#007

Fall

We are entering that time of year again. The time of no leaves on trees, grass beginning to brown, cold setting in for good. The time of year often called “November” by us Americans and other things by other people. Often, this time of year is dreaded as the cold and drab in-between of the dazzling autumnal colors and the breath-taking first snow (at least here in Minnesota. Down south I imagine things to be much grayer and browner). Not I, however. November is one of my favorite, if not my favorite than very close to it, months of the calendar year. It carries a special coziness with it–especially when it rains. As a grown man who loves woven flannel and warm fires and snuggling, November is idyllic for those sorts of passions; warm enough to be justified, yet not too cold so that taking out the trash and collecting firewood become dreaded.

The Sketchbook

This week I had the pleasure to draw something for one of my cousins on my father’s side. A template for wood burning. The piece features a bear, dove, and wolf, all standing on a ridge in front of a forest of pines, behind which rises a mountain. I intended at first to be original and draw the whole thing from imagination, so I set about to doing studies–one of grizzly bears (a peculiarity to North America), gray wolves, and doves. The first I found easy. Bears have a mono-coloristic coat, and large, simple forms. The wolves, however, were more difficult, as they have hues of gray, brown, and white in their hides, and this proved most troublesome to replicate. The doves were the hardest. By now, burnout was setting in, and I was hard-put-upon it to finish at all. These holy birds have an infuriating transparency to their wings, and don’t even bother to follow the same building blocks of mammals. The main difference is that the body is made up of only one shape, not two circles. In any case, I eventually decided to photoshop the piece together and trace over it, in order to save time and pulled hairs.

Sketching Crutches

Over the course of the week, I learned that there are no rules for how one should sketch, no code of honor or trial of skill saying that one cannot trace, or layover a sketch to double-check proportions, or use references at all. This is a truth that I believe all time-hardened artists in the world had to learn that at some point. There simply is no rule; if you need to double check the proportions, then I whole-heartedly urge you to do so. Literally, the only way one can learn how to draw IS TO USE REFERENCES! I shout to let my pent-up frustration at the stubbornness of my own pride out, and ease the emphatic encouragement I want to give to all struggling young artists. There simply is no code of honor that one must follow. Drawing from real-life is something all professional artists do. Practicing one’s hands, or dogs, or houses, or trees based on real pictures, is the most sure-fire way to become adept at drawing those things without needing the references. Ah well, I suppose everyone will learn it in there time.

Little Princes

During the week I started and completed the book “Little Princes” by Conor Grennan. This is a true story (nonfiction autobiography for all of my English majors out there). It tells of how the author, Conor Grennan, volunteered at a childrens’ home in Nepal in the early 2000’s before going on a world tour. However, He soon discovers that these rambunctious, resilient children are not, in fact, orphans produced by the Nepalese civil war, but trafficked children taken from their families under the pretense of taking them to safety. Conor, upon learning this truth, decides that he will do anything for these children he has grown to love to bring them back to their families. Now, this was a fantastic read, not only because of the beautiful story it told, but also because Conor Grennan is in fact a very talented artist when it comes to clever and colorful descriptions. (Like for instance, “…[the] children machine-gunning questions at me”). An incredible story to say the least, one I strongly suggest.

Away With Thee

And it comes to that time again, dear readers, when I must hang up my writer’s robe and don my sleeping slippers. As I continue to contribute to this blog, I realize ever more how confoundedly busy one’s week can be–even a seemingly quiet week such as this. I have not gotten any farther along in writing Tia, nor turned out a “finished” piece of artwork for you all to see. This week I intend to churn out something, at any rate, though I have no idea what it shall be as of yet.

I hope this week finds you all well, with full bellies and full of cheer, as we near the ever-awaited Thanksgiving day; always remember to be thankful to God for all things, whether good or bad, in any circumstance. It could always be a lot worse. Farewell, dear readers, until next week.