Drawing Ideas

This week I designed a picture from a very different starting point than what I would normally do. I started with a large (for me) format — 14" x 18” — and the primary goal of seeing what a brayer, water soluble oil paint, pan pastels, and a razor blade could do.   With a simple thumbnail as my guide, I made a picture.

Well, that was unexpected. . . .

Of course, I know that the materials I use communicate ideas and mood.  I just wasn’t prepared for them to also bring up new ideas.  What’s the story here with this crow and chimp? What’s their connection?   

In this first picture, I didn’t explore these ideas very far, but I did taste what it’s like to let a picture evolve.

Which brings me again to design.  For a while now, I’ve been reluctant to do much thumbnailing and storyboarding.  The reason is I haven’t been sure just how I’m going to bring a composition to final.  But now, with charcoal, pastels, brayer and paint, stencils and inks (and more) — I’m feeling a slight pull to thumbnail again.  I want to catch quickly the ideas that are emerging.

Nevertheless, I’m going to continue in the larger format and with these materials. I’ll explore what excites me — in the relationships between things, in found shapes and value structures.  And as I draw I’ll let my thinking and intention for the piece evolve.   

A closer look:  A few faves

Drawing large began the week before — studies of chimpanzees and other animals using straight lines (jumbo charcoal) and shapes (pan pastels and sponge applicator).

Surprised me how much I liked the straight lines, the exploring of relationships, space and dimensionality.

Only scratched the surface with both these drawing approaches.