Back to the drawing (board)

Hello fellow artists.

Some of us have been drawing - as you'll see below. You don't need much more than a pencil, paper and sharpener to get going. Or a pen. A Biro. A brush and ink. It's an inexpensive pastime.

Nothing, but nothing, beats drawing. It is the basis of all good art and making it part of your life can only enhance all the artistic efforts you subsequently make.

Why?

Drawing is about observation, about seeing and reinterpreting and about concentration. These are all vital elements of creating art, abstract or realistic.

Leonardo da Vinci was forever drawing and working out designs, theories and plans.

Above one of Europe's most famous drawings by... the German Renaissance master, Albrecht Dürer. He cleverly uses a little hint of white to accentuate the highlights.

French sculptor Rodin was a prolific drawer too. It might seem like a scribble but it is a controlled scribble and then some nifty watercolour or ink work. I was privileged to visit an exhibition of his work just before Christmas and was very taken by his beautiful drawings and sketches on show, as well as the numerous maquettes for his sculpture.

And then think of those Impressionists (forget their colour for a moment and think line) who would perhaps map out a more complex painting in line first. Don't forget Dégas whose magnificent dancers were all about line - and even his pastel works of dancers were about line, as well as colour.

Four of FHAS members (and maybe more, who knows) have done some drawing recently and here are some of the works.

First off is Maureen who captured a very delightful cat. Note how it wasn't important to do the detail on both sides of the cat's head. We - the audience - automatically assume they are there and complete the image of the animal's head in our own heads. But Maureen has observed this creature very closely. 

We are still on the subject of cats but Rob brought us a surprise. And why not! Getting away from the idea of working on a bit of light paper, he opted for black paper and worked with white lines. Pastel? Colored pencil? 

A very clever approach and one which (am I right Rob?) needs a bit more thought and observation than working black on white paper. It is very effective and quite arresting. That glint in the eye brings him to life.

Cynthia always has a knack with drawing. She takes us off to a rural hideaway with this pencil work.

At a guess, Cynthia has used more than one hardness of pencil to get those dark blacks. And that's the joy of pencil: there are at least 12 different hardnesses available. Generally a B pencil will be great but when you want those dark shadows, it's much easier with a 6B or even a solid graphite stick.

Fiona's medium was ink- and the subject was in answer to the end of lockdown: getting out again.

This drawing in pen (a regular Staedtler pigment liner) was inked over in parts with a light ink wash so that it wasn't all hard lines. This also enabled the darks to be darker.

It is now up to you what you draw. Do send us your works and we'll put them online. Either send them to Ann  at zwets@mweb.co.za or me, at noninichols@gmail.com

Perhaps we should organize an informal drawing challenge again. It is about that time of year. Keep posted and see what transpires.