The Artist_s Magazine 2016-03__

road test

64 http://www.artistsmagazine.com

student to contribute an original

drawing relating to the subject (stu-

dent life), and we combined them

into one collage. I then projected

the resulting image on the wall, and

everyone participated in the large-

scale painting process. Given the

size, projecting was the best way to

faithfully reproduce the original.

I have encountered many artists

for whom projection is their primary

drawing method, and it makes me

recall some sage advice from my

early watercolor instructor, Cheng

Khee Chee. He said, “Don’t rely

on projection to take you beyond

your own level of drawing skills.” In

other words, the use of a projector

does not take the place of an artist’s

own carefully developed drawing

skills. It can, however, be useful in

some situations and save time once

those drawing skills are already in

place. I sometimes use projection

1. Sketch of village scene

WhereverIam,I’mlookingforpainting

subjects to photograph or sketch. I did

thisdrawinginabeautifulareaofsouth-

ern China along the Li River. I particularly

liked the way the canopies and awnings

framed the mountains, the light entering

the street and the rich shadows on the

fronts of the shops. The scene, however,

wasmissingacenterofinteresttofill

thespotlightcreatedbythedramatic

backlighting.

2. Sketch of a figure

In addition to looking for complete com-

positions, I like to accumulate studies of

details and figures. This man was coming

homefromtheshops,andIchosetouse

my sketch of him to fill that spotlight and

give my painting a human touch.

3. Projecting the drawing

Since this is a line drawing on a full

sheetofwatercolorpaper,Iusedthe

Developing a Composition

3

1

2