Important Principles of Art 143same time listen to Rachmaninoff ’s
3 rd Piano Concerto. Next issue, I’ll ask
how you felt and how it affected the
beginning of your work. We’ll discuss.
I remember in art college doing
1-minute drawings. After each minute,
the model would change the pose.
I wondered what’s with this, too
quick. That’s the whole thing: drawing
quickly so we don’t have time to
contemplate and fuss. See, do, get the
main essence! And yes, of course, there
were the longer poses to work with in
understanding areas and details.
With your artwork, how important
will your main subject, center of
interest be? Like the melody of a
song, the other parts are extras and
background. Like a story, we have the
main plot; do we want to take away
the drama with too many sub-dramas.
Some maybe, but only to enhance the
main theme.
Skill brings confidence. Confidence
brings art. I’ve always believed we must
continue strengthening our skills.
I know the greatest pianists sit and
work out their techniques daily. I know
a ballerina who says if she misses a day
of technique and practice, she pays
for it. A drawing a day keeps anxiety
away—and brings those skills to a very
powerful level.
Spend some time observing closely
Albrecht Dürer’s Hare. I saw it first
when I was a child and it never left my
mind. It is uniquely straight forward
and only a few inches in size. Yet for
many reasons Hare is a masterpiece.
Look closely and try to understand
what makes this piece so remarkable.
Ah, those ears!
While you are on your computer,
also, please look at Michelangelo’s
Pieta. And understand that he sculpted
this magnificent work of art when he
was 24 years old!
Visit Harley online at
http://www.harleybrown.ca
This work is most unusual. Recently, I went through a very strange
day, and got to bed early hoping things would calm down. When
I finally fell asleep I had the most real, horrific dream of my life.
Waking early the next morning, the dream image didn’t leave. I went
to my studio thinking I’d be able to release it at the easel. So here you
see my nightmare creature with eyes glaring at me while its shape kept
moving and rearranging itself.
The painting is actually a perfect vision of my dream. When finished,
I took this photo. It shows you how we can reveal on canvas not only
what surrounds us but also parts of our own, very personal, inner
worlds. Personal and mind bending. I immediately put the jarring work
away, never to see it again. Maybe a hundred years from now, it will
reemerge. And now, dear reader, only you can witness the nightmare.BALINOFSKI