Self-Forgivness

The following passage by E.H. Gombrich was a revelation to me, maybe an epiphany. I had been looking for a way to break out of my old habits when I found this. It became the central idea of a “Self-forgiveness Theory.” It says to keep trying, modifying, and correcting -- that the eraser is the tool of more expressive realism. In almost mystical terms: trying to create perfection is impossible, but forgiving yourself and your drawings for being imperfect and constantly refining your vision is possible.


“Seen in this light, that dry psychological formula of schema and correction can tell us a good deal, not only about the essential unity between medieval and post-medieval art, but also of their vital difference. To the Middle Ages, the schema is the image, to the post-medieval artist, it is the starting point for corrections, adjustments, adaptations, the means to probe reality and to wrestle with the particular. The hallmark of the medieval artist is the firm line that testifies to the mastery of his craft. That of the post-medieval artist is not facility, which he avoids, but constant alertness. Its symptom is the sketch, or rather the many sketches which precede the finished work and, for all the skill of hand and eye of the master, a constant readiness to learn, to make and match and remake till the portrayal ceases to be a second hand formula and reflects the unique and unrepeatable experience the artist wishes to seize and hold.”


Art & Illusion: A study in Psychology of Pictorial Representation, Page 173

-- E. H. Gombrich







Monday, December 1, 2008

Start by Drawing














Start by Drawing -- These drawings are not really trial and error drawings, but they are the result of a lot of trial and error drawing. They are a synthesis of my heavy-handed diagram drawings, structure/form drawings, and searching line drawings. These drawings are the result of a more unified conversation between left-brain and right-brain approaches to seeing.


The love of the line and the yearning for perfection are still in these drawings; just like schema, children's drawings and primitive/naive drawings.


More to come: Just had to start -- New Year's resolution!

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1 comment:

Claudia Finn said...

These are great my fav of the 4 is the one on top-- that posture is so well designed on the page and interesting!! What a great blog-- your teacher personality comes through!!I'll check back often to learn!!

October 3, 2009 at 6:52 PM

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