Friday 16 October 2015

Charmouth beach stones - more drawing

This week, I spent two nights drawing for almost two hours. I'm trying to get (back) into a habit of drawing regularly, and spending more time in my studio. Especially in the evenings, when you're tired from work, it can be hard to motivate yourself to get off the sofa and pick up some pencils. Even if you actually like it, and know that it will make you feel so much better than just spending the entire evening in front of the tv. Why can it sometimes be so hard to shake off such bad and irrational habits? 


I've also been thinking a lot about style and techniques. How so often our inner critic/perfectionist puts those images of how your drawing or painting should look like before you even got the first brush stroke or pencil line down. How difficult it can be to put those expectations aside and just follow the flow. I know exactly how I would like to be able to paint or draw. And it doesn't always work. So I'm trying hard now to ignore that voice, and to approach my canvas or sketchbook without expectations (I even taped a reminder up on my easel), and just let it flow. To find out what comes naturally, and then take it from there. I had something else in mind when I started drawing the first stone, something that didn't involve blending and making it all smooth. But then I couldn't help picking up my blending stick, and I spent two evenings happily layering and blending and getting lost in details.

During our holiday, we went to Charmouth beach. One side of the beach is sand, the other side is stones, quite big ones, that make it quite difficult to walk (but is very popular with fossil hunters). I loved the beautiful big smothes stones with their white veins running through them, that were lying in between the other stones, and I took some photos of the them so that I could draw them later.

16 comments:

  1. The beach looks lovely, and I love the drawings of the beautiful stones. Yes, we need to let go and see what happens! Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie

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  2. Ein wunderschöner Strand und Deine Steine sehen super aus!

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  3. Your drawing is so beautiful. I love the softness of pencils and it works perfectly p
    For these stones. Mistakes often bring soul to art and give it a life of its own beyond our control. That's the magic of it.

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  4. very nice work; happy PPF

    much love...

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  5. wow, lots of depth in those stones ....

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  6. I love any beach scene-and your sketch work of the stones is really super!

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  7. Beautiful stones...get a lap desk and draw while watching tv...it may help give you a freer flow as you divide your time and thought between the two tasks~

    Hugs Giggles

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  8. Beautiful place! And also beautiful stones sketch!

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  9. You are so right. Sometimes I find it difficult to motivate myself to work in the evenings. Even when I have to finish something! I think the approach of winter quietnens ceativity! Drawing everyday is a great way to keep it flowing. Love your pebbles.

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  10. Such wonderful depth in your beach photo - I long to walk on that beach and paint! Wonderful stones :)

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  11. Wow! Your drawing is just amazing. It fills my eyes. Which is the greatest compliment I can give. Beautiful, so soft and lovely.

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  12. I love your beach stones. And I totally get how hard it is to get back into something you know you enjoy and would benefit from. Keep going!

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  13. Beautiful stones, so well done with light, shadows and all the details..
    I've tried and paint regularly, unless some weeks during the summer..
    Your summer photo had me think of my summer island, as there are lots of stones on the one side, and
    sand beaches on the other side. Impresiing, isn't it! :)

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  14. Wow that is a wonderful beach. I too am drawing, each night getting back into the habit. I love the drawings of your rocks.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  15. It's always best not to have any expectation, but rather to be excited as to what will emerge from the paper/canvas before you! And look! Beautiful pebbles! Just perfect! :0)

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  16. The Beach is wonderful. . .the stone drawings are great. Blessings, Janet PPF

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