Studio Practice

This week, I have got to that stage where I am in dire need of a brew. My trusty callus protector is doing a fine job but I have been denying myself breaks from drawing, which has lead to a sore hand that now resembles more of a claw.

Sometimes, I just get so involved in drawing and lose track of the time. When glancing at the clock, I think “just 5 more minutes, then I’ll take a break”. Inevitably, another hour passes and I tell myself the same thing, “just 5 minutes, I really see this piece going somewhere…”. 

I find it hard to pull myself away from drawing for much needed breaks for the eyes and hands. Running your own art business requires more marketing and business time then actual art production. Let’s face it, artists love to make art! That’s what we do. So to convince yourself, as an artist, to take a 10 minutes break can be extremely difficult.

I have found the less breaks I take, the more I am doing myself an injustice. Regular breaks actually keep the mind more focused. It allows my hand and eyes to adjust. The more short breaks you allow yourself the better, as then you find yourself more relaxed and motivated to continue. There is more room for your creativity.

The next time I think “just 5 more minutes”, I’ll tell myself, “No, now it is time for a cup of tea”.

In the studio searching for connections in abstract imagery…
As I investigate the contemporary approach to drawing, I am searching for connections in the abstract imagery created through my drawing processes. In order to ‘make sense’/find significance in these marks on a page, I’m using colour. Pareidolias is still one of the main discourses involved in my work.
Currently, opposite colours (‘complimentary colours’) are being used to connect all the elements on the paper…

After creating objects and leaving their memory on paper (drawing with bubbles), I apply the watercolour washes. What I am wanting to do is present the colours that connect to each other. For example, I have used red and green and black. When red and green are mixed together it creates black. The same concept applies to other opposites such as yellow and purple, and blue and orange. When they are mixed, it creates black, forming a connection through the piece.

I am enjoying the vibrancy of the work and want to push this idea of searching for connections in abstract imagery. The more I search for meaning, the more I find out about the medium of drawing and questioning when my drawings will be considered paintings.

**Pareidolia –  The phenomena of searching for significance in sound and imagery, i.e – seeing images in clouds.