When will I be able to draw?

When will I be able to draw?

Paul Klee – the Ghost of a Genius

Have you ever felt like an impatient child asking “when will we be there?” when reviewing your progress as a draughtswoman/man? It does seem that learning to draw is an endless task and we never quite get to where we want to be. And if we ever imagine we have, we are quickly suffocated by our own smugness. We prefer the uncertainty of new artistic challenges to resting on the laurels of past achievement. I thought it was the book Zen and The Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance that coined the idea that “it’s not the destination but the journey” (Google suggests not!) but whatever, it’s a helpful, if hackneyed notion. And a very good book.

The thing is that the more we draw, the more we see. As our journey progresses, so our elected destination changes. Many of us start out aspiring to draw so well that “it looks like a photograph” and as we approach this goal discover that what we actually want is so much more than that. Holding to the practical idea that we must have an aim whilst knowing that the target will always move is a bit more Zen than most of us feel comfortable with. We can, of course look back and review where we have been and what we have learnt, which may give more insight about where we are going than any imagined future.

In the mean time, relax in the knowledge that we will never be able to draw and we will never get there. Just keep drawing and enjoy the Journey.

Pleinairists (without!) David Sawyer RBA

David Sawyer – Chartres Cathedral WIP

David is warming up for his ‘Painting Architecture’ workshop which he’ll be running for six weeks starting on the 29th September by painting some fine buildings in France

Whilst David is away the Pleinairists Whatsapp group are meeting up on an ad hoc basis, rain permitting, no charge, just painting companionship. Drop us an email to be included.

Monday Evening Bad Drawing Group 7.00pm-8.30pm on Zoom

Adrian

Last week Hannah gave us cyclical moving poses and we were invited to watch her carefully for a while, getting used to the rhythms and extents of her movements. We then drew her on the fly. She made it a bit easier for us by pausing every now and then. The images build over the course of the pose, each chosen key image emerging one fleeting observation at a time. Like many of the bad drawing exercises it can reveal to us important aspects of how we work, like how drawing takes place rather than being done.

It may even show the terrifying redundancy of the one who believes themselves to be drawing!

This week we will, by contrast, be working very slowly and encouraging a very intimate physical/visual experience of the model, who will be Adrian @modbodadrian

You can join us on Zoom from 6.45pm and get to know us and any other drawers before work commences at 7.00pm.

The cost is £8 but if you can convince us you’re a student we’ll give you a code to get the session for £5: drop us an email

Click here to book

Tuesday Evening Life Drawing 7.00pm-8.30pm on Zoom

“Memories of Julia’s party” Freya Tate

Elettra

The top picture is a painting by Freya (it’s for sale on her Instagram feed) which shows her puckish way of working. She stops once the statement is made and goes no further, leaving the arrangement with the abandonment of a teenager’s bedroom. I didn’t go to Julia’s party, but it looks quite fun.

Freya will be working with dancer Elettra this Tuesday, looking at symmetry and opposites. If you are joining us could you have two different coloured pens?

You can join us on Zoom from 6.45pm and get to know us and any other drawers before work commences at 7.00pm.

The cost is £8 but if you can convince us you’re a student we’ll give you a code to get the session for £5: drop us an email

Click here to book

Wednesday Drop-in Portraiture 2.00pm-5.00pm on Zoom

Hugh

This is the second week of a two week pose with Hugh. The WIP above shows the view from the wide camera.

This is a two camera setup with a portrait camera and a wide camera to get the figure in should you need it.

Please note that it is now possible to paint from life in the studio. Zoom fee is £15, in-studio fee varies.

Please book here

The session fee will be reduced to £12 if you use the discount code PESTE2 at final checkout.

Saturday Drop-in Long Pose Life Drawing 10.00am-1.00pm on Zoom

Rebecca

Rebecca by Isabella Ward

Rebecca by Jane Lawrence – the view from Zoom

We’ll have Rebecca back to complete this pose this Saturday morning. Three hours on the same pose. You can join us in the studio or on Zoom. The top drawing is by Isabella Ward from the studio and the lower one is by Jane Lawrence using Zoom.

Please note that it is now possible to paint from life in the studio. Zoom fee is £15, in-studio fee varies.

Please book here

The Zoom session fee will be reduced to £12 if you use the discount code PESTE2 at final checkout.