GATHERINGS
Catching the Moment 186 Collage
On A BITTERLY COLD November day, I took refuge in a church
in Venice, and there met this sullen custodian. He and his
simpering assistant would not allow me in, forcing me to
remain at the back and look at them, rather than the works
of art they guarded. Here I have recreated my drawing in
steps to show you how to set about capturing such a scene.
When your attention has been caught, and you decide to
draw the moment, start by focusing on its action, emotion,
and reason for happening. Identify the principal character and
draw him or her first. Place the person carefully. For example,
if they are being haughty, elevate them in the pictorial space;
if they are being devious, you might place them lower down.
Be aware that their placement on the page is part of the
narrative. Here the custodian projects fastidious ownership
of his desk and pamphlets by pushing from behind the
center of the space and challenging our entry to his image.
ACTION AND DETAIL
When drawing people, focus on action, not outline, and let every
detail speak by its size, placement, and involvement in the story. For
example, decide how faces and bodies contort; furniture leans, pulls,
or pushes; and clothing or bags hang, flap, or bulge.