draw something every day

a tree in the park

I will actually aim to do this every day for a month or two.
I handed in my portfolio and the next stage is an exam. For those who get through to that stage taht is, but let’s assume I will, so as not to shoot my motivation down dead.

What happens is you get sent out somewhere and they say find something here to draw. Whatever interests you. You have eight hours. The next day is much the same, only you’re meant to paint. And that sounds like straight lines and buildings and perspective to me, things I’m not especially good at.

So. I have made myself a list of motives to draw. I have mainly chosen things that I find difficult in order to challenge myself, give myself some practice and to develop.

Today I went to the park and drew the buildings opposite. Good practice for perspective. I also sketched people sitting on the steps in front of a building.

I have the time today so I’m going to work some more on an art project of my own.

sketched portrait of a friend who was giving a talk, doodled some ideas for a logo for a photographer. I’m not sure if that counts as drawing or not.

I used to be good at portrait drawing. Didn’t have to think about it much, now I do it so rarely, I’m not much cop any more and I’d like to change that. There’s nothing like really capturing the essence of a person in a drawing.

but I won’t, although I probably won’t actually achieve it either, or really aim to. I think it’s a better way to formulate a goal than “draw more often” or “draw every week”. It’s a good ideal but not one I feel forced to stick to rigidly at all costs.

It’s a metaphor for hone your craft.

Anyways, I went to life drawing class today and drew people for six hours solid. Lovely. Did that last Saturday as well. Monday I painted and drew embroidary patterns, Tuesday I sketched a couple of portraits as preparation for a project about physical boundaries.