Harley Brown's eternal truths....

[chewie]

well, yes I do, but the 'edit' wouldn't work.

I asked because often my sketching either takes forever, or leaves a lot to be desired, which is extremely frustrating to me. so the half hour thing left some confusion. I get done with a sketch and eww, its sooo far off and I cannot figure out how I managed to mess it up so bad! My aim is to do as you say, get it right from the get-go. so I ordered a big number of pencils, we'll see how it goes when I get them all used up I guess!

[makinart]

Thought #4

ODE TO DRAWING 2

Drawing has always been my first love in life.....along with the essentials.

Luckily, from the beginning, I took it seriously, even in my childhood. That's because my dad, who got me started, had me be strict on myself with my drawing.

If the artist goes too fast, the eye and mind are not comprehending the subject. This is true no matter how accomplished the artist. I've witnessed hundreds of talented, professional artists drawing and it's nothing like we see in the movies. Their pace is steady, almost boring to watch, (to the average passer-by.)

What we're after is laying down with pencil, that which we are observing intently. Just as I was learning technical studies along with the great composers at my piano.

Quickly done, sloppy doesn't hack it. We must get into the tradition of "passioned accuracy." In time confidence steps in and we have less and less moments of indecision. Muscle Memory is a large part of our eventual makeup whether we play baseball, skate, act or draw. We are feeding ourselves and our inner mind.

I write here from personal experience and watching how other artists eventually fly or flop. No shortcuts in art. I've always told my students, "you have your choices." The best part is that those long days of learning are also extremely exciting. Who want's a shortcut when we're living our bliss.

In my entire life, I cannot remember having a monotonous day. My brain was always busting against my skull in the process of looking, learning, developing and knowing I was generally on the right track.

Yes, I've had a pretty wild life, but the right basics caught on!
-Harley-

[makinart]

ODE TO DRAWING #3

You're now going to hear me go into "harping" mode. A mode that I sporadically used in my old workshop days. Yes, once in a while I would put on a serious face and say, listen and listen good.

Of course you can sense that I got plenty of this in my learning, (still,) days.
Thank goodness for that because all of us being human, forget so much of what's taught and how to apply it. So we all have to have thoughts and analysis repeated.....often with a "serious face."

Right to the point: Drawing is a serious matter. It is a joy at the same time and the more seriously we go after it the more ecstatic we get. But we have to know THE APPROACH.

You've read my words on drawing here. Many will take those words to heart. But let me push it a TAD further. Drawing and sketching can be a complete waste of time, (unless the artist is only after a joyous release; just fun moments.)

Yes, give me some of that! But I want to enter that truly mysterious world even more.

Doodling and lightly sketching don't get us any further than, well, doodling and sketching. Drawing, to me, is one of the highest moments of human creativity.
In a way it appears simple: a person with a 2 dollar pencil sitting before a sheet of paper. But what happens is almost in the realm of of a cosmic mystery.

I hold the pencil, look at my subject and an then an IMAGE begins to appear. Whether it be a brief sketch or more detailed drawing, I need to HONOR THE SUBJECT. That person or object is a wonderful part of nature; GIVING me and INSPIRING me with UNIQUENESS. Remember this: that particular moment will
never happen again.

I go after the characteristics that bring out the individualism of my subject. Not a photocopy, (as some like to claim,) but that field of lights and shadowed shapes being offered. I'm so in to it that nothing on earth matters for that space of time. Those periods with pencil and paper transport my life in to where in body and spirit, I'M ALIVE.

I saw an actor perform a soliloquy once at a gathering and it was a mesmerizing and electrifying incident. I believed him; he took me and the others with him to another world. When he was finished, I went over to him;
he was trembling slightly and breathing like he'd just finished a brisk walk.
I told him he'd just completed a masterpiece; then I asked him how he felt.
He told me that he lives to be able to do just what I experienced. He talked about the years of refining his skills and to bring them to a point where it came from him naturally. REAL!

I told him that I and many others in the room totally understood his conviction.

In a way, we in the Arts are an odd lot. We are developing our very personal talents from within and with the help of dedicated mentors. The closer we get to the "goal" (never, gladly,) the more overwhelmed with joy we have inside
our very complex makeup.

My early sketches from the teen years are quite straightforward. Even then, they had my "style" but they still didn't flow from me. I was worried about getting things right and not able to let it just pour out on to the paper.

We witness that in the early films of great actors. Certainly we can see bits of their personality; but as years pass, their confidence and experience shoot to the front.

So that is what my harping is all about. The fact is, I care. I know what goes on inside the artist mind. And in general terms, I know what works. Each of us is different; that's why I want each of us to mindfully release ourselves from those crevices of our souls. Forget the "goal," the journey is what we live for.
-Harley-

[LGHumphrey]

Harley, your next book--a condensation of all the wisdom and advice you've put into this thread.

[chewie]

your posts about drawing/sketching have been most beneficial. and inspirational. I haven't put down my pencil in days. and have felt happy go lucky to boot! thanks harley, this has been a huge boon for me. huge.

[seejay]

Harley, thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

I am in the doodler / sketcher club, and enjoy that very much. However, I do want to become more serious with my drawing.

Question: Is thinking about what you are doing and seeing the key to moving on in drawing, and are there other factors as well?

Cheers

[makinart]

Hi seejay,

Now we're getting down to the psychology of art. I get into it a bit more in the latest International Artist.

As with the actor in my last post, you have to be obsessive in your direction.
Mastery with a pencil is not an "all of a sudden" type of thing.

Drawing is a dynamic basis for all of us in art. Making it a regular tradition is "the law."

In art there's the conscious "thinking" side and the subconscious side. The second is fed by the first. This means a lot of thinking is needed in the "learning" period. We no longer have to think about walking. In fact, we can walk in all sorts of unusual ways without any trouble. Natural.

Figuring out how to establish a shadow or make the edge of a nose right, takes some real intense, "on the job" thinking and doing.

As those hundreds of sessions go by, it becomes more natural, and we begin to get what those lights and shadows are all about. (Again, no short cuts.)

I'm not going to fill in all the details. I'm giving an overview; an overview that worked for me. I took, and take, drawing as seriously as an astro physicist takes the sciences. Part of the good life.

Yes, think, think hard about your subject. The day will come when you actually will "own" the subject.......for those moments of drawing.

At first keep the subject relatively simple with good lights and shadows. Straight forward stuff. The more subtle objects will slowing move their way in. Work builds confidence. Confidence builds the Self. The Self will know when to slowly make its appearances right up to full force.
-Harley-

[seejay]

Wow, Harley, that is an awesome answer. Thank you so much.

I'm starting to see the way, now I just need to knuckle down and do the work.

Cheers

[makinart]

Hi and thanks
Cheers Chewie, Lawrence, Chris and JTMB. You get it! As with my workshops, if I see faces light up in realization, then all my jabber is worth it.

The same reactions my own instructors got from me.
The Eureka Moment.

I remember one student, (actually happened many times,) ..........I told him that with hard work he could make a mark in the artworld in 7-10 years. Well, he wasn't interested in waiting that long. That was too much time in his life. So he dropped out; he wasn't going to put up with that!!!

(and I did tell him, those years are going to pass by anyway. Why not do them right.)

By pure coincidence, 15 years later, this fellow and I were in the same open drawing studio session at a university. He recognized me but kept to himself; he moved his setup to a corner of the room.

But while he was moving his easel, I saw his drawing. It was filled with unsure scribbles. No confidence; no connection with the model. Even his spark from those early years was gone; disappeared.

No, I didn't feel vindicated; I felt terrible for him. Now, I don't know if he "got it" at that moment; or if he was Okay with how things were going in his life.
I'm thinking the moment he saw me brought it home.

Upon reflection, I hope things work out for him; that the spark comes back.

Incidentally, I was at this drawing session with art pal Joe Abbrescia, whom I talk about in the next IA.
-Harley-

[makinart]

Just chatted with my dear friend "Dick" Bryers. When I hear Dick's words it's like going to the Mountain. He is sincere and profound and has the best sense of humor.

I'll keep this short note centered around his words in that call. He is nearly 101 years old and has spent his entire life in art. He's a master. His eyes are certainly not what they were. His mind.......100%!

Dick noted that there's one thing that we have to have flowing through our minds when painting: "We're LOST in the excitement of the moment."

Yes, we have all heard that before in so many words. But let this be between us and Dick Bryers; let's make it personal. As if he were sitting in a room with all of us gathered. We hear him say: "We're lost in the excitement of the moment."
-Harley-

[makinart]

THOUGHT #5

Because there are thousands upon thousands of artists reading art books and looking at art videos and reading thoughts on line, it is difficult to get into specific artists's needs.

In workshops i was able to pull a student out of a hole or treat individual problems. So workshops are valuable for "fine tuning" certain aesthetics.

Yet, some of the BIG PICTURE problems can be seen to in a general way. Such as overall approach and attitude, and those great fun details passed down to us by the masters.

I went after things a bit at a time. Took each one seriously and saw how it might fit I to my expanding knowledge and technique. It became natural in time; I rather knew where I was going and went full bore that direction.

At the same time, I grabbed on to the "asides" I found interesting. Those things that didn't fit in precicely to my big scheme. Eccentric ideas that would somehow stick with me; some had "my name" on them others got chucked off.

This is one way of looking at personal development, but the mind is so complex that it's only an outline. What I'm saying is our awareness in ourselves, our circumstances and the lush world around us.
-Harley-

[LGHumphrey]

If I understand correctly you're saying

keep an open mind

play it by ear

select what suits you.

[jp4art]

So Fun! I am a new member and my first time on the site I have gotten some useful information. This is exactly the kind of art forum I have been looking for. Great day for me...thanks!

[makinart]

THOUGHT 6

I often hark back to my piano days to make a point. I eventually was able to "play by ear" after much time spent going over the grand fundamentals. Meaning I played the classics and worked with technical studies. Then picking out those tunes and creating them, oh, what fun.

Some reading these words may think, "hey, I'm in the middle of my own approach; I do things my way and I'm picking up some good ideas here and there. give me a few good pointers and we'll leave it at that. Okay?"

Yes, that's the way many feel, including myself during my learning curve, (which by the way is still on the upward arc.) I'm very familiar with the isolated studio feeling.......drawing and painting away, interspersed with "where
am I going; am I getting it right!?"

First, I'm an average person. But even average people have moments of seeing the light.....and getting that needed obsession. Read on because there's a happy "middle" to this story. (we're neither at the grinning of our lives or at the end, we're somewhere in the middle.)

As with us average humans, we might be slowish in some parts, but we sure make up for it in other areas. Let's put it this way, had I not become an artist, it's hard to say where I'd end up. For the record, Art was always my Plan A; there was no Plan B. EVER!!

Some of my "average" friends did quite well with their unique obsessions in
sports, the entertainment world, literary, management, medicine, digital, house building and sure, art.

Here's the happy part: this is something I will repeat over and over and over again. So many ask, "how do I make it; how do I get some kind of success!?"
The only way I can answer that seemingly desperate question is my own example and those around me.

I NEVER thought of a goal in my life. Never thought of a route to my art career. Didn't think in terms of that thing called Success. My days were simple: make art. But I also had a latent talent which came out gangbusters as the years went on. I started to listen. And like my NY Art Students' League professor told me, "you're now ready to listen, watch and learn." I had been
doing my art for years and was now aching to grab what I could from the masters.

And I was ready to "Play it by ear."

Somehow my practiced senses knew what to seriously take in.

The "happiness" part doesn't come in at the end......it is always with us if we do what we love each day. In truth, I'm not happier now that when I was way back, struggling to sell just one piece to pay for food that night. And believe me, I was happy, (okay, interspersed with a little anxiety) in those days because I was doing what I was born to do. I had acquaintances who were
envious of my passioned glow.

There have been bursting moments when a gallery would phone with good news, or an art group wanted me as a member. (There have also been black times that we all can understand.) Here, I'm talking about those typical days we spend in life.

My subconscious knows what is good for me; it's my regulator. It is crammed with info and keeps me going on an exciting path for more in that "upward arc."

You and I are quite the same in good basic ways. Sometimes we're lucky and get good advice that leads to something else that's positive. And on it goes. Maturity of the mind knows the advice that will make a difference, especially
with our own personal uniqueness.

As I've often said, I've flopped and stumbled along the route but my vision was always able to see past those brief moments. And each day, I got a bit better; not to find that thing called Success. It was because developing my art was another good reason to live..............one time, when I finally understood some monumental basics of shadows, I was so overjoyed with "getting it," that I left the class and ran around the building several times, arms flailing, exhilarated beyond description. That feeling has hit me many times throughout my life.

We've got to make this agreement: each day must mean something. It is a
gift. It's what we do with that day, small or large. Day by day.

So, do we agree!?
-Harley-

[chewie]

yes, I do agree. but I do not agree at the part where you said you were average. no harley, I do not agree there at all!

have been spending a quiet evening baking bread and re-reading some of your insights. we here on this forum are certainly a lucky lot!

Its odd and I almost feel goofy saying so, but its like a shift is happening. I settled down, sketched just to sketch. painting things that make me happy regardless of outcome. maybe they'll sell, maybe not. but either way, its a whole lot more fun on the trip!

and I very much enjoyed reading about your 'aha' moment of running with arms flailing! I've done a little happy dance myself and thought, I sure am glad I'm home alone! its the most deeply gratifying thing, and hard for me to share except with another artist I trust. I buzz around for the whole day and maybe the next as well.