Lynne Chapman's Courage and My Curiosity Shop
I've just read Lynne Chapman's excellent blog post about sketching in public and it reminded me of one of my first experiences of drawing in the street when I was a teenager.
It takes more nerve now for me to sketch with people stopping to look over my shoulder. I have to stop myself from judging my own work while I'm still creating it. But when I was teenager, it didn't bother me and I didn't have as many passers-by as Lynne experienced in Vietnam. I was sketching the Porch House in a village in Wiltshire in the 70's. After about an hour, the owners of the antique shop (as it was then) came out and said they'd been watching me and could they have a look at my picture. They liked it and asked if they could have it in exchange for something from the antique shop.
I chose these pots - for salt and pepper at one time, I believe. I thought they were beautiful but really, I was flattered that someone appreciated my drawing. I wonder what I'd think of my drawing now and I'd love to know if the owners kept it.
Anyway, click on picture gallery and look over Lynne's shoulder - go on - you know you want to see what she's drawing.
3 comments:
Thanks so much Sue for your lovely comments and for the mention here!
What a lovely story. I bet they still treasure the drawing - it will be extra special for having watched you do it, even if you could do a better one now.
To answer your question - I don't really use any of my sketchbook work. This books just sit on a shelf! It's partly that I don't want to sully what I consider 'fun' drawing with 'work' status. It's also because, to be honest, I'm not sure what to do with them!
It's true about getting a feel for structure when you draw. You have a more intimate relationship with the subject all round.
Hi Sue,
Your blog reminded me of a recent experience at the National Gallery with my ten year old son. He's an avid little draftsman and wants to be an illustrator or an artist. He's also a big fan of portraiture at the moment. So I tool him to see the Renaissance Portraits exhibitions. He picked out an exquisite little red chalk study of an elderly man, sat down cross-legged in front of it, got out his sketch book and pencils and started to draw. He had adults leaning over him, watching and whispering and it didn't bother him in the least. He just got on and finished his drawing.
What particularly amazed me about this is that he is one of the most shy boys around. Weird eh?
Jeannette
Lynne,
Maybe your sketch book drawings will be the foundation for a future book. Anyway, drawing prolifically as you do, is bound to strengthen your book illustration work.
Jeannette,
It sounds like your son is already an artist - he is compelled to draw in a public place even though he is shy.
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