Basic 101: Class 26 - getting to know you

Troy Rochford · #1 08-29-2005, 01:53 AM

Basic 101: Class 26
Deja Vu

Well, hello all! Before we begin, allow me to formally introduce myself for the benefit of those who do not know me. You already know my name, and my bio as it relates to art is remarkably dull and uneventful. The level of my artistic ability is debatable, but for better or worse, I was born with it. Neither of my parents could ever draw a straight line, but at various points in time, my mother’s sister, father, and grandfather, and my father’s mother, father, brother, and two sisters were either professional artists, or good enough to pursue such a career. So you could say that the odds were stacked in my favor.

However, this has its drawbacks. Coming by artistic talent naturally, I was always arrogant enough to eschew the idea of formal training, which haunts me more than you could imagine. I’ve been drawing all my life, and know some advanced techniques backwards and forward, but I lack some of the fundamental knowledge that I would have received from a structured training program. I also have a horrible tendency to get frustrated and/or bored with art and go years without drawing a single thing. Because of these shortcomings, I have spent my entire life in a sort of artistic rut, taking one step forward and two steps back, as the saying goes. In many ways, I need this 101 class more than any of you, and more than some guy walking down the street who has never attempted a drawing in his life.

"More," you demand, hanging on my every word??? Well, okay...

A few years ago, I walked out of a high paying corporate job and decided to try art full time. It has been a struggle at times, but liberating just the same. Unfortunately, though, even doing art for a living doesn’t protect me from myself. I was recently bitten by the bug of frustration and self-doubt, and took the better part of a year off – living on my savings and focusing on non-art related pursuits. As a result, I’m now a lot less comfortable financially, and a lot less proficient artistically. I returned here in an effort to regain my motivation, and it is working, in large part thanks to Jay and this class.

And on that note, I want to sincerely thank Jay for launching this class, helping to keep me motivated, and finally for having enough faith in me to entrust me with the future of this class. I am here to learn just as all of you, and I only hope that I can do an adequate job of inspiring you guys and keeping this program interesting so that we all benefit. I promise that I will do my best in that regard.

Now, preliminaries aside, I’d like to begin this week’s class with an observation and a question. What I’ve observed lately is comments to the effect that this program will inevitably come to an end, perhaps even in the near future. My question is: WHY? Why do the classes have to end? Are we nearing some predetermined point at which we no longer require any learning or exploration? There are a lot of clichés in the art world, but one that I believe has merit is the one about the true artist being a life-long student. Show me an artist who feels no need for further learning, and I will show you an artist whose stagnant, complacent mentality and lack of inspiration show through in his work.

It is clear to me that most if not all of us agree that this 101 program has served invaluably in the development and improvement of its participants. Jay has established this program as one of the best things that ever happened to this forum. I plan to continue that tradition for as long as I am afforded the honor, and I hope to see someone do the same when I move on.

Now, that said, the immediate issue is to finish out this first year of classes. As I have only recently come back from my ill-advised hiatus from the art world and WC, I am not as in tune as I would like to be with each of your personalities, styles, interests, and goals as artists. I hope that you will help me to solve that dilemma, if you will indulge me this radical departure from the normal flow of the class.

I would like for this week’s focus to be you leading me. I ask that each of you think about what you’ve learned so far, and where you want to go from here. What do you want to learn? If YOU conducted the next class, what subject, style, or technique would be the primary focus? I’m asking that you briefly introduce yourself to me by telling me what your goals are individually and what you would like to see us explore in the future. I know this sounds hokey, but humor me, huh?!

This will genuinely help me to get a pulse on who you are as individuals, what your artistic interests are, and the direction in which we should head from here. This is a bit of a transitional week, and we WILL move forward with the next class. Where we go with the next class is up to YOU , and this is your opportunity to drive that decision-making process.

OH YEAH... I almost forgot! There is the little matter of a drawing assignment (come on!! You didn't think you were getting off THAT easily did you? I said "transition," not "vacation"!!!!)

Now, it's one thing to think about what you've learned so far. It's even another to talk about it. But what I'm interested in is seeing you DEMONSTRATE it!! The assignment is simple. Re-do your pre-class assignments (specifically item #2 from the assignment in the link provided below), post the results here, and let's guage the extent to which this class has helped you to improve. If you did not DO a pre-class assignment, well, there's no time like the present!

Pre-Class Assignments

In closing, um... Anita, CJ, and Fuzzy Robot, push your darks!!!

Happy Drawing!

Cathie Jones · #2 08-29-2005, 02:13 AM

Oh, you evil man!

I had hoped never to have to see that stupid boat again!!!

Okay, okay . . . I'll do it.

My initial goal was to learn to draw in order to improve my watercolors. I loved to draw as a child but nothing I did passed muster with my evil step-father. He just put everything down without offering help. So I quit drawing, but never got over wanting to do it.

Thanks to JayD I've learned a lot more than I expected and my goal now is to improve my drawing to the point that it can stand alone - without paint. Although, I have to admit I still have watercolor flowing in my veins, it's tempered with graphite now. And maybe CP if I can learn patience.

I hate to throw in the dreaded 'p' word here (perspective) but I just can't seem to get it. So, that's something I'd like to do more of here. Also landscapes - flowers - trees - more animals - shiney stuff - everything, I guess. It's all fun.

Like you, Troy, I don't ever want Basic 101 to end. I'm retiring from my 'day job' in October and will be down to just one job, so I hope to have more time then to devote to practice. Until then, I'll keep plodding along and completing as many of the assignments as I can. And pushing darks, of course.

Thanks for taking us on, Troy. JayD has left you some big shoes to fill (I think it's the clown shoes) - and I'm sure you'll do fine. Just don't lose your sense of humor and we'll get along great!!!

Judi1957 · #3 08-29-2005, 07:08 AM

Hi Troy!

Thanks for the intro and filling in the blanks on your background.

I always was sorry I picked the pre-class assignment I did.

Still getting in my first cuppa joe so I really don't have much more to say right now, except - Thanks Troy!

JayD · #4 08-29-2005, 07:22 AM

Troy, EXCELLENT class. I will be watching with great interest. Judi, shake the dust off of the boat! Troy, one thing that I found that by teaching the class I was doing more and more learning so you will benefit from these excercises and if you want to extend the classes beyond its fory week mission--I say go for it!!!

Mary Woodul · #5 08-29-2005, 08:55 AM

Troy, excellent introduction and I couldn't expect less from you. I'm going backwards, Troy. I started painting first, abstract and expressionistic Mixed Media for ten years and now I am learning to draw, thanks to JayD.

**Anita Murphy** · #6 08-29-2005, 09:34 AM

Guess I get to escape this one! I didn't even know there was a pre-class assignment till last week!

Will be thinking of you all!

Cathie Jones · #7 08-29-2005, 09:45 AM

You know, Troy, Anita has a point. I think there are only 4 or 5 of us still here that started with the pre-class assignment. What is everyone else doing?

sultry · #8 08-29-2005, 09:45 AM

Troy, Great start on your first class

I liked hearing about your journey with art.
I went back to look at my p.c.a. and saw that it was another drawing I did from imagination (when I completed it my sister thought it looked like me, does this mean I need to do another sp?)
Anyways, well I was back there I read my 2nd post and it kinda describes my journey with art so here it is....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

Hi Sultry--that is a lovely portrait. Those eyes are captivating--I would not mess with them. I like the hair--I think in this picture you have to think about your lights and darks and creating contrast in order to make the picture interesting. I want you to take a mirror and hold it up to the picture--see if it shows you anything askew--then share it with us. this is a great start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sultry

Thank you Jay for the sweet comments

I have just recently picked up the drawing pencils again....for years I was not producing a thing

But by visiting certain sites and pouring over other artists comments on how they have achieved such beautiful works of art, I felt I could open my mind and educate myself to learn more in this field by allowing constructive critique to help improve my skills. I have always been one too afraid to show my work lol. I think it has alot to do with my father always telling me that I should be doing something constructive and not doodling my life away...but you know after he passed I found out he really liked my art.
anyways, this is getting too long sorry for that...
I am going to say that I noticed my values all blend together as a same tone and do not really bounce out at the viewer and this makes my portrait look flat. Helpppppp

I need to know how to use the kneaded eraser and how to use presure on my crosshatching lines so they give distinctive grey values.
Oh and as for perspective umm... I am horrible at it.

last but not least,,,how to blend correctly, I have a tendacy to blend it all to one shade.
Last edited by sultry : 10-19-2004 at 08:40 AM

By the way Jay, Thank you I did learn what I wanted to learn & I am still learning.

Anita, I think you should do whatever drawing you did before you started the class, was it not a portrait of your son? I know it was not for the class but it was what you worked on before you started the class.

JayD · #9 08-29-2005, 10:37 AM

Go Back And Do A Preclass Assignment--or Better Yet Show Us A Drawing Prior To Basic 101-now Redraw That One--see Anita--you Dooooo Get To Participate.

mhimeswc · #10 08-29-2005, 10:42 AM

CJ's statement sounds like it could have been written by me.

I also started this class to help me with my watercolors. Drawing has always been a weak point in my w/c's. During this class I've come to love drawing for it's own sake, and have had a lot of fun (and learned a lot too) with most of these lessons. In the past, I have only completed sketches - that is, I've mostly quit too soon because I didn't know what more to do with a piece. During this class I've learned how to continue until I have a more finished drawing, and I've really surprised myself with some of them.

I too have always done things backwards. I've played with art all my life, but started to take it seriously when I discovered watercolor. I got a few books and started painting. Then I decided maybe I should take some classes to learn to do it right. After about 6 years of watercolor class I decided that I needed to learn to draw.

I too still have a problem with perspective. I understand the concept, and can draw a generic box with all the vanishing points, but I have trouble actually putting this skill into practice on actual buildings, boats, etc. It's just kind of a trick I know, and does not really affect my day to day drawing ability (or lack thereof).

I also did a lot of travelling this year, and missed some of the classes. I have tried to go back to a few of the ones I missed, but am really having too much fun with the current ones to get around to most of them. I will make more of an effort to do so.

My pre-class drawing was of my grandson, Matthew. I will dig out the photo and do it again. I was actually hoping to be "really good" by the time this re-do occurred, and am not sure I'm "ready" yet, but I will give it a shot. Unfortunately, two of the classes I missed are the portrait and and the children lessons.

Michelle

Fozbot · #11 08-29-2005, 01:39 PM

okay Troy ...let me get this straight. i'm to pick something to draw that intimidates me...right? and then try to draw it and post the results. am i getting warm?
Signed,
Fuzzy Robot

Fozbot · #12 08-29-2005, 01:42 PM

what's this about a boat???????

Judi1957 · #13 08-29-2005, 01:55 PM

Troy,
Are we to to use the same medium for our re-do of the pre-Class assignment?

Foz, CJ did a boat for her pre-class assignment - which she, btw, redid a bit ago and the improvement was amazing!

Mary Woodul · #14 08-29-2005, 02:16 PM

Good question Judi, I did mine in graphite and would like to try in CP. Is the OK with you maestro?

Troy Rochford · #15 08-30-2005, 03:38 AM

Okay, I apologize if I did not make it clear in the lesson intro, but let me try to clarify things now. IF YOU DID NOT DO A PRE - CLASS ASSIGNMENT, THEN PLEASE DO ONE NOW, FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES POSTED BY JAYD IN THAT THREAD (see above link). This isn't rocket science, folks. I just want to get a feel for where people are artistically at this moment in time.

If you DID do a pre-class assignment, then I don't care what medium, style, technique, or religious convictions you apply to the new version, so long as it is somehow relevant to what we have covered in the course of this class. In other words, to the best of my knowledge, we have not covered oil painting in this class, so I do not want to see oil paintings submitted in this thread. On the other hand, if we DID cover oils in a previous class, then you are certainly free to do just that.

The only thing that I ask is that you submit SOMETHING, preferably a re-working of your pre-class assignment. Once we get a good number of submissions in, we'll start analyzing them and go from there.

Thanks,

Troy

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