Friday, February 26, 2010

Strange things are happening.


These were never intended for posting, but as I have a little story for you and nothing else to post, I thought Why Not! These are more imaginary scenes for cloud practice. The smaller one is about 1"X3", the larger about 1.5" X 3". I've really enjoyed doing these.



Anyway, the real reason for the post is that something very strange happened to me the other night. I watched a video by Myrna Wacknov over at Creative Journey. She was using a coffee stir dipped in ink, standing back from her paper, arm extended, sketching from a photo. I loved the drawing, saw the value of the exercise, and decided to give it a try. Only I compromised and used pencil since it was late and I didn't feel like cleaning any messes. No problem. Arm extended, grasping the end of my pencil, I copied her sketch (which is why it isn't posted here). This isn't the weird part! The weird thing was when I went back to normal sketching and realized I had to change the pencil to my left (dom) hand. That's right, I unintentionally used my right hand to do the sketch. Have you ever accidentally used your non-dom hand? That is so weird!

26 comments:

  1. First of all: Your clouds look wonderfully "cloudy", indeed! Very well done! (Especially since they are imaginary scenes, wow!).
    The "wrong hand" thing happens to me too, not with drawing so far, though. Usually it's just everyday stuff (holding a spoon or toothbrush or putting the watch around the wrong hand). It's a weird feeling when you get the impression that something's different but you can't quite put your finger on it until you realise.
    Couldn't happen to me with chopsticks, though - the difference here is pretty damn obvious! ;D (still practising...)

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  2. In the future I will put large images to see more details :) one more time, beautiful and soft works :)

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  3. Thats so interesting (with the switch of hands). And when I think of it, I have never done that except when I paint in oil and use palet knifes. Love the top painting you made, these would look good in much larger matting and frames (like a traditional painting with in a contemprary framing).

    Very nice work.

    Mari

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  4. Ha ha - I did the same hting the other week - but not so surprising since I've been drawing with it so often. Odd sensation isn't it?! But I think you should carry on and do it deliberately - these little sketches are lovely.

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  5. Yes, your little sketches are quite wonderful. As for the "non-dom" hand experience, being a lefty and somewhat ambidextrous as most lefties are, I have found myself doing that. It's a very weird sensation. I've been teaching myself to print with my right hand (shopping lists, to-do lists, and crossword puzzles are all done that way), and now I find myself slipping over there more often.... but it still feels weird! nancy

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  6. These are lovely watercolor sketches I am so glad that you decided to post them! Can't say that's ever happened to me though it looks like I'm the odd one here :-)

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  7. I really like these painting, especially the top one. There is something soothing about it.

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  8. Intentional or not, they are beautiful Raena! :) I love the way you draw sky and the clouds.
    Thanks for your comments on my painting too. I really am not good in anything, it's all part of having fun anyway, and the scenery wasn't so much imaginary, I took some references from here and there and made my own. ^^

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  9. I like your two sketches. Made me realize that imaginary clouds are the only type I've ever painted--never thought of it before.

    Interesting about switching hands. I carry things with my left arm but don't think I could write or draw with my left hand. Maybe everyone should learn this skill.

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  10. I can't believe that you didn't consider the first one, at least, to be post-able. It is beautiful - so peaceful. You wonder what is beyond the horizon.

    I don't think I ever sketched with my left hand. I think I have painted with my left though, when I used to paint acrylics on an easel. Actually - I'm a mess. I write with my right, bowl with my left, throw and catch with my left (which was very inconvenient in grade school). I sometimes wonder if someone switched the pencil to my other hand when I was young. My father and my younger son are both left handed.

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  11. These are great sketches, especially as they came from imagination. Adn I'm still trying to get over you using your non-dom hand without thinking. I guess you're ambidextrous now.

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  12. Your sketches are great! And so much detail for such a small space. WOW!!! I've never accidentally used my non dominant hand to sketch- but I bet that was weird! Perhaps it speaks to your mind hand connection- a good thing.
    BTW- thank you for your substantive comment on my blog. It meant a lot to me. I see you as being very disciplined and moving in a positive direction. Your creativity just spills off the page.
    I always look forward to your posts.

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  13. Wow, Raena, you were really caught up in the moment! Seeing with true artistic vision... not even paying attention to what hand is picking up the pencil. I love it!

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  14. I don't know why in the first posts on my blog if I click on the imagem it enlarge, but in these last one they don't :o blog is strange.
    Thanks for you nice comment, i'm waiting for your new post :)

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  15. i'll also go ambidextrous someday...
    but the fact is that you did beautiful hand work, no matter which hand you used...
    thank you for posting a subject which is deplorable...

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  16. Love the little watercolors and your people studies!
    Thanks for the comment on my blog with cat sketches. I liked the WC in the background of you cats!
    Continued Success!

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  17. Your little watercolour sketches are so nice!
    Beautiful fluffy clouds!
    I think what you described was a very strange experience! It never happened to me. My right hand is obviously very dominant!

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  18. Thank you Raena for your comments. I am sure everyone joined the army for different reasons, but sometimes it's heartbroken to know that most of them joined because they've got no choice. At least my dad and sister joined not because they wanted to fight, it's because they needed the money and had nowhere else to go. But you're right, for whatever reason, I wish all of them are safe and healthy.

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  19. I love those two paintings, they're delicate and beautiful! very fascinating that you did it with your right hand! You must have worked very differently, using maybe the other side of your brain? Beautiful result anyway : )!
    I'm ambidextrous, but I use my hands differently and write and draw only with the left. While I never used my right hand unintionnally to draw, I often use it without thinking for a lot of things, especially new things I'm not used to. You're maybe ambidextrous like a lot of left handed people!

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  20. Your watercolor clouds are wonderful, glad you had a story to include them along. I also find fascinating what we can do with our hands, both of them.

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  21. I love your little pictures especially the top one! As far as your hand goes, you were just watching a person painting and then you imitated. Well, you imitated her stance also, not just the idea of drawing that way. How did you do anyhow?

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  22. Lovely colors and the clouds are magnificent. Clouds are something I still have to learn to do. You really have got an edge on this.

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  23. These are gorgeous little pictures, really well balanced and lovely colours! The clouds are fab. :o)

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  24. Raena, you should get a pair of Vibram FiveFingers ^^ Studies shown walking/running and basically doing just about anything barefoot helps reducing stresses on your knees. :) Mountain biking I am not sure, I think you could wear anything for that...but you're right, they'd look funny when you put them on.

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  25. please post more new works raena :D

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