I am back at work after about 3 months off. To ease myself back into it, I went in the afternoon to the beautiful little rose garden we have on campus. There is a water fountain, and beside it is a small gazebo with two benches facing one another. It is a lovely spot for solitary contemplation, or the sharing of secrets with friends. It was the perfect park bench to draw, there in the shade of the honeysuckle vine, with the scent of roses, and gentle flow of the water. Aaah, perfection itself! The angle of the arms and legs on that wretched bench drove me crazy. I tried and tried, gowing ever mor
e frustrated. Finally, I gave up and sought to soothe myself with a walk around the pond. Where, to my chagrin, there were a great many other park benches, none of which had arms like the ones that had just defeated me! "Oh well", I lied to myself, "that's why they call it a challenge. I'm sure I learned a lot." I'm not sure I did, but after a while, I managed to clean it up a lot and added some color. It's still not quite right, especially on the right side, but I hope it conveys the tranquility of the spot (when I'm not there drawing).
8 comments:
Lynn,
You're being too hard on yourself. Your bench is lovely!
Lynn your bench is beautiful. I assume You wish to redraw and correct the problem.
Sometimes this is indeed can be attributed to the
dominate or subordinate part of the brain.
Look at the picture: Take out a ruler, Place tracing paper over the picture on a light box or over your computer. On the left side- line up the top arm with the bottom leg? measure the width of the leg with the arm? (Do not touch the slats,wonderful>) Now, do the same with the right side. If you take the time equalize the top Arms with the bottom Legs. I think you will be most surprised.
Let me know..
Sherrie Roberts
Oh, I think you did a great job. The drawing is lovely. A photo would give a more exact description but wouldn't have the feeling that this drawing evokes.
It certainly does convey the tranquility of the spot! I would much rather enjoy this sketch that to see the photo. Beautiful job!
Lynn - this is really good! The color really makes it sing! You're right, flowers don't complain at all about holding still! :) Marva
Good luck on your return to work. I am a retired teacher (30 years of teaching)...I remember well this time of year, the excitement, the stress! Remember to take time for yourself and draw...it is relaxing and your deserve it!
As Bernie Siegel says in his book (for exceptional cancer patients) Love, medicine and miracles, you have to try to be imperfectly perfect! Tell that to Cordelia, I'm sure SHE will understand.
I went on a retreat in a convent where they had roses, a bench on some steps and a little stone platform; and for you Inner Self to gaze, there was a little gate with a mysterious path. Your benches are the best for tranquillity.
(I have not named my Inner Self, He doesn't mind, but he tells me he'd like Cordelia and that I should make an effort to name him too!:-) )
Bless you for your lovely comments and colourful benches),
Misha
This bench looks great-the angles on this are not easy! And you're right-even if you didn't realize it, I bet you did learn something about shapes that recede backward, and how to draw them so they appear accurate.
I'd like to visit this tranquil spot!
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