Why I Started this Art Blog

I have been teaching art in some manner to adults, teenagers, and children since the 70's.  I am still learning -- from other artists, from my students, from workshop leaders, and from art instruction books.  The time is coming when I probably can't teach anymore, so I thought that I would compose daily (or weekly) blogs for art students and other artists from all the information and advice I've gleaned over the years.  None of this is original with me -- I am an absorber -- a synthesizer - a sponge, if you will.  If you can learn anything from these tidbits, my mission will be fulfilled.  I will probably begin with some drawing techniques and then go into composition and design, perhaps specific media techniques, and some creativity problems to solve.  Where I can, I'll give credit to my sources, but I don't always remember from whence they come!  Please send me your comments.

What I've Leaned About Drawing

When I attended art school in the 50's, students could only take drawing classes the first year-- we did not use color at all except in the 3D design classes.  Consequently, I believe I received a good background in drawing.  I believe firmly that drawing is the foundation of all the visual arts.  Sometimes I think that if a student makes a successful painting without knowing how to draw, he is either very lucky, or has TRACED!  So, my first blogs will be about drawing techniques.

Drawing is a skill, not a talent.  Anyone can learn how to draw -- it just takes observation, coordination, and practice.  Just like learning to play the piano, a person can learn all the notes, but if he doesn't PRACTICE, he won't improve.  So learning to draw means drawing!  I usually give my beginning drawing students an assignment each week to be completed in their sketchbooks.  And please, have a good sketchbook -- one with spiral edges so that the sketchbook can be laid flat.  The sketchbook can be used for taking notes as well.  I must have about 25 filled sketchbooks that I've collected over the years!  I will never throw them away -- my kids will do that after I'm gone!  Always date your drawings too, so that you can see your progress from week to week.

One other thing before we get into some instructions -- don't beat up on yourself.  Don't say, "I can't draw a straight line!" Of course you can't -- we all need rulers for that!  Don't self-criticize, just focus.  We are all learners, and we all have failures one time or another.  The difference is that we learn from them.

We'll start with contour drawing on my next post.  This is the way I start my beginning drawing classes.