Week 3. Sept 19th-25th

Tuesday this week we drew a different female model. This time we did several short poses and a couple long poses. I prefer the short poses. They have more energy and are much more interesting to see the end results of.  So far I have yet to have a “good drawing day” this semester. I guess the consequence for not drawing all summer except for basic quick sketches before painting for over a year is rearing its ugly head. Hopefully between my two art classes I will be able to get back into the swing of drawing. I hope this is just a slow start and things will pick up soon.

Thursday we got our mannequins and scraped the clay off of them. It was a little weird to be peeling off the clay. I kept thinking about how much it would hurt if the mannequin was real.  Good things he isn’t. My mannequin’s heal is broken and he spins around when I would really prefer he stay still. I guess we will just have to get used to each other, seeing as Lyle and I are stuck with each other for the semester. Yes, I did indeed name my mannequin. I also named my car, I’m just that cool. We went through notes about the parts of the spine and the difference between tendons and ligaments. Most of the stuff from this week seems to just be a refresher of stuff I already know, after having drawing one and my dad being a chiropractor.  But it’s nice to have. I still need to work on my drawing grip. But one thing at a time seems to be the only way my brain has functioned recently- (usually that one thing is listening and staring off into space, but that’s beside the point). Maybe soon my brain will wake up and function properly. Until then, lots of coffee, and one thing at a time. Pictures will come soon. My camera is acting up.

Week 2. Sept. 13-18

In class on Tuesday this week we did blind contours of our shells and continuous line drawings. Then we gathered in small groups and critiqued each others drawing. We were told to discuss and take notes about our drawings and how the other group members feel we observed the object we were drawing. I was told that I observed the object well. I paid attention to the raised lines on the shell as well as the colored lines going the opposite direction. I was informed that I have a clean and precise execution of the subject. I had difficulty with both the continuous line. I have a sketchy drawing style and have issues with not picking up my drawing utensil. On Thursday in class we drew a model and worked on short and long poses. It was pointed out to me that I need to draw larger during long drawings but I found it difficult when I was also trying to concentrate on not picking up my pencil and going back to my sketchy style. I flashed back to drawing one during class when I was told I was drawing wrong and had to pay attention to how I was drawing. When I hold my pencil “correctly” I have no control over where it makes the marks. I understand it will take a while to build up the muscle memory but for now trying to do too many things at once is going to be kind of a pain. I’m not too excited for that. I did enjoy drawing the model. I thought it was going to be awkward drawing a live nude model, but by the end of the class I looked at her as if I were just drawing my rock. No longer thinking of her as a nude woman but instead as an object with many different lines and surfaces. I’m thinking this week I will try to get enough sleep before class and wear better shoes so I’m not so distracted during the long poses. Maybe I will also draw bigger and better.

Introduction

       I am a studio art major with a painting emphasis at UW Stout. I have been interested in art for as long as I can remember but it wasn't until high school that I decided art was what I wanted to do with my life. I hope to do commission work and freelance when I graduate but I haven't truly decided. I've done a bit of commissioned work for some friends and family on the side over the past few years and I really enjoy it. My paintings don't really stick to a specific style. I have a range from realistic landscape, imaginary landscape and portraiture, abstract, to whatever else I'm inspired to paint. I've painted on canvas, metal, painted wood, rusted saws, canvas paper, and drawing paper but my favorite has been wood panel. Some of my favorite paintings have been ones I've had complete freedom with. I maybe have a top 10 list of favorite paintings. One is a painting of jungle I painted as a birthday present for a friend last year. One is a painting my mother asked for when I was in high school. It is a bunch of overlapping geometric shapes in shades of gray with complimentary red swirls to add excitement. I really enjoy painting dancers. I find the long flowing lines of their bodies and their movements relaxing to mimic with a paintbrush. One painting that has inspired my work is John Martin’s Pandemonium. I saw this painting when it was in the MIA for the Louvre exhibit. I couldn’t tear myself away from it, and if I did I always went back. I don’t look at other artists enough but I’m trying to start. I’ve been told numerous times that I should be aware of other artists and what they do.