I looked really closely at her line drawings because they were so perfect, so assured. Where were the blotches, the smears, the do-overs? Her control is awesome.
Oh Wendy. I feel the same about this show. What a body of work she created, but her life was an art work as well. That final piece in the show— made shortly before her death— moved me to tears. A tiny little wire ball. She must have known it was the last
I love Ruth Asawa and this assignment!!!!!!!! Thank you!
As a gardener, I have so much to say about the relationship between art and gardening. It's a chicken/egg situation. (We should have a seminar!). My garden is a planned study in contrast -- layers of color, dark to light, foliage that offsets the foliage around it. I chose shrubs that have interesting shaped leaves so that they are still interesting when they're no longer flowering. With flowers, my color choices are also very specific.
So, when I draw or scribble, I gravitate to plants and flowers -- spent the winter ordering amaryllis bulbs so that I could keep drawing the flowers until I was happy with the result. Which, of course, I never was but there's always next winter..
Do you plant flowers and plants with drawings in mind? I know when i go to buy flowers i am looking for shapes, lines and colors. Maybe you plant for those, too?
Wish I could say I did but since I just started drawing again this year (thanks to you) my choices were based first on aesthetics and then on whether the plants would thrive in the environment. That said, I don't think I have a plant or flower that isn't worth drawing!
I recently moved to a new home and the former owner planted many perennials- daylilies, tiger lilies, evening Primrose, hydrangeas, roses. I’ve been drawing them through the spring. Looking forward to looking at them even more closely.
It is the first time that I see the art of Ruth Asawa. I really like the way draw and I really love that she drew the flower she was givin. It inspire me to do the same. I can wait to go look at flower and draw them. Thank you so much for this beutiful assigment.
oh my gosh lucky you to get to see her work for the first time! Though there is SO MUCH of it, there is always more to discover, thank goodness. Look forward to seeing your drawing!
I had not heard of Asawa before your post, where you described her and her powerful drawings. My interest in painting flowers came from Odilon Redon, with a different emphasis. Thank you so much for turning me on to her.
I absolutely use all the same ways of seeing to plan and implement my green and growing space that I use when I draw or paint it. My sister and I talk about painting with plants… I use color, line, form, negative and positive space… all of it comes into play with a really satisfying garden design. And I cannot even wait to see the Asawa retrospective! I’ll be in SF in a few weeks and it sounds like I might have to go more than once!
Yes, if you can, go through more than once. There’s a lot, and there’s a lot to savor. My brain needed time to absorb all the different things she did, and I saw something new every time.
Gosh, the quote about you can't force a plant to bloom and understanding your own cycle, just really resonated with me. Take care of your plants, take care of your body. I also garden and use the flowers, plants, pollinators, critters, and other visitors as inspiration and subjects for my creative practice. Thanks for this lesson!
Thank you for this wonderful post and the introduction to Ruth Asawa. What an incredible person and artist. I am new to drawing and I am obsessed with growing and drawing flowers, and feel very validated. I wish I could go to the exhibition but I’m way up here in British Columbia. My new mantra is “curiosity and creation.”
This resonated so deeply with me, and 'curiosity and creation' is it in a nutshell. My constant drawing actually annoys some people, and this is a good reminder that I'm just not fitting into their box.
Aw, thank you, Kathleen! It’s comments that have been directed at me because this person feels like they have to carry the conversation when I’m absorbed in drawing in a place with other people. But I don’t really give a f. Here’s to not fitting in other people’s boxes!
Wendy, I've always enjoyed your writing, but never before have I seen you write like this. There were completely new ideas and thoughts, and you took us into more hidden corners of what you are thinking. The writing, at times felt poetic but also practical. Vulnerable and personal, but somehow talking about somebody other than you.
Idk if it's your new studio, or you've more time, or it was the subject matter, but you reinvented your writing here. I wasn't feeling upto reading about flowers and art, but so glad I did. But with you Wendy, it's never about flowers and art, it's always more. I'll keep that in mind in future.
Please keep sharing new thoughts. I'll go get some flowers and will look at them.
Thank you Beenish. I love her drawings and feel so deeply connected to them. Look forward to seeing your drawings. If you're drawing with the kids, I'd love to see their plants and flowers, too!
Appreciate this so much. Her work is so intricate..Amazing! I really hope I can come to San Francisco to see the show. SFMOMA has had many great ones lately, Amy Sherald, Kara Walker and now this retro on Ruth Asawa.
Went to the show for the first time today and I’m already planning to go back! I was moved to tears over and over, and the lithograph of the Bentwood chair outlined in a pattern of dots actually leapt out of its frame at me, pulsating with the presence of Living mystery. What a life, what a body of work! Can’t wait to go back!
Coincidentally, last night I painted a rose I had clipped from my garden (one of the first blooms I have gotten before it crumples!) that I had put in a yogurt jar “bud vase” for my daughter. Bought new watercolors and wanted to paint SOMETHING. There was the rose, just waiting for me. As a beginner, I am more comfortable drawing/painting from life and I have used my garden as a constantly changing source subject. Because she is changing every day - growth, death, encounters with critters - no two days look the same out there. I also find comfort in the mathematical design of nature…the angles, the structure, the form. All perfect in its own way.
I looked really closely at her line drawings because they were so perfect, so assured. Where were the blotches, the smears, the do-overs? Her control is awesome.
So much attention and control = so much practice!
She never stopped, did she?
Oh Wendy. I feel the same about this show. What a body of work she created, but her life was an art work as well. That final piece in the show— made shortly before her death— moved me to tears. A tiny little wire ball. She must have known it was the last
I'm right there with you, Joyce. Her life and work is an inspiration. ❤️
I love Ruth Asawa and this assignment!!!!!!!! Thank you!
As a gardener, I have so much to say about the relationship between art and gardening. It's a chicken/egg situation. (We should have a seminar!). My garden is a planned study in contrast -- layers of color, dark to light, foliage that offsets the foliage around it. I chose shrubs that have interesting shaped leaves so that they are still interesting when they're no longer flowering. With flowers, my color choices are also very specific.
So, when I draw or scribble, I gravitate to plants and flowers -- spent the winter ordering amaryllis bulbs so that I could keep drawing the flowers until I was happy with the result. Which, of course, I never was but there's always next winter..
Do you plant flowers and plants with drawings in mind? I know when i go to buy flowers i am looking for shapes, lines and colors. Maybe you plant for those, too?
Wish I could say I did but since I just started drawing again this year (thanks to you) my choices were based first on aesthetics and then on whether the plants would thrive in the environment. That said, I don't think I have a plant or flower that isn't worth drawing!
If you’re in the SF Bay Area or visiting San Francisco this summer do not miss this show!! It’s epic and oh so inspiring!
I recently moved to a new home and the former owner planted many perennials- daylilies, tiger lilies, evening Primrose, hydrangeas, roses. I’ve been drawing them through the spring. Looking forward to looking at them even more closely.
wonderful! i hope you share some of those drawings with us this week, jill!
It is the first time that I see the art of Ruth Asawa. I really like the way draw and I really love that she drew the flower she was givin. It inspire me to do the same. I can wait to go look at flower and draw them. Thank you so much for this beutiful assigment.
oh my gosh lucky you to get to see her work for the first time! Though there is SO MUCH of it, there is always more to discover, thank goodness. Look forward to seeing your drawing!
I had not heard of Asawa before your post, where you described her and her powerful drawings. My interest in painting flowers came from Odilon Redon, with a different emphasis. Thank you so much for turning me on to her.
I absolutely use all the same ways of seeing to plan and implement my green and growing space that I use when I draw or paint it. My sister and I talk about painting with plants… I use color, line, form, negative and positive space… all of it comes into play with a really satisfying garden design. And I cannot even wait to see the Asawa retrospective! I’ll be in SF in a few weeks and it sounds like I might have to go more than once!
Yes, if you can, go through more than once. There’s a lot, and there’s a lot to savor. My brain needed time to absorb all the different things she did, and I saw something new every time.
Gosh, the quote about you can't force a plant to bloom and understanding your own cycle, just really resonated with me. Take care of your plants, take care of your body. I also garden and use the flowers, plants, pollinators, critters, and other visitors as inspiration and subjects for my creative practice. Thanks for this lesson!
Thank you for this wonderful post and the introduction to Ruth Asawa. What an incredible person and artist. I am new to drawing and I am obsessed with growing and drawing flowers, and feel very validated. I wish I could go to the exhibition but I’m way up here in British Columbia. My new mantra is “curiosity and creation.”
Curiosity & Creation and we can't go wrong.
Hi Sarah 👋🏻 I’m in BC too, Vancouver Island. 🌲🍄 🌊🌸
I'm in Victoria! ☀️🌊
We can start a DrawTogether GUT chapter here then. :)
Are you in Victoria too? I'm not a GUT member, but I do follow Wendy.
This resonated so deeply with me, and 'curiosity and creation' is it in a nutshell. My constant drawing actually annoys some people, and this is a good reminder that I'm just not fitting into their box.
Bah! We love your constant drawing, Cathy.
Aw, thank you, Kathleen! It’s comments that have been directed at me because this person feels like they have to carry the conversation when I’m absorbed in drawing in a place with other people. But I don’t really give a f. Here’s to not fitting in other people’s boxes!
I'm super excited about the upcoming live drawing event at SFMOMA for GUT members! Watch this space for more details?
YOU KNOW IT.
Wendy, I've always enjoyed your writing, but never before have I seen you write like this. There were completely new ideas and thoughts, and you took us into more hidden corners of what you are thinking. The writing, at times felt poetic but also practical. Vulnerable and personal, but somehow talking about somebody other than you.
Idk if it's your new studio, or you've more time, or it was the subject matter, but you reinvented your writing here. I wasn't feeling upto reading about flowers and art, but so glad I did. But with you Wendy, it's never about flowers and art, it's always more. I'll keep that in mind in future.
Please keep sharing new thoughts. I'll go get some flowers and will look at them.
Thank you Beenish. I love her drawings and feel so deeply connected to them. Look forward to seeing your drawings. If you're drawing with the kids, I'd love to see their plants and flowers, too!
Appreciate this so much. Her work is so intricate..Amazing! I really hope I can come to San Francisco to see the show. SFMOMA has had many great ones lately, Amy Sherald, Kara Walker and now this retro on Ruth Asawa.
Went to the show for the first time today and I’m already planning to go back! I was moved to tears over and over, and the lithograph of the Bentwood chair outlined in a pattern of dots actually leapt out of its frame at me, pulsating with the presence of Living mystery. What a life, what a body of work! Can’t wait to go back!
Negative space!!
Coincidentally, last night I painted a rose I had clipped from my garden (one of the first blooms I have gotten before it crumples!) that I had put in a yogurt jar “bud vase” for my daughter. Bought new watercolors and wanted to paint SOMETHING. There was the rose, just waiting for me. As a beginner, I am more comfortable drawing/painting from life and I have used my garden as a constantly changing source subject. Because she is changing every day - growth, death, encounters with critters - no two days look the same out there. I also find comfort in the mathematical design of nature…the angles, the structure, the form. All perfect in its own way.
Beautiful!