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!
