I reluctantly decided against going to the National Maritime Museum today to join the others sketching - too long and awkward a journey at peak time. However I was determined that I would do some drawing. After the session in the V&A ceramics collections, I had looked at the pottery I produced myself over 20 years ago in a new light. Besides tiny thumb pots , I was obsessed with coils and a luscious green glaze that produced varied colours - they're a bit clunky but Ian likes them and they look good from a distance on top of the bookshelves. From a sketching perspective I thought they would be an interesting challenge to try and draw.
2 hours passed very quickly ( it helped that the chair was comfortable and no craning of neck involved) . I can see now it's not right ( I was so absorbed I didn't step back from it) but there's areas I like . Next time I'd concentrate on a detail and pay more attention to the quality and variation of the line.
Sorting through books to pack, I came across my copy of Elements of Drawing by John Ruskin. I've carried out some of the exercises in the past to improve observation, so that even a simple pebble can look monumental. So I've decided over the next few weeks to draw some of the small treasures I've collected over the years: stones, shells, bits of glass and pottery, the aim being to spend no longer than 30 minutes on each.
4 comments:
I find time gets away from me too when I zero in on a subject to draw. How will you stick to the 30 minute rule - set a timer? That's a lovely collection - I see why Ian likes them. Challenging to draw I would think. But then would we get so absorbed in it if it weren't? Looking forward to seeing what you do with the stones. I have several palm-size ones with various striations set aside for sketching & possible interpretation in fabric. I had a go at one of them a long time ago - harder than I thought it would be. I should try again now that I've been doing more sketching. You may have inspired me!
I am a ceramic artist & I think your "pots" are very imaginative.
Alex True
oo yes, those pots are very good material for drawing!
lovely blog. Isnt it great how time passes when one is lost in the creative zone.
Love the shape of the jugs. Like your drawing line
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