Taking a line for walk

I’ve lost count of the number of times that people have wandered around my studio saying ” I can’t even draw a straight line”.

I’m at a bit of a  loss as to what to answer…why would you want to? Unless you’re training to be an architect or an engineer maybe? I’m not sure that I can draw a straight line either.

But it makes me aware that it might be something that holds people back from painting. A fear that something might look “wrong “ , that they may not be able to transfer what’s in their mind’s eye onto paper?

(Sidetracking –  when the kids were little I’d never tell them what their birthday cake was supposed to be until it was finished, and I  remember quite a few “volcanoes”!)

Thinking back to BWC ( before watercolour) I recall going along to some drawing classes in the old band rotunda in Oriental Bay in Wellington. Persuaded by a forceful friend, I went dutifully once a week and to my amazement actually enjoyed myself. It was quite meditative, drawing a page of eyes with different expressions, or copying a corner of a famous painting with pencil or charcoal .

Slowly, with lots of practice and mistakes, I began to be able to see and draw those shapes. Once I learned to look properly at shapes I was actually able to draw them on paper!

I now know that even if I don’t draw every detail  before I paint something, I need to get the shapes right, otherwise the painting will fail miserably. If the shapes are wrong the painting can’t work.

The human brain is wired to spot shapes and interpret them – think sharks,  love hearts, road signs, flowers , gingerbread people.  Our brains don’t need too much detail, not even colour , to understand what these things mean and act accordingly. And drawing is all about shapes.

To help all of those people who fret about getting it right, I’m mulling over the idea of a drawing workshop  , wondering how to tackle this if I do decide to give it a go . I’m not one of those people who will spend hours practising shading cylinders or cubes , not that there’s anything wrong with that but I don’t myself feel attracted to painting cubes or cylinders very often. 🙂

Instead, I need to figure out my own drawing process and  how to pass that on in a fun and worthwhile way. My thinking cap is firmly in place.

If you’d be interested in joining me for a fun drawing workshop later on in the year please get in touch.

Other news? My exhibition at the Amuri Art Gallery in Hanmer runs through to the 28th of February , featuring some of my NZ and Australian oil paintings . And I still have a space on the 28th in my one day introduction  to watercolour workshop at Hanmer Springs if you feel like joining us .