I frequently claim that I can't draw, which I still think is pretty true, but I'm trying to be more creative and free up that inner critic. I want to draw, and sometimes I like to draw, so... yeah. Trying to just practice for fun.
The fantastic International Girl aerogrammes (I've blogged about them quite a lot) have a little box that says "draw picture here." Ever one to follow instructions, I usually give it some kind of try. So one night I had Soda sleeping at the edge of my letter, and I drew her. It doesn't really look all that much like her, but it is fairly apparent that it is a cat, and for that I am proud of myself.
She's sleeping on the couch near me now, actually, but all curled up this time. Awww.
That's a terrific drawing!
ReplyDeleteAww shucks, Felicity - thank you so much! That means more than I can say from an artist like you, whose drawings are AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteYou *CAN* draw. Look right there...
ReplyDeleteYou should kick that inner critic out more often :)
Thanks, Sara - golly, another REAL artist I know and respect deeply! It's ironic, actually, because in my professional life one of my main mantras is "leave your critic at the door." I gotta heed my own advice...
ReplyDeleteI love it a lot, actually. And it looks familiar. :) I wish I could draw! Alas, "leave your critic at the door" is easy for me to tell others, terribly hard to follow myself.
ReplyDeleteThis drawing is great, Ilona!! I think you can draw. Even if you think you can't, I can tell you that you have an eye of an artist. You always choose so beautiful stamps and decorate cards with pretty stamps.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure whether a classic really needs a plug, but if you want to learn to draw, get a copy of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. Everyone learns to draw with this method--even people who think they don't have "talent"--and it doesn't take long. Somewhere I have the two self-portraits I did thirty years ago: the first looks like it was drawn by an eight-year-old, and the second (dated one week later) looks like a real drawing.
ReplyDeleteThese days there's a DVD and portfolio of drawing stuff (available from drawright.com) that I bought and used as a refresher course a year or two ago. Highly recommended and worth every cent.
(Oh, yeah: some people find the pop psychology that's grown up around Sperry's left-brain/right-brain research off-putting. Edwards herself states that she uses "right side of the brain" as a metaphor for a certain mode of thinking rather than a literal statement about the structure of the brain. In any event, her methods work.)
Joseph, this is an eerie coincidence: I had lunch today with a friend who is an artist and an art teacher, and I mentioned to him my desire to learn to draw. He recommended this very book. Clearly I must give it a try, with two respected recommendations on the same day!
ReplyDeleteI love how you drew her little toes! Adorable!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! It's so hard to let go of that inner critic.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your drawing of Soda!!!
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