Flux

Narrative Flux
vine charcoal, acrylic, gesso, compressed charcoal
24 x 36, Fabriano 140#

In the book Expressive Drawing, exercises are called "Play." Don't you love that?

Here's Play 2. I used various drawing media, and started with an expressive mark. Then, I responded to it. After three minutes, I stopped drawing and obliterated portions of the drawing that didn't seem to work. Then, I went back to drawing. This pattern of putting something down and then taking some of it away is called "Flux." Assert. Obliterate. Back and forth.

A variation of this Play is to add narrative. So, in addition to drawing and taking away, I added symbols and words.

All of this came from a question Kitty Wallis asked me this morning at breakfast (with the Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters):

"How do you find your musician knowledge and experience bridging into and informing your painting?"

Expressive Drawing

acrylic on Arches Hot Press, 140#

I can't resist a good art book! Right now I am reading a great book, Expressive Drawing: A Practical Guide to Freeing the Artist Within by Steven Aimone (click the title and you will see a lot of the book on line!).

In the first chapter are some guided exercises to help create a more playful attitude about drawing. My paper is 29" x 22", a little smaller than the recommended 48" x 36" size. Holding my 1" flat brush like a fencer holds a foil, I made a mark and let it be whatever it wanted to be. No thinking or planning, just load the brush and put it down.

Then, I stepped back and looked at the line I made. Reloaded the brush, and responded to the first line.

Have you ever tried this kind of "automatic drawing"? Did you know that the Surrealists used a version of this to express the subconscious? It may that Picasso even practiced automatic drawing in his later years.

This is one art book I am very glad I did not resist!