Week 5's lesson for the online watercolor class was shoes.
I began by drawing one of my husband's sneakers. An afternoon of perspective challenges took it's toll. I stopped before it was finished. It "might" have worked, but I ran off the page. And Tom's shoe is much longer in real life. This looks like a child's sneaker. Okay, make me say it, I didn't plan the drawing in advance.
No way in Hell was I going to try to draw this geometric nightmare again. Horrifying experience. Failure accepted. Lesson learned.
I studied the next shoe, measuring as I lightly sketched. It isn't perfect, but I'm kind of proud of this one. The best part being that I will never have to paint it again.
I almost had a heart attack painting this. I must remember to breathe.
The shoes are an inspiration for me, Collette. I don't know that I can draw and paint that well anymore.
ReplyDeleteNow I remember why I started making mandalas! I recall those feelings you describe. You are braver than I have been lately!
When I went back to college at age 30, I told my drawing professor that drawing was a physical and emotional struggle for me. Although I don't remember his exact words, he basically said, "Welcome to the club."
Thank you for affirming my experiences with drawing and painting. It's about time for me to join you and draw again (-:
Please do. It has been at least 20 years since I drew anything. And about 50 years since I took myself seriously as an artist. Taking this class was an act of faith in myself. I was quite surprised to discover that I remembered how to draw. I love the drawing. The painting is hard, though.
DeleteI like that one too. I love the way you've captured the shine on the side of the shoe, and the shadow underneath it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nick.
DeleteI think both shoes are well done! They actually look like shoes which is much, much more than I could do! Good painting and shading on the blue shoe, too! Success!
ReplyDeleteOh thanks!
DeleteThe blue one DOES look great! But even the sneaker seems pretty good to me.
ReplyDeleteHad I stayed with it, and started over the sneaker might have turned out. Wasn't fun, though.
DeleteOMG I LOVE YOUR BLUE SHOE! Gorgeous! Shadow so believable, excellent. I also love the sneaker- I don[t think I would attempt that ever! Your blue shoe is darling and perfect and well done YOU!!It takes my breath away, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda Sue. That means a lot.
DeleteHow I wish I had some little artistic talent. Both of yours are good even if size planning for your husband's shoe was lacking.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emma. Get yourself a drawing tablet, a couple of pencils, and a kneaded eraser. Go wild.
DeleteYou are truly an artist. The shoe painting is so well done!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the kind words, Robin.
DeleteWow, those are both impressive! When I was out west early last year with no computer, I tried to draw every day. I was working my way through "Drawing on the Left Side of the Brain." One of the exercises was especially intriguing. You had to draw something the author put out. But! You had to turn it upside down. It apparently changes how you approach the exercise and it worked! When I turned my work right side up I thought I must be Leonardo reincarnated! Give it a try - it's pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteYou should frame that lovely shoe!
Oh gee. That's interesting. I may give that book a read.
DeleteI began to doubt myself...it's "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" not "left".
ReplyDeleteI am VERY impressed by both shoes. As someone who can barely write their own name, and being married to an artist, not to mention the sister of one, I've always been frustrated by my complete lack of artistic skills. I could no more draw those than walk straight up a wall.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marty. We all have our talents and skill sets. Cheers.
DeleteThat beautiful blue shoe is my kinda shoe.
ReplyDeleteI seriously love this shoe in real life. Bought it for a granddaughter's wedding.
DeleteYes, I love your shoe... the lady shoe although the man shoe was going very well until you decided to stop. But, we do what we want to do, what makes us feel good about ourselves so lady shoes it is. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Latane. Nice to meet you.
DeleteWell done! Great perspective, a little whimsical and an all around amazing first try.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks.
DeleteGreat stuff. I would be completely useless. You are an artist.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sabine.
DeleteMy artistic talent tops off at stick figures. I applaud your talent. Both works are very impressive.
ReplyDeleteThanks 8.
DeleteI recently asked myself whether novel-writing could be considered pleasurable. Might it be - that dubious word - a hobby? Even worse - a pastime? Be patient C, this is a relevant comment, or as relevant as any of my comments gets.
ReplyDeleteUnderstand, 99.999% of novels never get written - brief flirtations, all in the mind, blown away like dandelion seed. Of that 0.001% only 0.0001% get past page 19. Any MS that starts with an otherwise blank page carrying the novel’s title, the word "by" and the author's name will never be finished. The early inclusion of a strapline, eg:
Blood LustTenderness and ratiocination in an abattoir
is also a bad sign.
Why? Length. Not measured merely in words, pages or hours but as a subtraction. Clicking away the author senses he is climbing into celestial regions where oxygen is becoming rarer. Breathlessness leading to suffocation. Alas, there is no down. That’s oblivion.
Is this pleasure?
Even short novels are long. The US's greatest classic, Gatsby, can be read in an afternoon. But Fitz had to grind out 47,094 words. Above, I’ve just written 191 words. It took a couple of hours, in dribs and drabs, before and after lunch. At that rate (0.63 words/min) Gatsby would have taken 74,752 minutes. Which is a lot.
The words that accompany your excellent painting of a shoe (I’m a great fan of the pencil sketch too. Something missing? No big deal.) are strange but cogent. They suggest you haven’t identified why you are doing what you are doing. Kinda weird since you were also suffering. Yet you kept going. And lo, what you brought forth was seemly. But anyone can judge an end-product; getting there is the problem. I trust this makes sense. Join me in the pool.
I love both shoes! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteNicely done. I cannot draw at ALL.
ReplyDelete