Sneakers Are For Sneaking
As is the button on the side of your phone that takes pictures
If I’ve ever seen you in a public space and liked either your face, your style, or your pose, chances are there’s a sneaky photo of you on my phone. It might sound a bit creepy, but really it’s a compliment. Only the most inspiring people make it to the camera roll.
In moments when I’m not sure what to draw, or if I need a reference, I’ll look in my ‘Style’ or ‘Inspiration’ folders, where I sort my furtive snaps. The drawings on the below spread are based on two of those photos.
I might become friends with watercolour yet
Some small miracle happened: I made a watercolour painting I don’t hate! I went straight in with the face, and in hindsight I should have started with a less delicate area because I went in too strong and couldn’t bring the highlights back. But overall, I’m pleased with it. So pleased in fact that, even though I mentioned in my last post that I didn’t want to be precious about my sketchbook, I did become precious. I became precious because I could see she was going well and I didn’t want to ruin the next step! This is reflected in how many mornings it took me to finish —look at the dates on the bottom left, and, yes, I seemingly wanted January to start again. I work slower when I’m scared of messing something up. So, every time I finished with a colour, I stopped. That and some mornings I only had 30 mins to draw, because I’ve become addicted to Duolingo. Learning Italian with that app has taken over a lot of my free time (yes Miriam, if you’re reading this, I have started to hate the bird). Please send help.
Anyway.
I wanted to do something quicker for the second drawing. I decided to use felt pens, a medium I’ve seen some artists use to great effect but which I struggle with. Another small success here: the drawing is quite loose—or at least not as polished as I usually make them—and I’m happy with it!
The reference photo is of a man I saw at Pret (for my Canadian friends ‘Pret’ or ‘Pret A Manger’ is as ubiquitous as Tim Hortons, but with much better food. Coffee’s equally shit though). What struck me was how much of a movie character he looked like. The ‘mysterious frowning man, scribbling away.’ Also, his pose was cool.
I’m still enjoying creating quicker drawings, but I can see that my production cadence is slowing down. I’m spending more time on them as they become more complicated. It’s also making me want to start something bigger, which is good! I’m hoping that these past three months of exploring in my sketchbook will have helped me develop my art in ways I can’t foresee. I will obviously keep you posted.
Judith xx
Monthly inspirations
Friends, so far, my goal of having more art in my life in 2024 is going well. Granted we’re only at the end of Feb, but I’ve already seen 7 exhibitions!
Here are some images from my two favourites:
Jeffrey Gibson: DREAMING OF HOW IT’S MEANT TO BE
Gibson (born in Colorado, USA) fuses his Choctaw-Cherokee heritage with references that span club culture, queer theory, fashion, politics, literature, and art history.
Every single brightly coloured painting contained a lovely message. Not in a ‘toxic positivity’ sort of way, but rather in an uplifting one. I think I came within 10 cm of every piece to observe and admire the intricate geometric patterns and beadwork. I left the exhibition feeling lighter and more hopeful about humanity. And that’s not easy to achieve at the moment.
Impressionists on Paper at the Royal Academy of Arts
Art institutions have decided to remind us that drawings should be considered art as much as oil paintings, and I’m here for it. I mentioned the Hockney and Picasso exhibitions last time, and this one is in the same vein. I learnt that we owe the Impressionists for transforming the status of works on paper in the late 19th century.
I especially loved the artworks done with pastel. It’s a much more versatile medium than I previously thought! Some works looked like paintings.
Not my favourite, but special mention to this pastel on canvas by Italian artist Giuseppe de Nittis, who was as sneaky as me when it came to his subjects! Here he captured two women glimpsed through the window of a passing horse-drawn cab. Using his own carriage as a mobile studio, he drew hidden from view.
You can follow my illustration and graphic design work here.
Judith, I LOVE your two sketchbook drawings! Especially the man’s yellow socks and the woman’s long scarf, coat and matching yellow iPhone. You are so good!