Archive for Drawing
2 Words: Work Bigger
Posted by: | CommentsToday I thought I’d share some images from a series of charcoal drawings I’m working on–mostly because I’m enjoying myself so much making them. They make me want to run through the snowy streets imploring the world to work bigger. So I have 2 words for you my bloggy friend: Work Bigger! It’s very liberating.
All these drawings are works in progress. At least, I think they are. I’ll keep looking at them and decide over time. It feels good to make them and all kinds of thoughts/feelings/images/experiences are coalescing as I work on them–but more on that at a later date.
What’s nice about working on something that feels right is that it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks of it. These drawings are a path I’m on for a while, and I figure I’ll just keep making them until I’m done and see what I’ve got at the end.
In the meantime, here they are. They all measure approximately 3 1/2′ tall x 4 1/2′ wide–except, of course, the square one which is as wide as it is tall. 
(Click on any image to view it bigger. And thanks for looking.)
New Site! New Workshop! New-New-New!
The other thing I’m doing is scrambling around like a mad woman trying to get a new site up and running–a site just for my studio–kind of the local outpost of Make Great Stuff where I’ll be teaching classes and workshops as well as making my own artwork. I’m an excited/nervous duckling.
I had fantasized that I’d be sharing this new site with you here today, but it’s all been more work than I anticipated–nothing unusual there. My brain never ceases to be unrealistic about how much work I can get done.
(I come from a family where work is a highly prized activity–you can pretty much get out of anything, even a funeral, if you say you “have to work”. Not that I do that, try to get out of funerals, but I’m just sayin’. So I’ve inherited a great work ethic, but mostly, it’s kind of a drag. Except for my bosses. Every boss I’ve ever had loved me for it. So, now that I’m my own boss, I’ve kind of a got a conflict of interest thing going. I’m working on it.)
Anyway, in addition to the new site, I had my first workshop in my studio last Friday night. It’s called The Creative Breakthroughs Technique Workshop and it was a big success if I do say so, and I’m dying to share all the details with you about that as well.
Alas, that’s a big part of the new site, so I’m still not done dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s on that either. But I’m hoping to do a big “taaa-daaa” thing here on the blog about all of it on Monday or Tuesday next week. I’ve even got a little video going. Please stay tuned.
So picture me writing and uploading and editing and adapting and pay-paling my weekend away. And taking breaks to work on my big drawings.
(Did I say I’m trying to do a drawing a week? Next week I’m hoping to dedicate a whole blog post to the ease-of-being-creative-when-you’ve-got-a-work-in-progress-going strategy. Kind of a P.S./ Part II to my Magic Spell post the other day.
What are you doing this weekend? Are you snowed in like we are here in NY/NJ? Would you like to share links to some artwork you’re working on? Please leave a comment and share what you’re doing, whatever it is, I’d love to hear from you!
Automatic Drawing–What IS it?
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I realize that in my last post, Expressive Drawing, I forgot to explain what “automatic drawing” is.
Maybe it’s obvious, but in case it isn’t, here’s a bit more information and how to do it and why it’s a great way to let loose and free your creativity.
Liberation
The Surrealists embraced automatic drawing as way to incorporate randomness and the subconscious into their drawings, and to free themselves from artistic conventions and everyday thinking.
This technique, they felt, was a way in to access meaning and information unavailable through tradition and the conscious mind.
Surrealist wackiness aside, it also lets you sink into the quality and experience of making marks and developing the relationships between them which in turn lifts you out of your logical brain’s desire to make something that’s “good” or “accurate.”
It lets you tap more easily into your intuition, emotions, and the physical experience of drawing and painting.
So if you judge your own drawing ability, this technique can be very liberating because it’s so physical, there’s no wrong way to do it, and it improves your drawing skills in the process.
Most importantly, it gets you out of your head. Read More→
If you liked that post, then try these...
Expressive Drawing
Posted by: | CommentsMy Latest Book Crush
If you’ve got heavy feelings about your drawing skills, yearn to draw more (or more freely) or if you already draw well but feel like you’re in a rut, this book is a wonderful workbook and companion for freeing up your drawing–and maybe your soul a little bit while you’re at it.
Expressive Drawing: A Practical Guide to Freeing the Artist Within
Why I Love This Book
Steven Aimone provides fun, do-able exercises that are grounded in clear, helpful explanations about technique and the history of fine art.
All the explanations are also accompanied by images of works by renowned artists as well as his workshop students that support and reinforce each chapter’s focus. These art history lessons are refreshingly straightforward and a wonderful framework for the drawing exercises.
And even though his writing is clear, accessible and inclusive, he assumes his audience is deeply interested in fine art and making drawings in that context rather than treating non-objective/expressive drawing as mainly a therapeutic outlet for expressing your feelings (although he still acknowledges and embraces that additional benefit as a wonderful part of the process).
And besides all that–the exercises are FUN, FUN, FUN! Read More→
My name is Sarah Bush and this is my blog dedicated to helping busy artistic people like you weave creativity back into your life again.
