No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.
One Sketch; Two Paths
Category: Process
Looking at a blank canvas.
I’m starting a new drawing that seems to resemble currency.
Looking at a Blank Canvas
Lately, thank goodness, that is not a problem at the moment. I am working between two, probably multiple. This one promises to be fun. Trust me, I have had those moments. What to do?
Do something else if you are stuck. Yes, it distracts you and lets your brain refresh. The new else might help the old else find a solution.
One of our students at MCTC(Minneapolis College) was in a class my mentor and friend, Felix Ampah, taught. I was told the student sat in front of a canvas, and Felix went over and asked if something was wrong. The student blurted out, “I don’t want to ruin it.”
Felix Ahpah asked to have her brush. He took it and made a swash on the canvas, probably not big. Gave his wonderful smile that beamed and said, “Now it is ruined.” Then smiled, and they laughed, and he moved on.“
To Learn, To Teach, and To Enjoy
In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
~ William Blake (Art Quotes)
I keep bouncing between enjoying and learning and sometimes teaching, but at the moment, learning is taking precedence. Over the past two years, I have worked in Blender, creating models for Second Life. It is satisfying, but I don’t know how or why it informs my work.
Drawing currently is taking two forms—first, the multi-media small works.
Most drawings are about 5″ x 5″, some a bit larger. I also find 5″ x 7″ a good size to work with. They primarily are drawings using ink and colored pencils. I am becoming aware that these inked drawings are really paintings. The two elements I am paying attention to are texture and color. The substrate is another element I am experimenting with as well. I worked with found paper for a long while, which expanded my knowledge of my media’s response to the surface.
Digitally I am working with Procreate. This is a process and program I have spent time learning. The process starts with a doodle on paper. I am then photographing it. Next, I import the drawing directly into Procreate and then traced it manually. Found that method very unsatisfying. The surface of the iPad is so slick, and slowing down to trace accurately the lines looked slow. So finally, I fell on a method that seemed to do the job. First, I photograph. Then import them into Affinity Photo 2, create a file with an alpha, and export them as a png. Then bring the drawing into Procreate. It seems to work better for me.
The reason I like this method is that it allows me to concentrate on color. I can apply color and experience color combinations quickly. I knew that color exists and reacts with its environment or relative to the surroundings and background. But working and being able to apply color quickly and easily replacing color with another underscores for me how dynamic color is.
As I work, I am finding a spiritual connection with the known-unknown. I am sure that sounds strange to some. It is a meditative practice, not intentional, but it seems more of a by-product that I welcome.
Documenting, Drawing, and a bit of Photographing
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”
Mark Twain, Rescue Time
Light through the Tree, Hendricks © 2021, Digital Work
Currently, I am updating my sites and documenting work I have completed over the years while teaching at Minneapolis Community Technical College. After earning my MFA, at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, students, technology, family, friends, and my Quaker community dominated my life.
While those activities captured most of my attention, I was producing work. I didn’t have time to display or share my work as frequently as I would like. So now I am working to document it and display it. Apple Photo and other apps didn’t do me much favor. Many original finals are lost, but enough can be found that I am able to create digital galleries.
Today I created a new page to share with all—
“http://artchangeslives.com/photo-impressionism-hendricks/”
“Seeing is Believing”, a series of photo impressionistic work I have produced.
Currently drawing more… mostly surrealistic work. That will be the next gallery I will work to create.
Just another picture until the next
“Must you know that yours will be the “better” picture before you pick up the brush and paint? Can it not simply be another picture? Another expression of beauty?
Neale Donald Walsch, Friendship with God: An Uncommon Dialogue
Must a rose be “better” than an iris in order to justify its existence?”
I had a few busy weeks just wanted to check in and post an image that I completed. Spending my time between working with my monthly meeting and yearly meeting. I am happy I can continue using my design skills to help out.
As I draw, I notice I am becoming more critical of my work. I am slowing down, considering aspects of the drawings more closely. I guess that is why I like this quote. Does the next drawing have to be better than the last? Yes, I want to learn and travel the path with more skill, but skill is produced not only by study but by practice.