Drawing for Painters

While in California recently, I had the pleasure of attending a Drawing for Painter's workshop taught by Fred Hope in Laguna Beach. Shown here are a couple of studies I made there. Fred made a compelling case for drawing as a powerful means for becoming a better painter. To be sure, I've found the more I draw, the more likely my brushwork is to be fresh and spontaneous. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and recommend it!

 

Drawing Workshop & Lots of Snow!

Yesterday's "Drawing for Pleasure and Expression" workshop at the Oxford Art Alliance was humming along with such focused dedication on the part of the students until . . . 

the snow arrived in full force and blanketed the streets! Despite the abrupt snowy ending, it was such a joy to share a day of drawing. I never cease to marvel at how the elements of art are, simultaneously, so simple and so complex. And, that despite our personal point in the journey, art meets us right where we are and beckons us onward!

Drawing--A Medium for These Times

Compared to all the paraphernelia needed for painting, drawing is a refreshing reminder of how little it takes to do our art. More often than not everything needed to draw is within arm's reach. With whatever paper and writing utensil is at hand, we are set to go. The disadvantage of archival unsoundness of simple materials ironically unshackles us from the burden of trying to create an outcome worthy of paper that will outlive us. And yet, even in its simplicity, drawing provides us the means to wrestle with the big questions of art.