Thoughts on Patience
These were all done really quickly and probably took longer to scan and save than to draw! I'm beginning to doubt my ability to concentrate for long periods of time. I really admire artists who spend a long time on their artwork, refining it and therefore ending up with an equisite piece of work. I'd like to do that but after many years of having small children around, I'm still in the habit of rushing to finish all the time. I need to retrain myself to have more patience and to accept that it's possible for a piece to take longer to make.How do you like to work?
Comments
Lovely drawings - I don't think it matters if the drawings are done quickly, it's the essential quality of them which counts. All your work is exqisite, and I really laughed at IF 'Contained' - great take on the theme!
It's interesting to see how other people work, isn't it? I have a very set way of working; rough out the idea / concept in sketchbook. Once happy, trace it off on to good quality tracing paper, refining any parts - this bit has to be really exact with very precise lines. Then, put tracing on to lightbox and trace off on to superdooper paper using a 0.5 process blue lead. (You can see I am a grapho of the old school!) Then, off to my desk to colour it in with Karisma coloured pencils - but as I'm running out of them, whatever I have left! Had to resort to Derwent watercolour and Studio pencils, yuk!
After all that, tidy up pencil dust etc to an obsessive, degree and finish with pencil shading - usually 2b, sharpened within an inch of it's life!
Phew! It's exhausting just writing it! Think I'll get a cup of tea now!
x
that's why i have to work really hard at stopping to 'smell the roses'.
I love these and know it would take me a lot longer to come up with something like this. I completely understand how you have had to teach yourself to work fast over the years with small ones about. I couldn't even draw when they were little...spent time sewing and doing needle work I could leave in mid-stitch.
Now that my youngest is 19, I have to say I spend a lot of time when I finally get to the studio. I make my mark each day, but even that pulls me in and time slips away. It seems to take a lot to get me really into the studio, but when I am in there I do not want to be disturbed at all for hours and hours on end. That being said, I often work on 2 to 4 pieces at a time. Process is what draws me in, not the result.
Good discussion...
Thanks Jess
Joss, me too, low boredom threshold!
Thanks Kim, I used to work at several paintings at once. It's a good way of staying quick and spontaneous. Thanks for reminding me of this!
I take too long over things. Normally on the planning , thinking side of things. Once I get painting I speed up.
When I was at college, one of my tutors used to tell me to stop 'faffing about' and to get on with it! She would be apalled as I haven't changed :)