Category: Lessons

First things first

Washington Navels – graphite – 11×14 framed – $175

A man sent me some photos of his paintings and asked my opinion. It was unchanged from the last time he asked, which was unchanged from the previous time, which hadn’t changed since he quit drawing lessons to learn to paint!

My opinion is that one must learn to draw before learning to paint, IF one wants paintings to look believable. My point was not to badger him into returning to drawing lessons; it was to let him know that until he learned to draw accurately, his paintings would not be satisfying to him.

When I began painting, I chose subjects that were too difficult for my skill level. When I figured this out, I backed up to what I always tell my beginning drawing students: pick a simple single object, one with which you are already familiar. That object for me is oranges. (There is that series idea again!) At last count, I think I was on Oranges XXXIII. (for those of you in Rio Linda, that means number 33)

In no way do I mean to criticize this eager man who really really really wants to learn to paint! Au contraire – I understand him completely! When I was learning to knit, my attitude was “Scarves? We don’t need no stinkin’ scarves!!”, and my first project was a sweater. Not just a simple pullover, but a cardigan, complete with button bands and button holes! Needless to say, I am the proud owner of many weird sweaters. But, after 3 years of knitting, I now own quite a few not-so-weird ones also. So, one can probably learn to paint IF one is learning to see and understand shapes, proportions, perspective and values in the process.

And, the illustration above is not a simple single object. If a beginner chose this picture, I’d advise cropping it to a single orange with part of one leaf. Get the idea?

Learning to draw

For 14+ years I have been teaching people to draw. I tell them all “drawing is a skill, not a talent”. Some find reassurance in that; some feel disappointment. Then I liken it to typing – everyone can learn to type. Some type 25 wpm, and others hit 90 wpm. Those speedsters are the ones with talent, but all are typists.

Lots of people get the yen to paint, often when they are retired. However, most don’t understand that drawing comes before painting, sort of like grunting and pointing comes before public speaking. (not that i equate drawing with grunting, but hopefully you get my drift!)

Unless one can draw, one’s paintings will be weak. What I mean by this is that unless you can make your shapes believable, understand perspective, values (that means darks and lights) and can see proportions, your paintings will be exercises in frustration. (Then again, maybe you don’t care how they turn out!)

Some folks have taken lessons so long that I have become a habit to them. I tell them they don’t need lessons because they know how to draw. They tell me that unless they pay their $50 per month, they will not carve out time in their lives to draw.

Truthfully, I love these folks. I love my students – we become friends, comrades, buddies in the artworld. I show them my art and give them the freedom to tell me anything they think about it, good or bad. We speak truth to one another, and it is helpful and refreshing and sometimes, it can be hilarious! Drawing has to be fun, or we wouldn’t persist.