What is a Drawing?

Have entered The Scottish Drawing competition, but am struggling with their definition (gad I hate art speak!) - "Mark making with intent" For the purpose of the competition, a drawing is defined as a representation by means of lines and the arrangement of these lines which determine a particular form. Form being the arrangement of individual shapes and volumes and their relationship depicted in a work of art, whether figurative or abstract as distinct from its subject matter or content. Drawing in any medium is acceptable. (phew!)

The above drawing I decided not to enter, as I felt it was too close to painting, whereas I am entering the drawing from Previous post as well as a more straight forward landscape drawing. Did I make the right decision? I have no idea . . . and will wait and see if I am accepted.

Personally I feel that any work which uses the support as a major element and mainly consists of marks laid down in one layer is a drawing - so I would include the above, and most of my watercolours. They are made with a brush making one mark as I go - so the mark varies in width, but to me it is still a line. Am i nuts? All comments welcome . . .

Wasps Open Weekend

Date: Saturday 1st October - Sunday 2nd October
Venue: W.A.S.P.S Factory, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow, G31 2HF

As many of you will know, I have been attending life drawing at Wasps Hanson Street studios now for at least five years.

This year the friday group are putting on quite a show, with most of us exhibiting at least two works. There promises to be a some studio-based works and paintings, as well as life drawings - which should ensure a wide range of styles and subject matter!

We will have a clothed model in the room for most of the day, so everyone can have a go. Work will be also be available to purchase.

Opening hours - 11am - 5pm, Saturday 1st October
12 noon - 5pm, Sunday 2nd October

Further information is available on the WASPS website.

Tease Exhibition at Virginia Gallery

New exhibiton opening today at Virginia Gallery" - a new venue for me. Fiona Wilson asked me to put a few small things in, as there are 4 big walls to fill. I am actually quite excited about seeing five of my works up together - especially as it will be the first time I've displayed my little ink and watercolour life drawings in public. And, of course, seeing Fiona's work is always a pleasure.

The first image is also the first that I did at All The Young Nudes, way back in February - it has become quite a favourite on Flickr, so it will be interesting to see the response to the real thing.
The opening party will be on the 23rd, so anyone in Glasgow quite welcome to come along - the gallery is below Luke and Jack's, which sells fancy condoms and such like, so be warned. The two chaps who run both the shop and gallery are absolutely lovely though, and quite welcoming - this may well be that the start of a long and hopefully fruitful collaboration!

Koi fish painting

OK, been playing around over the last wee bitty with watercolours (have you noticed that? guess its pretty obvious . . . ) and the most recent play has been with chinese brush and ink - this particular painting is the blue, which is an absolutely lovely, ethereal purpley-blue.

Also obsessed with movement at the moment (no idea why - sometimes I think you should just roll with obsessions, especially in making pictures - since where you start and where you end are so completely different places. How to portray movement is, of course, one of the big questions that all artists solve in their own way - or decide to completely ignore!).

How beneficial experimentation can be is something I have been talking to other artists about quite a bit recently, and I am thinking of putting in my diary specific "experimentation" time. So, what do you guys think? Keep experimenting? Keep working on the movement?

Oh, and I have three paintings going on show at Art Exposure on Friday - the show will be on for about a month, if you can't make it down to the opening.

George Square

Last weekend I went to the Glasgow Merchant City Festival - which was a bit of a first for me, as I have always previously avoided such things, being pretty deaf.
However, recent emails between myself and the lovely Nigel Cox has encouraged me to use photographs of strangers. In particular, I want to explore movement more by using reference material of dancers/trapeze artists/acrobats etc. It seems to me that line and wash is a perfect match for such subjects - and hopefully I will be posting proof of this sometime soon.
The whole thing was much more enjoyable than I expected - especially the dance - not sure why it had never occurred to me that dance does not really need the music to be enjoyed.
Anyway, before all the dancing started, I managed a couple of urban sketches, one of the George Square Lions and the other of the back end of the City Chambers.

To end the day, I went and saw Grim(m) Tales at the suggestion of Moira Buchanan and was suprised to see Anna, one of my models! (The show is brilliant and they are on during the Edinburgh Festival - I strongly recommend going and seeing them!)

Cattitude and Life Drawing

Recently I met a cat sitting amongst rose bushes outside Glasgow University Library. As I had partially gone there to paint and having all my stuff with me, I took the opportunity to quickly draw her - and I am so glad I did, as not only did I make a new friend (although she wasn't quite friendly enough to come out from the roses) but I discovered that doing three minute sketches at atyn had prepared me for animal painting - not only in the speed used, but also in the skill of capturing the essentials of a pose.



I feel this is even more important with animals (especially cats!) than with humans, as they are often more expressive through their posture than we are - Another cat-friend of mine (in the loosest sense - he is my neighbour's cat, and has taken daily delight in hissing at me on the stairwell) is never less than composed and commanding - even when watching the other neighbours dog, as can be seen in the second painting.



Whereas the third painting shows my childhood pet (who lived for 24 years!), who was almost a disgrace to catdom in having virtually no dignity and unlimited curiosity about everything and everyone. When we were moving, and showing people round the house, she had to be put in her basket and taken to a friends - otherwise she would follow people around and talk to them. She even joined in on conversations on the phone . . .

Anyway, my point really is that life drawing really does prepare you for everything - and helps you decide where your strengths and weaknesses lie.

Expect much more animals in future . . . .

Neocolor 2

This is my first trial of a neocolor crayon that I picked up when in the art store the other day . . . Recently I have been thinking a lot about drawing and process - partly as it seems to me to be the next thing to learn and partly because it is frustrating to spend hours in the life class and have little to show for it.
So, I am thinking that either I need to start selling my drawings (Etsy) or be able to use them to make paintings.
The average class has a variety of timed poses - the quick ones seem to lend themselves to outline drawing, with maybe a colour addition for tone. Longer can be used for oil sketching (but need at least 30minutes!).
So, that's sorted. But what do I do with them next? put them in a pile? re-interpret them in different colours/medium etcetera? use them as a basis for a painting?
Presently do all three - this particular drawing is based on both a drawing and a photo I did when the lovely Anna was modelling for me recently. I painted her when she was here as well, and in due course there should be oil paintings appearing, quite possibly with one using the same pose.