Today's lesson was a little different. Instead of drawing objects, we are finally drawing people. When I first heard that we were going to draw our course mates, I thought, "OH. MY. GOD. I will never be able to do this."
We had 3 twenty-minute sessions to do our drawing and had to spend another 3 twenty-minute sessions acting as "models" to be drawn by our course mate.
It was an interesting experience because I realised how adaptable we really are. The first twenty minutes of "modeling" was sleep-inducing. I felt like falling asleep at many points. The second become easier because I have started on my drawing and spent the time observing the contours, shadows and lights on my model's face.
The third session was even easier as I spent the time strategising, thinking of the next step I would take in my drawing. I heard myself thinking, "Maybe I should proceed with the nose later. It has two gentle curves and a slant. The bottom portion of the nose has a darker shade. Her cheek is also lighter than the bottom portion of her face."
Drawing was tough. I had a hard time getting started and my really wonderful instructors gave me a lot of help. The thing about drawing humans is that there are lots of contours and curves. I'm super bad at drawing curves that are natural. It turns out looking like a semi-circle. HAHA! Nicola talked to us about moulding the curve when we adjust the contours of the curve slowly to shape it to realism.
I stayed back to complete my picture and was utterly shocked when I stepped out of the class that it was already 3pm! Was feeling so "paiseh" that I had taken an extra hour of my instructor's time without even noticing it. *APOLOGIES!*
It was then that I realised that I had entered into a state of Flow where I was fully absorbed in the activity and was immersed in a feeling of deep concentration, involvement and to a certain extent, bittersweet enjoyment. This is something I have not experienced even in my piano playing days.
The thing that came closest to the flow I experienced in drawing was the time I spent reading intensely on the plane and spent 4 hours completing the novel. I felt like I have not connected with a book in that way for a long time.
Anyway, my side profile portrait. My friend is definitely prettier than this. But seriously.... I cannot believe I have drawn something vaguely resembling a human side profile.
It makes me feel that I'm not that much of an Art retard after all.
We're drawing our self-portrait next. I've got a feeling I'm going to miss these lessons once it's over.
No comments:
Post a Comment