Drawing Tips

Drawing Tips:

Mystery Art

I want to talk to you about how you can get the most out of

No..... I'm not asking you to go to a Buddhist temple to "contemplate our navel".... though becoming one with what is around you. 

And I don't think we do enough of it these days.

I'm going to talk to you about this exercise on drawing tips, and then I am going to show you a few examples of what I'm talking about...

Right,in drawing tips, think of your self somewhere........  like say in the country,  and you see a fence that stretches for miles. Do you see anything about this fence that could be of interest?. Say, for example, this fence is fairly old, a part of one section of the fence is partly falling down, and at the base of one of one stump, is growing a patch of grass with a lone wild flower blowing slightly in the wind.....

So you are focusing of this one section out of the whole fence. Here you see that this one section has a unique character to it, that holds you. And then you capture this in art.

Did you ever, when you were a kid, lay down on the grass of a fine day and look up into the sky and look at the clouds, only to start making shapes out of these same clouds, the same clouds you were looking at as one mass of shapes earlier. And if you let your imagination lax, you just see a scattering of clouds once again.

"I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious."-~Andrew Wyeth

I remember, when I was a kid I used to do this. And I am sure that kid or not, we all should lay down and just look at the clouds. Are you seing the point in drawing tips that I am trying to show you? Are you starting to see the picture I'm trying to project here? Mystery art is the ability to see something that has so much character to it, that it would take hold the onlooker with interest when they see this in a painting or a sketch.

Have a look at anything around you, and try to make a frame by joining your fingertips of both hands together and single out just a small scene that you think will be very interesting and has character.

With drawing tips such as these....some of the smallest things that you would otherwise overlook generally, will make a very interesting piece of art.

I will give you one example that I have seen, though this was in photo form.

I have seen how a photo of a cowboy sitting on a big fence had been taken, Though, you know it was a cowboy, though the photo, yet the subject only concentrated on his boots and spurs. Now these boots might have been worn, and the fence weather beaten, The spurs could have been new, or worn. But this picture made a better subject than if the photographer had taken the whole cowboy.

I want you to try this, go around making a frame with your hands at all types of scenes, and you will be amazed how focusing in on a few things would make such a rich and characteristic drawing or painting. And this is one of the mysteries of art. Training yourself to see these otherwise missed opportunities to create some of your best work.

Also focus on how a scene makes you feel... does it convey a story all buy itself. We emphasize with these feelings, and coming out in your work...... will only make a stronger subject. You in turn connect with your onlookers and your art builds its own character. And this is where the magic of art starts to form, have a soul, and convey to its audience of onlookers. It becomes powerful art, it means something, and it doesn't matter the feelings it portrays, as long as it has a powerful story that makes it popular. It might be loneliness, quietness, an approaching storm - power of

I have seen so much art that just lacks that oomph..... that magic that gives it a soul. The same with sculpture, giving a sculpture a soul. Which leaves a  sculpture featureless and dull. Every muscle, action and intent creates a scene captured in time. And a story is being told - the onlooker is reading it.

For example... look at these photos to get an idea.

You have two building scenes here in drawing tips, see how certain subjects, or parts of subjects, have become the soul focus of attention. Yet, this has become the new, "whole picture". Which has been singled out from a scene. I will bet you that these pictures, as they are. Are far more interesting than if you would go back to the original whole scene.

Feel the mood that each picture makes you feel. It might be only a small part of an overall scene, yet it is more than enough to tell you a story and create atmosphere. Now if you use these photo subjects and paint or sketch them........ You create a special piece of art. It makes you feel like you want to get started choosing the colors for it straight away.

Now we have a close up of a cheater, In drawing tips, I think just this alone in say watercolor or pen and ink will make a great piece of art.

It tells a story in itself.

This picture of a cat, not only shows plenty of character by the focus subject - "the cat". The rich colors of the balcony that the cat is laying in. Will enrich the picture, and add brilliance and is strong enough to frame our main subject; being the cat.

In drawing tips, knowing when you have a winner, and going with it, is something you need to practice at. It takes time. And to recognize when you have a winner for your next painting etc.... is not easy. But perseverance and practice will develop your awareness.

One exercise in drawing tips that you can do, is make a small frame out of  cartridge paper, which is stronger than normal paper, or something similar. Look.... even normal paper is ok as it will just be more floppy to handle.

• Once you have your frame, don't make it too big.

• Look through a book or something with pictures in it.

• Then place the frame on top of the picture, and move it around the picture.

 Looking into the frame, gives you another picture. Move it around the whole picture, trying different angles. You might be amazed, and see some very interesting ideas for your next paintings or drawings.

The same with your hands, Make a frame with your hands when you are out. And see how different potential art work ideas could be staring you right in the face. Then get your camera, and take a photo of that exact view.

With time, you will recognize what will make a good subject for art and what will not.

Lets return from Drawing Tips to Drawing Techniques