What does accuracy mean for work that is decidedly NOT realistic?
That’s the big question I try to answer in our short video today.
We talk about:
Drawing as a means to plan,
How some artists never use a pencil on their paintings but do this instead and
How avoiding drawing may actively hurt our art.
Artists I mention today include:
Helen Frankenthaler
Mark Rothko
Now it’s your turn. Does drawing inform your abstract art? How do you think you could use it to explore new ideas in your work? Tell me more in the comments below.
Wise words. Thanks Carrie. Drawing teaches us to look and observe and can inform and suggest possibilities and options. Shapes and values can be explored without committing to a final outcome. Perhaps drawing can be perceived as a valuable skill or aid to be added to the artistic toolbox.
One of the many things I have learned here is the importance of drawing before painting. It gives me the opportunity to explore many aspects of the subject such as detail, perspective, different views. Thank you, Carrie for challenging me to stretch in my art.
Debbie great perspective. I love how you see it as an opportunity to explore your ideas. You are very welcome!
Thank you Judy – well said.
I find that lot of “rules” that are used in objective art are also true in non-objective (abstract art). The golden means, not dividing the painting in half, contrast of light and dark, variety of size and shape. As soon as I finish another online painting course that I started, I’m going to pick up again on the drawing skills lessons in earnest. I’m one of those people you describe in this video – very uncertain about my drawing skills. I found it interesting that you differentiate between drawing and outlining. I had never really looked at drawing in that way.
Hi Deborah! Thank you so much for sharing. All of the things you mention are absolutely “rules” that can inform realism AND abstraction, such a good point. I definitely differentiate between drawing and outlining. Outlining is ONE technique you can use when you draw, but generally we can rely on it too heavily or as you mention think of it exclusively as drawing!