Sensitivity Training -- a drawing exercise

How rich our lives can be when we're sensitive! And how rich our artwork becomes when we apply the same practices to our subject matter!

Practices of a sensitive person:
-observes
-accepts
-listens
-finds and compliments the good
-forgives the bad

Once we identify our subject matter, we come to terms with what it is. We let it "speak" to us, hearing its story in detail. What we glean allows us to portray it an appropriate light, and avoid conflict with it by steering clear of trouble spots.

Sensitivity Check (pre-drawing) :

1) I am drawing a ____(noun)____.
2) It's ____(verb)ing____.
3) ...though it may as well be ____(alternate verb)ing____.
4) The things that are cool about this are : (list them -- play up)
5) The things that aren't cool about this are : (list them -- play down or omit)
6) Around it are ____(nouns)____. (keep subordinate)
7) The tone of this drawing will be : (choose an emotion or state of being)

Sensitivity Check (post-drawing) :

1) Did I remain faithful to my own findings and opinions?
2) Did I draw the right things to communicate those findings and opinions? Could something else have communicated them even better?
3) Will others understand what I was going for, literally and thematically?
4) If not, what in my picture is confusing the issue?

Facts can be disputed, but opinions are your own! By being sensitive, you do a favor to your subject, your audience and yourself!

Pumpkindness

Had a crappy art day yesterday at work and at lifedrawing. I consoled myself with pumpkins, which are much, much harder to screw up!



P.S. - Wine also helps.

witchdoctor

lifedrawing log - 10.20.09

Just gesture tonight!

lifedrawing log - 10.17.09

am


pm

Pumpkin Jam!

I have awesome friends.

Virginia Critchfield and Josh Singh kicked out some pumpkin-y jams this week.


[left] Virginia gifted me with a kickass pumpkin tree vortex of her own imagining! I watched this piece unfold in real time. Amazing.

[right] Josh did a sculpt of one of my older, lobotomized pumpkins. He makes 3D look easy, which it isn't. You humble me, sir.

Still 1/2 of October left!

I know, I know...

Just let me get it out of my system...

lifedrawing log - 10.12.09

Model tonight was doing some gorgeously inventive stuff. What a privilege.



Despite all the mental planning that goes into it, I'm always amazed how hit-or-miss drawing can be. It's an odds game. I had to plow through a mountain of bullshit today before striking gold. Sometimes that's just what's required.

Pumpkini

lifedrawing log - 10.10.09

I went back to drawing with china marker this week, and since it's no longer daubs of digital paint, I get comments like "Oh, you drew a Disney version of her." You should see some of the vapid non-expressions and half-statements that come out of these sessions from people twice my age. They make pretty girls look like butt-ugly neanderthals. When you're faced with a pretty girl and produce an ugly drawing...double fail. You had THREE HOURS. I fucked all these up, but at least I had the sense to start over.



*closest approximation of actual pose (blah -- This model is super powerful and energetic in person; you can't just plop her there like a sack of potatoes and expect coolness.)
**pushed version of pose (back still doesn't look "at rest" enough -- should have straight-lined it)
***head, trying to keep eyes at more "realistic" size (eyes are a lot smaller than I prefer to draw them)
****proportions disregarded, trying to have fun (Fine art be damned!)

Pumpkinstein - paints // host switch

Got some subsurface scattering on this mofo! Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions on the rendering. I approach color like a timid little faun.

==

Unrelated : my host keeps raping me for bandwidth overages, so I'm switching to Godaddy or A+ or something more reasonable. As a result, autodestruct.com, along with my blogspot images, will probably be down while I sort all this out. Hopefully it'll be less painful than I think it'll be, but I doubt it.

This would have to have to happen during my favorite drawing month!

There's something in the water supply...

Side note :

Drawing on a computer is like fucking with six condoms on. It’s safe, it's sterile, it's sensationless and it's utterly frustrating.

pumpkinstein & pals

Working out a Frankenstein pumpkin for our pumpkin carving party e-vite...

lifedrawing log - 10.03.09

Here's a blobby portrait! Going to read up on this shit so I can do it right.

Here are two imaginary ones I did for fun when I got home.

filth = brought

Can't say too much about this, other than it was part of a friendly competition between some sad, shameless artists.

October is here!!!

At last!