the accuracy of the proportions, the balance and the motion in my gestures are correct 85 percent of the time, I'm still far from creating art.

I've accomplished a lot. In addition to these skills, my drawing overall is quite fast now. Like practicing scales on a piano, this rote discipline of drawing gestures in 60-30 seconds is creating speed. As a result, I am seeing the whole figure and large shapes and like a puzzle that fits perfectly, I learning to put it all together but do it swiftly without sacrificing the quality of line or accuracy. There is no other way than rote practice for some things.

In this fall class, other than practice, it is art that I will be after. In contour drawing, varying the pressure of my hand and releasing the line is a skill I've become proficient in resulting in a line that is quite beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. Glen has commented on and appreciated that progress.

Another goal I have is learning to do wash drawings in watercolor washes, a thing Glen is a master performing with nearly a 98% perfection on every figure.

On my own, I will be studying fabrics and folds, lighting and textures in view of beginning to clothe the figure.

I am making great progress. I'll post some recent photos soon.

Fail...

Well...just worked for several hours and failed miserably....ugly awful artwork .... you'll be happy it's destroyed! Maybe I'll do better tomorrow. Think maybe I'm sad today......just so you know what I'm capable of. Ugh.

Working art into busy schedule. . .

Photos taken with and without flash of same art; much difference from the original which is somewhere between warm and cool light. I'm experimenting in pastels flesh tones. Interesting....I'm trying to figure out what colors and methods work that gives me luminous living flesh. I'm also continuing working with wash drawings and attempting to gain control of the water and edges in that medium.

Oh to have nothing to do but just art!!!!! How delicious that would be.

Something Truly Great Happened...

Frankly, I can't even believe it. I EXPERIENCED something at class last night that I can not even explain. We were doing an exercise where a piece of paper is put over our drawing/hand so that we draw blind. As I was drawing something happened in my brain...I FELT where to draw. OH MY!!!!

Watercolor study #1

This is a study . . . to learn to control watercolor. In this case, the secret is controlling the water first, the color and then edges.

Charcoal Drawing Commission

This is a commission I just delivered to my client today. She was very happy with it...and that pleases me.

Returning to Art . . .

Here are some recent sketches.

I'm working on giving weight to the figure, balance, proportion, and movement.



Last figure drawing class, I had a really good night and there wasn't any good reason for that because I hadn't drawn in over a week. I was just on. I truly think I was given a bit of grace and favor to encourage me a bit...I wasn't expecting to do any good at all.

Heartache . . .

The depth of my soul is full of anguish and my body physically hurts. Heartache is physical pain . . . I had not known that and this is a new scary experience. I am dry, yet I am full of inner weeping. All desire to create art has vanished along with all ambition and motivation. Will it ever return? Will I ever feel normal?

As I worship alone today at Crossings, grasping my mother's worn Bible in my arms to my breast not knowing where it had opened . . . (I usually turn to the Psalms for comfort and guidance during praise time) . . . I am feeling overwhelmed with God's presence. I pull my arms down and my eyes fall upon the page to a one single verse "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." God promises are faithful and true. Thank you Lord. Amen

Absent from the Body...

Obituary:
http://www.news-star.com/obituaries/x1777821685/Edith-Juanita-Carruth

Edith Carruth, my mom, entered into the presence of her Lord and her Savior this afternoon at about 4:15. In death, she finished her race the same way that she lived her life: with great courage and steady faithfulness. She told me just Tuesday ... "I can hardly wait to see the Lord. I am ready ... I'm okay with this ... the Lord is in control (meaning ... in control of my living and my dying)."

This is the full assurance of faith that the scriptures speaks of that Christians gain when they have a relationship with the living God.

We her family rejoice in this day for we agree with David when he stated ..."Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints. O LORD, truly I [am] thy servant; (David proclaimed) I [am] thy servant ... thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. " (Psalms 116:15, 16).

As I am rejoicing and celebrating mother's life, of course I bear a great personal loss and sorrow of separation. The grief I feel is very different ... a deep loss ... yet knowing confidently ... that we cannot grieve as others grieve who have no hope. We shall be reunited one day soon. Therefore, my great loss is her greater gain and that comforts me now.

Mom became ill Saturday morning and was rushed to Presbyterian OU Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital in OKC. After scans and tests, lymphoma was found and the tumors were restricting the flow of brain fluid causing her symptoms. We were encouraged that they were treatable even at her age without much discomfort. So I held out a bit of hope for recovery, yet looking back, I think mom knew and didn't want to dash the bit of hope I hung on to. She was improving until Tuesday afternoon when she suddenly had a turn for the worse and was taken to ICU. A few hours later she suffered a brain hemorrhage which is a bleeding stroke leaving her left side paralyzed. She never regained consciousness. On the third day...today, she peacefully slipped into the arms of her savior. It was apparent to me, she was at peace even to the end.

Mom has had a love affair with her Lord and Savior since her twenties ... and she has borne great tragedy and grief just as she has experienced the ecstatic joy of a relationship with the living Lord ... Her love affair with the Word of God has also saturated her life and teaching. She is an anointed teacher and I have stood in amazement all of my life at the depth of her understanding as has other learned theologians.

Mom has continuously taught the Bible since she was in her twenties. She gave her heart to the Lord and a few months later, her son was struck and killed while crossing a highway that ran in front of their home. How could the Lord allow such a tragedy but it was that experience that drove this young woman into the Bible ... to find answers no preacher could give and so, a passion for the word of God began and grew and God healed her broken heart. Since that time she has devoted her life to the study of scripture and taught Bible classes.

At 91 years of age, she was teaching two adult classes right up to last week before falling ill. Teaching one class a week is one thing but she taught two different lessons weekly .... studying intensely for hours and hours each week. I've seen her study all day many times. My favorite story she tells on me was when I was a toddler. So accustomed to seeing my mother study, every time she would take a break from chores, I would go and get her bible and put it on her lap. I loved that I did that but it says how hard she studied.

She taught Bible ... always teaching verse by verse ... New Testament passage compared to Old Testament passages ... always harmonizing the Word. She taught in such away that the scriptures interpreted themselves and made perfect sense. She knew how to "rightly divide the truth."

That is a super natural calling and a devotion ... a motivation only the Lord can give ... a genuine call to ministry. She never tired of, or burned out of her ministry. She never asked anyone for anything monetarily for her ministry was truly non-profit in that sense. Yet, God richly blessed beyond measure overflowing exceedingly. Mom provided the refreshments for her class at her expense (a few volunteered occasionally); and notes were freely given. She was happy to do it. All she ever asked is that her students bring a pencil, note paper, and a Bible.

I have never sat under such teaching from any one else ... ever ... not even from learned preachers with doctorates. She was truly anointed and a chosen teacher of the Word of God ... and I feel humbled to have been her child. In our home town, I am happy to be known as Edith's daughter.

"Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. ... She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, And doesn't eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: Many women do noble things, But you excel them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!" --- Proverbs 31

How sorely I will miss your guidance, Mother. How I will lack understanding because I cannot longer hear your prayers. Whose hugs will give such comfort as yours gave? Yet your love continues to abide in me as a blanket upon my shoulders .... and "I rise up and call you blessed" today for all the days of my life you have walked consistently with God. How I yearn to again join you in worship and praise.

Already, I'm receiving calls and cards from people who have been touched significantly by your ministry. (I thought I knew everything.) It is your the young women who tends your beautiful rose garden and who clears the snow from your driveway .... who tells me how much you have helped her and how your wise guidance brought meaningful changes in her life. I see the tears streaming down her face and the love in your eyes for my mother and I am stunned.

If Mom were here reading over my shoulder, she would say .... "no no no, Patti, don't write that" ....and quickly draw attention away from her and insist ... "whatever crown that the Lord may give me, I give it back to Him for it is he who has done it through me. I was only a willing vessel." How many times she said, "don't make my funeral about me." Yet, Mom it is about you and what the Lord has done through you.

Thank you Mother for teaching me to love God's word and to apply it to my life. For opening the mysteries of God's Word to my understanding. For opening my eyes and ears that I might see and hear the truth which is the way that leads to life everlasting. Thank you for living before me a standard that I could never meet. Thank you for your consistency and steady walk.

Good bye my sweet Mother for now ... I will be there with you soon.

Composition Notan Woman at the well

2-13-11 UPDATE:
It would be so interesting and helpful if those who view this blog pick the composition that you feel is the best and strongest. I have numbered the cards (click to see number) and invite your selection and comment if you wish. I'm in the process of deciding for myself and will post the steps that follow to the final painting.

Here are some of my Notan index cards. I finally get it . . . and wonder why this was made more difficult to understand than it is. That said, what I've learned is never to take the first idea for a composition that pops into one's head. I found so many more ways to say what I want to say. The exercise exploded my imagination and I soon began placing myself mentally into my imagination. This is definitely an exercise routine that will be used in designing ... yes DESIGNING ... any future paintings.

Samaritan Woman At the Well - John 4:4

Stars on my figuritive gestures!

A 20 minutes drawing on newsprint with vine charcoal.

I received a star on my drawing last night from my instructor. He doesn't give them out often.

This drawing is moving toward artistic express. I was given a star for the artistic line and achieving what he has been drilling for the last five gesture classes.

I am truly at a turning point now. This is what I have been working for; not that I think for a minute I have "arrived" rather this is a break through. From this point forward Glen will be emphasizing artist expression and aesthetic beauty of the figure...and likenesses.

I'm more energized than ever. How fortunate I am.



The following drawings are 45 second gestures. My instructor says "you must learn to achieve the figure in less than a minute. It should be in proportion, the figure balanced, and it should have movement showing exactly what the figure is doing."

I got stars on these drawings.


The second figure especially. This is not about a finished drawing ... it is getting the structure solid. As you see, you have to draw quickly.





These are all good.


Here I use simple pink sidewalk chalk and have 15 seconds to first gesture the figure using the flat side of the chalk. Then I drew the figure in the remaining 45 seconds with as few lines as possible the figure ... achieving the same three criteria as stated above.

These are a total of one minute drawings. See how they read as a complete figure allowing your mind to fill in.





My instructor, Glen Thomas, says this to his student artists, "If you do not gesture first you run the risk of having to keep correcting your figure because the gesture assures that your figure will be convincing in the end because it will be balanced, in proportion, and dynamic ... that it will show exactly what the figure is doing regardless of whether the figure is still or in motion. Even a motionless figure has weight."

He is right. Now begins working on likenesses, aesthetics, and not in just getting the features correct and recognizable but in showing the real person and intent of the figure.

Long Time Ago...

My college roommate and fellow art student at Baylor sent me a picture of myself when I was about 23 years old. That day I was pulling etchings, lithos, linos, and woodcut prints in the printmaking shop at the art department.

How I wish I had had the faith at that young age to choose fine art as a career path .... instead of graphic arts...how different my life would have been.

I'm finally following my heart. I should pursue printmaking...I loved it.

August 2010 - Drawings

This series of drawings are 5 minute sketches. I'm pretty happy to get the whole figure and it be in proportion but better yet the right gesture that is in balance.

Progress....at last. These are loose and quick and I really think they are some of the most expressive work I have done in a while.

These in color are 20 minute conté compressed charcoal sketches.

Sculpture come to life.

This is a bas relief about 10 x 13 inches, stoneware, with one firing that is almost finished. I need to put on a final finish on but I'm pretty pleased with this one in the over-all feel.

Two more bas reliefs are in progress besides this one although I had a bit of a disaster with one when it was accidentally pushed off the shelf by another artist while in storage. Unfortunately the plastic bag came open that was keeping it moist allowing it to dry out. Unfortunately it buckled and did not dry flat. Last night, I re-hydrated it but cracks appeared.

Today, the cracks will be repaired and hopefully the work finished...keeping my fingers crossed. This is a nice series and I have learned a great deal working from 2 dimension into 3 dimension. This is very much like drawing since the gesture is drawn at first.

Other sculptures are nearing completion also. This is still a work in progress...nearing completion...

This work is from a one day portrait workshop created from a live model. I'm planning on a session with Glen, my instructor at his private sculpture studio on Sunday. I need to hollow the head out before firing.

I doubt if anyone would be interested in buying this piece but it will be a good example of my portrait work.

I've been invited to join the Sculpture Society of Oklahoma. I think I will.

Winter Sculpture Session

The sculpture below is my first representational female torso. In the past at college, I sculpted abstract forms but never realism. The figure was taken from a living model...a wonderful and experienced model. This class was a real learning experience and I can see that it is helping my life drawing greatly.

This piece is unfired clay at this point. I'll post the finished piece soon.

I wanted a more dynamic pose but did not have control of it since this was a class project. Often I take people literally and so when my instructor focused on accuracy, I feared to exaggerate....but then my instructor wants me to to exaggerate on the next piece. I feel a little bound up.



Gesture, gestures, gestures ... the key to life drawing.

Meet Mike

Slideshow http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii3/padurrett/?action=view&current=7782b4dc.pbw

Meet Oklahoman, Mike Wimmer...what a talented and successful artist!
It was a productive and informative two day portrait workshop. For the first time in a workshop, I actually got my painting blocked in with the underpainting. Using a very limited palette, the ground work was laid.



The second day, I worked mainly on the face and had there been more time, I would have built up the values in layers. I was a little disappointed that Mike did not get to my easel to instruct me personally. It could be that the class was just to large to do that but it did seem that he spent most of his time on the other side of the room.

Anyhow, he is a charming man with a very pleasing way and great broad smile that is infectious. His ideas are clever and I can tell he is very intelligent.

The only thing is that I worry that he is using Liquin which the artists I know have had problems with. It peels sometimes and in lots of discussion on the Cennini Forum about plastics and how they break down with age, I fear Mike will one day have a whole lot of ruined paintings. That would be tragic.

Another thing I could not agree with him on is his fear of turpentine. Yet, mineral spirits has just as much toxicity. Expensive triple distilled turpentine is VERY expensive and does not have as strong an odor as hardware store cheap turpentine and every studio should have adequate ventilation ... period. Mike didn't seem to have a problem with fixative spray and that is far more dangerous to the lungs than turpentine's fumes. Everyone knows that turpentine is used drop by drop as an additive to oil paint that causes a chemical reaction whereby the paint will dry from the inside out not the other way round and thereby lessening the possibility of a skin to form. Turpentine is NOT used to clean brushes; mineral spirits is for that.

As Rob Howard, moderator on the Cennini Forum says, some artists have drunk the cool-aid on this matter from the environmental wackos and this fear is not based in reason.

In the studio an artist must....

• develop good, safe habits working in a well ventilated studio

• NEVER ever put brush handles in their mouths ... whether using turpentine or mineral spirits and especially when painting with cadmium paint colors
  

• always properly washes their hands before leaving the studio...always

• NEVER eat anything at the easel

• NEVER allow children in the studio
  

• always uses PAINTER'S SAFETY SOAP in the final hand wash which is designed to react to the toxic chemicals and release them from the pores of skin.

Painter's Safety Soap® along with the greatest brush cleaner ever made ... Ugly Dog® Brush Soap may be purchased at Studio Products, a professional boutique paint manufacturer. www.studioproducts.com. Ugly Dog...I would never be without it!

ALSO, I learned that to put a protective finish on a painting, you must use a special fine quality varnish and on top of that a thin coat of wax that may be polished to a absolutely gorgeous sheen which is museum quality. The wax may be removed as the painting ages and gets dirty ... back to the varnish and then a new coat of wax applied. THAT is how you do it.

Anyhow, this only shows how valuable my training was at the Cennini Boot camps, especially the Technical Boot Camp.

The other issue is just a preference. I was taught to paint the eyes last while Mike paints them first...just a preference and not as critical. I don't know whether it was just time for me to go to another plateau of learning or if it was Mike's simple presentation and method but I've improved and felt like I knew exactly what I was doing. It was just a great workshop and I am so proud that a native son has done so well as an artist.

One other thing. Mike is a Christian and it is evident in his the portraits of his children. He placed them in heroic fairy tales and Bible stories ... painting them throughout their childhood. How clever.

Mike Wimmer Portrait Workshop

The Portrait Workshop is coming up thank the Lord!!! I am praying that I will get something out of this two day event at the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum. I'm still planning a portrait of my daughter in her wedding gown a challenge to my skill and creativity. Subject matter so trite, how can it be fresh and interesting and say something about the bride?

www.mikewimmer.com

I will blog about this and my continuing Life Drawing Class with Glen Thomas at City Arts studios.

Since September when my daughter got engaged and with the demanding Christmas and New Years activities, I've been unable to sketch or paint except for some Tuesday nights at the City Arts Life Drawing sessions.

It seems impossible.

I just can't get into anything serious with all of these distractions. Sometimes I think if earning a living as an artist would demand studio time and be beneficiary stress. Now I am in tax season and it falls on me to do all of the grunt work in Quicken and Excel files.

Sometimes I feel like running away to some far away place to work. Will I ever become productive and what is holding me back? Maybe it is the inferiority complex I have about my work. I'm pretty ordinary and "ordinary" has never inspired nor motivated me.

October Gesture & Slow Contours Drawings

One minutes gestures....


Contours, negative space within frame...


Slow, blind, contour drawing 20 minutes....drawing contours very slow without looking at paper.