Morning and evening studio classes started today. It was nice to see everyone after the break. I was glad to be back in time for the morning class as we were delayed five hours at Gatwick Airport in London yesterday.
Speaking of London, I was inspired by the drawing process of none other than Beatrix Potter. We saw a show of her charming work at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Potter used a lot of light, exploratory pencil lines as she searched for the essence of her subject. It’s an approach that is seen in the drawings of old and modern masters.
Her drawing process was on my mind today. I’m not a stickler for absolute accuracy or perfect proportion with my students. However, I do believe in drawing with conviction and understanding, qualities that made Peter Rabbit so believable.
A ‘wire-frame’ approach helps us understand the structure of an object and, also, it’s relationship to the things around it. I began the study of a bottle (below) with basic, geometric shapes using straight lines. Next, I refined and explored the form with curved strokes. I’ve strengthened the pencil drawing here to clarify the steps.
Sometimes, we rush our preparatory drawing because of our eagerness to start with watercolour. Try slowing down and savouring this fundamental aspect of the creative process. Today’s drawing demo was review for many of the students but it wasn’t a bad way to start off the new year.
Tags: Barry Coombs, Beatrix Potter, Canada, drawing, England, London, Ontario, Peter Rabbit drawings, Studio Classes, Toronto, Victoria and Albert Museum, watercolor courses, watercolour courses
04/01/2011 at 9:37 pm |
Glad to see your stamina hasn’t failed you and that your filled with new inspiration!