Wednesday, June 17, 2009

More drawing














Wow, it's been almost a month since I posted! Time has flown. There were some major issues with Focus Art, my oldest son graduated from college, a graduation party was planned and done, I've got the cold back again that I went on antibiotics to get rid of and am once more coughing a lot, (I can't even begin to tell you how tired I am of cough, cough, coughing all the time), the bp spiked up with a major dose of stress but I've managed to get it back down again, and a few more things that have knocked me down for a while. But, I'm back up again!
The drawing class is almost over. That's so sad. I really love it. You know when you hear something that makes a huge impact on you? Well, in last week's class that happened to me. I have always had this niggling little fear that if something happened to my right hand and I couldn't draw or paint anymore, WHAT would I do? (If there is anyone who can stress out over little inconsequential thoughts like this, it is me! That's why I have high blood pressure!!) Well, after doing a LOT of drawing with the non-dominant hand (in my case it's my left hand), Sandra (the teacher and a friend) said in class "now you know that you are not dependant on one hand for your artistic talent". Wow! This is so true! And in my warped case, so freeing...... One of the many left handed drawing exercises in class was to draw the face of the person across from you - drawing the right side of the face on paper with your right hand and the left hand side of the face on paper with your left hand. Honestly, when you were done, you couldn't tell the difference!

The drawing above (way above) is a dead tulip that sits in an empty wine glass beside an empty wine bottle on my painting table. The tulip was alive a few years ago but as it slowly died, I would look at it and think how much more interesting it looked than when it was alive. (I'm not usually that morbid, by the way.) As it became more and more dried out, I'd start thinking, each time I looked at it, "death becomes you". It's still there, still not falling apart either. I'll keep it as long as it doesn't flake out on me. And still, each time I look at it, "death becomes you".

The painting below was done from a still life set up. It was an assignment from class that had to show light and shadow. I find that after doing a lot of drawing with the left hand, when I pick up a pencil in the right hand, it just flies and feels so natural. This pic doesn't really show the life that is in the actual drawing. Those pears really do look a lot better than they show here!












Below is my Zen Garden. Some squares have sand, some have rocks, some have candles and some are empty.










17 comments:

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

I thought the drawing class was permanent Deb. It's good to hear from you, I thought you were abducted or something! :) hope you will get well soon, at least you don't cough typing! I love to read your thoughts, that death becomes you has hit me hard today.

RH Carpenter said...

Wow, Deb, these are wonderful!!! I am so glad you've had this breakthrough (never knew you worried about such things but I understand - if making art is important to us we do wonder what we would become if we didn't have any outlet for making art).
Glad to see you back posting!!! Now, keep it up even if it's just a little sketch every week.

Cindi said...

sorry you have been feeling yucky!!! hope you're better now.. i just wanted to say how much i love your most recent drawings.... they are awesome..i keep forgetting about the left hand...will need to try that....these are wonderful. great shading .. the rose is a beauty!!! thanks for sharing and please take care~~

Ann Buckner said...

Beautiful work Deb on all three. so pleased to see you posting. You have had quite a month and hope you are feeling ever so much better.

debwardart said...

FANTASTIC DRAWING!
(Now get back to mastering those fluid acrylics)!!!!!!

Fábio Cembranelli said...

Hi Deborah, thanks for sharinh your drawing process. The first one, the flower(a dead tulip...) is beautiful, I love the shadow.

Deb Léger said...

Hi Teresa. No, the session was only for 7 classes. But in the fall, there will be a part 2 which I'll definitely take. Sandra's a great teacher - she makes you work and knows just how to get you to go higher. The cough seems to be getting much better. (I'm really afraid to think that though because that's when it hits me back. But I really don't want to go on another round of antibiotics so I'm fighting it hard.) Thanks for the comments and I hope that it hit you in a good way.

Deb Léger said...

Hi Rhonda, sorry I've been awol from pals. Yeah, it's really inspiring when you hit a breakthrough, isn't it? Thanks for the comments and I've already got more to post!

Deb Léger said...

Hi Cindi,

It's really amazing me how much difference it makes when you keep working with that non-dominant hand! I'm starting to like using my left hand because it really forces me to go slow for details. Then, once I switch over to the right, my pencil just flies. I'm doing much better now, thanks. You take care, too.

Deb Léger said...

Hi Ann,

I really need to catch up on your blog! Thanks very much for the comments. How's the weather down in OK? It sure has been a wicked month - I usually only get maybe 1 cold a year but I've really made up for it this year. Add two sinus infections to it and it was definitely a knockout. I hope you're doing great yourself and are healthy and rested!

Deb Léger said...

Hi Deb,

Thanks! Yes Ma'am! I will get back to those fluids. Soon. Real soon. I'm just catching up on homework then I will. ;-)

Deb Léger said...

Hi Fabio,

Thanks very much for dropping by and commenting! (That shadow was the easiest part of the drawing but don't tell anyone, k?) I am in such awe of your watercolours!!!

Ann Buckner said...

Just wanted to wish Gilles a Happy Father's Day. Hope you are getting to swim in the pool and enjoy the warm weather. :)

Jose Antonio G. Villarrubia said...

Beutiful!!

Deb Léger said...

Hi Ann,

Thanks, I did. I'll pass on those wishes. Hope you're feeling good.

Deb Léger said...

Thank you for stopping by, Jose and for your comment! I always love going to your own blog and feasting on your painting....

Lokelani Forrest said...

I Deborah...thanks for browsing my blog and becoming a follower. I've viewed some of your artwork and you do beautiful work. I am VERY new to the blogging community, but I am enjoying it and making contact with other artists. Happy 4th.