I have to laugh at this one, even though I like the way it turned out. You see, because I was deep in conversation which required analyzing on my part, I wasn't concentrating when I did this sketch. I never went into "the zone" and I felt separate from the sketch. Does that make sense? Anyway, a lot of mistakes that I didn't even notice until I started applying the watercolor. Like on the second chair (the one behind), I forgot to draw the seat! And, I had already gone too far with the concrete, so I drew it in too far to the left. (Although, had I been thinking, I don't think that light color gray would have affected the chair if I had painted right over the top of it.) I also forgot to put the shadows on the concrete from the chairs and trees, and I forgot to draw what was seen through the glass table top. I know, I know. I shouldn't actually be telling you where to find the mistakes! I did my best to make up for them. What do I like about this? The composition. And the pot to the pencil cactus; it turned out well. I liked the shadows I had started across the chairs. They would make more sense if there were shadows continued on the concrete. Thank you all for the comments on the last post. I've had a lot of good suggestions and even one email with words of encouragement. Sorry for not commenting very much lately, things came up and I haven't been around. I do hope to get to you soon!
You DID do a nice job on the shadows! Love the pot. You could have said it was a work in progress or just have invited everyone for a game of "what's missing?". (I probably would not have won because sometimes I don't notice what I left out on my own sketches until after I have scanned them and put them on the blog.)
ReplyDeleteI know the ZONE...and I too had one h--- of a week this week (Mon thru Thurs). Whew. Mucho stress. Friday things got better. So I have drawn this week with the ZONEdoor firmly locked. And it shows. Stray penmarks here and there, with no way to erase - I am about to post one of them. Better, however, than doing nothing at all.
ReplyDeleteA few things, Raena: (1) I'm beginning to doubt my ability to judge art because I never see anything wrong with your sketches and evidently there is always so much wrong with them! :) (2) I constantly miss things when I sketch because I am not the Private Eye type, you know, and so am constantly compensating, but that's okay because what I am creating is my paper reality which will always be different from what I am seeing anyway, so all I need to be is consistent within the drawing itself, right? (3) I think this is a great sketch - complicated drawing - and am rather amazed that you did it in the middle of an intense conversation. The chairs look like medal, the tabletop looks like smoked glass, and the pot is as good as you think it is. Whew, I talk a lot (sorry).
I think it is great and clearly a moment in your life - and I bet it will always amuse you when you look at it and remember what silly things we can do when not paying full attention. My favorite was a wall sconce that I actually sketched right in the middle of a wall quilt on an interior sketch because my mind was elsewhere. And that was 3 years ago. It is all part of the big learning process!
ReplyDeleteYou are too hard on yourself. :) The scene looks very inviting to me. And to do it while talking to someone is something else.
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to take my coffee outside to drink, and I would if it wasn't raining. :)
Happens to me all the time Raena :) I think for a non-professional like me, I always have the option of not doing any artsy stuff because that's something I do for leisure, not to put food on my table, so I do arts when I feel like it, and we all know that feelings go up and down... so when we have something "more important" to mind, we would stray away from being a kid and be an adult again... and reality usually keep us in that state for a good amount of time... we linger around, but eventually we'll find our toys and start being a kid again. So Raena, you are not, and never will be alone ^^
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, thanks for your comments. My future wife must be so happy reading your comments, and me too when it comes to wanting a twin, because my brother bullied me a lot I wished my time could be reduced to half, or at least I would have someone on my team.
AND YES! Can't wait to make a road trip to Texas and meet you too, Dan will have to drive a loooooonnnnnnggggg way ^^ Or he could just fly.
I heard that.
ReplyDeleteInteresting experiment...put this page away, do not look at your painted sketches for 6 - 12 months. Ony then look again, note your reaction before reading your comments.
ReplyDeleteI found the page very pleasing, envied your two metal chairs composition, not noticing any of the issues you define in your post.
I know what you mean too. We live in Italy, and languages are easier for me than for Tony - mostly because I study and he doesn't - so I get to handle all the busy-ness which always disturbs my WA (inner flow). This year I finally put my foot down and only do errands Mondays and Thursdays. If anything needs doing any other day, then he has to do it. Amazingly, the plan works for us...and equally amazingly, there aren't nearly the "have to" errands of years past. hmmmmmm. LOL :)
Well, in the zone or not, I think it's a very pleasant little drawing! I like the pot, too, and the chairs are quite nice - with or without seats! nancy
ReplyDeleteI like it, and it has that laid back morning feel to it.
ReplyDeleteRaena, I didn't even notice all the "over sights" you pointed out.
ReplyDeleteDespite all that, the drawing looks terrific.
You said you weren´t paying attention... but it was so great. Thanks for your comments about my "Eye" in my blog.
ReplyDeleteAw!! I think your painting is lovely, Raena! Loved reading through the post too! And though you have pointed out your 'mistakes', frankly, I couldnt locate them even after you said so (like the seat that's missing; maybe I should see your chair to know that ^^).. Lovely colors! Very pleasant... Well, I hope it wasn't the conversation that you weren't paying attention to (LOL)
ReplyDeleteReally nice. I like the idea of working or sketching while not getting into the zone. Somehow not analyzing and making artistic decisions makes the work a more pure form of self expression (as some would argue - like the work of children, or outsider art). Nice page.
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