One of the things which caught my eye when I opened it last night was this quote:Everyone knows that a single line may convey an emotion.
-Piet Mondrian
-Piet Mondrian
Other than really loving Mondrian's work, I wondered why I found this quote so appealing to me last night. Could it be because I really do a lot of line work in my paintings such as with the Horizons or some of the poured work? Could it be those line faces which are nagging me to put them in my sketchbook? Or is it because I really only paint where my emotions lead me and I need to focus even more on line work? Do you have any insights on this subject? Do you like line work?
Now I did show you these faces drawn larger - one per page. I also have drawn a few pages of just small little faces. What I find funny is how all of these feel like adult faces to me. Is that because they are so severe with just the lines? The other thing I might add about these faces is they all come from my imagination...I have never seen one of these faces and tried to get it down. They all just seem to be in my head and need to come out. Maybe they are ghosts. What do you think? :)I look forward to your thoughts today. Speaking of today, have a good one!
Posts
8 comments:
Yes, I like line work very much.
Although I don't seem to do a lot of it. Sometimes I see the most simply orchestrated composition of a work,,,and suddenly realize that it's all in the lines. Not much more.
What I find interesting here is that in all but one of these faces, you've incorporated one eyebrow into the nose,,,,,with one line. I tend to do that myself.
In children's faces the eyes are so huge, as they are the same size they will always be. The nose hasn't yet grown, nor the face itself, of course. I've only done one (successful) child's face,,,in a pastel class,,,and though everyone else may have already known this fact, it was the first time I realized it.I was like "well, DUH,,,,of course!"
Interesting post Kim,,,,,like always.
Hi Babs,
It is funny, I think of you as someone who would really enjoy fiddling with line work...it is -in an abstract way- quick and often pleasurable. You have mentioned in comments (maybe on other blogs) you like charcoal and that really adds a lot of depth and textures of those otherwise thin line.
Children's faces are very different and you are probably right, I would need to focus more on what I was doing in order to create more child-like faces. These are just quick gestural marks, really. I don't think it was a "duh" moment to make that realization...unless someone focuses on certain things like that, why make the connections? I would love to see that pastel you did, though!
As for the eyebrow/nose deal...I think that comes from the gestural quality, too. Mainly, I suppose I never thought about doing it, but I also must have seen it done somewhere...maybe something you have shown me?
Thanks So Much, Babs! You are a true inspiration.
Children's faces usually have the "cuteness" factor. Big round eyes, as Babs said, with smaller mouths and noses. That's why certain animals with large round eyes make us go "aaw".
Remember those paintings from the 60's? The ones with the really big eyes? They were a little creepy to me.
Hi Chewy,
I have been thinking, also, children's faces are soft and round. When you draw just these basic features as lines, you can't capture that.
I remember those paintings with the huge, round eyes...kind of were creepy to me, too. Those eyes always reminded me of snakes for some reason, and snakes are my horror!
Thanks for stopping by, Chewy.
Hi Kim, you should be a philosopher! You always get us thinking - I have posted a reponse to your questions and a link to you this morning. I love that you drew these faces from your imagination, many of us do not believe that our imagination can be a rich visual resource for our paintings and need to allow our muse from within a bit of airing!
Hi Dianne! Philosopher? I am not sure some people would call me something so fine...like physicians and teachers. :) I am very eager to read your response to my questions on your blog and will be right over. Thank you so much for the link, too.
You know Dianne, I have always drawn this way and give a nod to my interior design background as those drawings (although highly structured) had to be from my imagination. I also have to say my id business partner is exceptional in allowing me this gift. If we have an id issue which needs resolving, she allows me the time to come up with some possibilities and she will make one of them work. So I am very lucky in having this nurtured, too.
Do you find when you don't listen to your muse, after a while they will not visit you all that often? I find they need a lot of love.
Okay, I am off to your blog, Dianne!
Thank You!
Kim, great ghosts having found a way to pop up on your paper:) Oh lines! Just look at the one-line-mouth, if the edges are turned upward, joy, downward, frustration. The eyebrows, just two lines but so expressive. The eyes, shut calm, half open sleepy, angry slits, wide open frightened, wow, Lines! I love your faces because they do not have contours, so they just have what really is essential.
When I look at your paintings, they make me think that you are a line and "graph" artist, but always in the context of coloured horizon:)
Have a wonderful day,
love
Andrea
Andrea, do you think so? I love visits like ghosts :)
You know I think, at least at the present, I am very much a line person. I have been exploring this for sometimes now with the gestural marks, the horizons and in so many ways. It is so very basic. I wonder if it will change or if it is just a part of who I am? I suppose only time will tell that, uh?
That is funny you say I am a line and graph artist...very much the design influence, right? For years I wrote only on graph paper, isn't that funny?
You have a great day, too, Andrea!
Post a Comment