"Drawing is the artist's most direct
and spontaneous expression, a species of writing: it reveals, better than does
painting, his true personality."
-Edgar Degas
Outwardly, contour lines delineate the edges of a form. But there is more to them. Contours can idealize - bestowing the gift of youth. They can be more candid, and unmask a forced smile, or expose rolls of flesh, or inform us of an ill-fitting garment. So too, they can be precise or rushed. Thus, this most elementary of lines can speak volumes about a student's own perceptions.
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| Meghan |
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| Neil |
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| Julie |
"If you look at a shadow long enough, it tends to grow light. Therefore keep your eye focused on the lights or on the expression, never on the shadows or background. Better have shadows black and simple than weak".
- Robert Henri (American artist and teacher), The Art Spirit, 1923
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| Luis |
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| Zoe |
There is the usual dread that accompanies a lesson on portraiture. No surprise, given that the first endeavor broadcasts the predicted flaws - bulging eyes, a long nose, a missing brain, among other deformities - and heartily confirms the pubescent sentiment: "I can't draw".
Well, I am happy to say, accuracy is not the only objective. Though it is key when shaping the head, illuminating the surface, and measuring distance; It also adds legitimacy when replicating a work by a master draftsman, such as Rembrandt or Ingres. But being correct does not make for a great drawing - one that grabs you.
As Leonardo da Vinci said, "where the spirit does not work with
the hand there is no art". Unbridled passion, a soft caress, or even an uncertain mark shows a sincerity that we can relate to. The human element is revealed - not through an accurate rendering - but by way of the artist's own temperament.
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| Kerry |
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| Elena |
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| Kelly |
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| Sheena |
