WorkLore

I talk a lot about the need for continuous skill development, so when this article from The Conversation about new hobbies came into my awareness, I thought it was time to show my work. 

I have been teaching art students how to write. Along the way, I see a lot of their art and have been so inspired (and a bit envious of their skills). 

So I put my money where my mouth was and signed up for a classical drawing class. 

Classical drawing is a foundational art skill. It teaches the artist to see things in more detail, and from my experience, requires a lot of patience to “see” things as they are, not as we think they should be. 

It was hard! 

During more than one class, I wanted to give up and walk out. I was convinced I could not do this and looking at what some of the other students in the class were doing, realized the gap between their skill and mine was huge. (Some of them were at the level of the Arthur Pond image above.)

But I also was enjoying the drawing. And as I kept going, the drawings kept getting better. (Receipts below)

Most of my work is incomplete – a lesson plus another couple of hours in class was not enough for this newbie to get the drawings to where they should be. 

My intent is to spend a few hours each weekend trying to finish each of them off and to continue to develop my confidence as well as my skills. 

I have now made this public. Feel free to hold me to this commitment next time we talk.