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2/14/19 Shannon (10 min. poses) |
I wasn’t feeling it last Thursday at life drawing. It wasn’t the
model’s fault – Shannon is always excellent, and I’ve happily drawn her many
times, including last fall when working on a long pose of her put me fully in the zone. I don’t expect to get in the zone every time, but I was hoping to
feel some of the mojo I had the last time I was at Gage. I kept switching media and paper, hoping to find the right
combo that would put me there again, but nothing quite did it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LZPD6sYrusizWtQFSQIq_KHj75kkJSrBMqeSWpU0n90LRiTqNRyTsZXJve7b1p3blQxDpzPWECBTHrFCjhOqUj8CRLrb34zNcUMWGrVDx2bj430C0u0AsWw7Ex488whbIXzR_lovcw/s400/2-14-19+Pentel+brush+writer%252C+98+lb+mixed+media%252C+Gage+life+drawing%252C+Shannon%252C+2+min+poses+-+2.jpg) |
2-min. poses |
Because I sketch so regularly and share often on social media, friends
have called me a “sketching machine.” It’s a compliment, and I certainly accept
it as one. But one of the most frustrating things about drawing is that the ease
(and I use the term “ease” relatively – it’s never easy) with which it comes varies constantly. It might not
even be apparent in the results, but it’s the way I feel when I’m
making the sketches. Even with regular practice, some days are better than others. If I
were a true machine, I could draw with the same degree of flow and confidence
every time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLeyRMFsgKVEr4rT3UGA_sHitJNlSVxWf_sN0zmr0Qoc2y4GX33QQSiu4OrR7lGkey0B1am_4-PEWEgjReo6s4HI7RH6gKjiUc0Ny0QOYpzi_EC99O1xGn56TyfzWDyETFOIGiKF-LA/s320/2-14-19+Derwent+drawing+pencil%252C+Derwent+sketch+pad%252C+Shannon%252C+Gage+life+drawing%252C+10+min+pose.jpg) |
10-min. pose |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd1jINgQSmbcjmx8I8kqxqs0m59Z8XIJP93BBSu0d5K4QhXfe4FTwSW1beZrIfJ05O6l_O__bFDOaHBymYKFX1OtGLVbLNFbE9kD52ijCnqCi2wfI8D2wQBnc1ptI1R6ARIOxFWcGOg/s320/2-14-19+Conte+woodcased%252C+Derwent+sketch+pad%252C+Shannon%252C+Gage+life+drawing%252C+5+min+pose.jpg) |
5-min. pose |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3JWMz5VJruspf-pn-dncmVB1gZb-yl0mmzEiIa1dcQGPyqohpFaHcwZIS3WCpYPldPeTbWs2wB0-0TSaHzVBkAnV8un-9LucwpvndcFd5YTfc8oHNxbtoOMdGM5vq3-6EAaNnAmmNQ/s400/2-14-19+Derwent+drawing+pencils%252C+Strath+toned%252C+Shannon%252C+Gage+life+drawing%252C+10+min+pose.jpg) |
10-min. pose |
That variability is certainly a mystery and I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that experiences it (grin). It seems more related to the ability to perceive than the oft-use "hand-eye coordination" thing, whatever that is. Some days I just can't "see" as well as I can some other days.
ReplyDeleteYou might be on to something, Larry. I'm really not sure where the issue is -- eye, hand, brain, pancreas for all I know! -- but some days, it just ain't there! Ah, well -- the important thing is to keep at it, regardless!
DeleteLike you, I know that there are days when I am more in the zone than others and days when I get easily inspired and days when it there is little inspiration in what I look at. Thankfully it is rare!
ReplyDelete