Day 17. Eggs, Part 3 (Line & Shape Scramble)
Also Jane Fonda makes and ad for the Grown-Ups Table.
Hi all,
Good morning/afternoon/evening!
This fantastic short video starring Jane Fonda is making the rounds and I AM THRILLED TO SEE IT. It is all about how art classes - exactly what we are doing here - can add seven and a half years to our lives, and increase our quality of life and our general wellbeing. YES! People are catching on to what YOU all at the Grown-Ups Table already know.
If you haven’t seen it, the video is below. As one GUT member said, “It’s basically an advertisement for the Grown-Ups Table.” If you agree, share the GUT with someone you know. We’re in the middle of the 30 Days, but the creativity, community, and joy of the GUT goes year round.
What do you think? DO you agree with Jane Fonda and Ashton Applewhite? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
Alright, back to the afore mentioned art class!
Our mini-egg series. I have a question for you about your experience thus far: did you gravitate towards one technique over the other? Was one fun and one frustrating? If so, that’s normal. We’re pushing boundaries here, friends! It’s challenging to draw the same thing using different techniques. It pushes us to see what feels safe and comfortable, and where we can grow. I’m so impressed at hundreds and hundreds of leaps I see you all making every day in the community chat. Every drawing is not only daring, full of care and effort, but it is definitely Good Enough. I hope you feel that, too.
You have come a long way in 17 days. Today is one of our last technique-learning days before I let you a little more loose. So let’s dive right in.
Egg 1: we drew with line - contour line to be specific.
Egg 2: we drew with shape - and color, no less.
Egg 3: we are going to… combine line and shape.
Yup on day three, we are drawing our beloved subject using both techniques in our drawings.
Today we are going to make two quick drawings: one drawing will be line drawn over shape, and one that is shape drawn over line.
The point: Remember those basic elements of drawing we talked about early on?1 Like human beings, they don’t exist on their own. No drawing element is a rock nor an island. They operate in relationship with each other. Now that we understand line and shape pretty well, we can start to combine them.
“Do you draw the line or color first?”
People often ask me this question. Here’s my answer: I draw my line first. That’s because: A. I love drawing edges, it feels like sculpting to me. And 2. I draw from life a lot, often spontaneously, standing up, fast, and on the go. So pen on paper is how I trained myself to do it! I like to draw with a pen (edges) and then returning to my studio to paint is what works for me. Other people who may have their paints with them will put down a wash first and then draw line on top.
Here’s an example of quick color/shape over line.
And I reserve the right to change at anytime.
There is NO ONE WAY to do a pen and ink drawing. And remember, pen and ink drawing is just one way to draw! There are so many. The best way to figure out what you like, what feels best for you, is to just try things. If it sticks it sticks. If not, it was a great learning experiment. Either way, good enough.
Let’s do this.