Better time management

I’ve spent quite a fair bit of time reflecting on my recent observation about how much or little work I’ve produced which seems to be far less than what I’ve written.

It’s certainly true that I am extremely busy and I’d really love things to be simpler than they are but as my fav crooner used to sing, “That’s Life”

However just looking at the volume of sketches, drawings, paintings, colour swatches/matches etc, I see no justification for my self-criticism.  I’ve certainly produced a fair bit even if it doesnt always impress the perfectionist in me.

As importantly it helped me realise I needed a tad more structure in my day to achieve more than I feel I have been doing.  I also realised the pressure I’m placing on my self to sketch, draw and paint is counter-productive and I did precisely nothing.

I’ve come to realise that I’m far more likely to achieve my aspirations in short bursts of time, say 20 minutes a few times daily rather than in long concentrated stretches of several hours at a time.  While it was all very well while I had to meet course deadlines, this doesnt fit in with the demands of my lifestyle.

Therefore I am really glad to say this strategy seems to be quite effective because I’ve increased my work and breaking away from my other daily tasks has improved the quality of my day.  Most significantly, I feel far less pressure because I know that after 15-20 minutes I’m free to get on with everything else which requires my time and attention.

Using fruit subjects

A really major benefit of drawing apples – and indeed many other fruits – is they’re usually far more resilient than flowers and leaves.  Thus I’ve had this bright red cox apple specimen sat on top of a metal box (to get it at eye level) since 20 October, ie 12 days without doing any noticeable work on developing my graphite drawing of this specimen.  I dont have any excuses for my lack of diligence just – that’s life.

Using an apple also has other significant benefits in that it hasnt changed shape, position, moved or dropped leaves and petals. Unlike lilies – one of my most favourite flowers – I dont have to contend with any staining stamens.

Fortuitously this specimen doesnt have leaves which would have met their fate in my south-facing room, 2.44 metre/8ft high x 3.05/10 ft wide bay window – with nowhere to escape this glorious sun trap even on the coldest winter day.

Undoubtedly this has made my life as a budding artist infinitely easier because I’m free to dip in and out at my leisure without a care for this apple perched on a long, tall and fairly thin metal box.

There it sits while my pangs of conscience are torn by world-shattering crises such as xfactor’s JEdwards; just to clarify so it cant be said I’m sitting on the fence over this hot topic, they’re great and given all the stick they’re getting for absolutely no good reason, incredibly thick skinned & good humoured about it all; that’s my opining over for what it’s worth.

Down to work

Unfortunately that scrumpied green apple was so uninspiring, a view reinforced by several – well to be precise – two little insects scuttling around the stem like busy little ants.

After I moved them & the apple to the top of my fridge, I did more than my fair share of navel gazing which didnt result in a stroke of work.  If I put in as much effort getting on with my drawing and painting as thinking or writing about it, for sure I’d have crunched through quite a bit by now.

Several days later with not much more than a pile of unused brain cells left me wondering what I needed to get into gear. Waking up at 3am isnt a joke and with 5am creeping up yet no sign of another minute’s sleep, the moment I’d been waiting for I decided to make better use of my time and do some artwork.

Launching myself from bed with Radio 4 for company, I selected the best looking apple from my fruit bowl and set to work. Studying it, the apple not the fruit bowl, carefully I produced a fairly brief description: a mixed red/yellow intense areas of red patches, brownish-yellow freckles, firm, angular, rounded, balanced, fairly evenly coloured with strong and vibrant red patches.

Measuring it up took all of 10 minutes; checking and rechecking that the angles, shape and proportions right resulted in minor changes – I have this tendency to either go too large or too small and in this case it was the latter.

Back to the drawing board

Now that I’m back home and realised how much I’ve gained from my graphite studies of the apple specimen, I’m repeating this exercise because there’s still more to learn.  An added benefit is that it will help me refresh my drawing and observation skills after my extended absence from home.  With that in mind I’ve been playing my hand at scrumpy and nicked a few apples from my neighbours apple tree.  On Saturday I’ve got all day to study them closely and do my utmost to resist the temptation of an apfelfest  I’ll be interested to see what words I finally come up with to describe them.

On holiday until next week

Owing to circumstances outside my control I’m unable to get online until I get back home next Monday so am taking a much needed internet break. 

The value of sketchbook notes

When I started my first botanical illustration course in Autumn  2007, our teacher advised us to write notes of our observations in our sketchbook.  I remember feeling appalled at the prospect of so much extra work when it’s all about painting.  The last thing I expected to hear was that I would also be expected to write up my observations, ideas or comments.

So I dismissed the notion as a far-fetched waste of time.

And how very mistaken I was.  In recent months, I’ve actually even been known to grace my sketchbook with a few handwritten notes which shows how far I’ve come over the past year.  I ascribe this most recent development to this blog which has taught me the value of writing up my thoughts, ideas and observations as they occur to me. As I’ve said elsewhere on my blog, I’ve also found that by keeping this blog I have built my confidence.  It has also helped me to develop my work and focus on areas where I need to improve.

Translating Words into Graphic Action

Based on Eden Project advice, I’m using an apple as a specimen for this study. My line drawing seems to be a fairly accurate representation.  I’ve placed the apple on its side so it look rectangular with rounded curves at the top and a short stubby stem projecting out at right angles.  Unfortnately it doesnt have a leaf which is really ideal for a botanical illustration.

It’s a year since I last did a graphite drawing and have forgotten just quite how much care is needed to avoid an unwanted smudgy mess all over the page which need to be erased with great care to avoid ruining the surface.

Value of painting with words

I am so glad I did this exercise again with a new subject – the previous subject met its demise a while ago and it was a very tasty, sweet and crunchy apple. ;P

Reflecting back on this exercise , particularly repeating it on the train down to London this afternoon, has helped me realise the value of this exercise because it requires careful scrutiny of the subject for attention to detail.

For example, after about 20 minutes or so of careful study I suddenly saw that this bright red apple surface also had a yellowish/brown measle effect spot which I had previously not seen.

The most amazing thing is that I quite simply did not see a single one of the measle-ish type spots which are large enough to be seen with ease, until I examined the apple with such care.

A really useful exercise which is excellent use of time because it  has helped me to become far more aware of the specimen I am studying  before I start preparing to paint it.

Painting on the train – a great experience

Reading  Botanical Illustration Course with the Eden Project by Rosie Martin & Meriel Thurstan I came across an exercise which was very easy to pass the time on my train journey down (up???) to London. For preparatory studies of a subject to be drawn or painted. Rosie & Meriel recommend spending time just studying the subject to observe shape, permutations, angles, texture, light, dark, shade and so on. I had some apples on me, a subject which they say is one of the easiest to draw as a starting point. I went on to describe an of the apples in words. Before I knew it, I had filled an entire page in a notepad (not my sketchpad) with words to describe this apple followed by a rough ink sketch of the apple with the stem at the top and another sketch which was upside down.  Although I cant say that this word exercise improved my ability to draw the apple, I was pleased with the outcome which did have a fairly realistic resemblance. As I’m taking my sketchbook to London, I’ll be using this to work on some graphite studies to refine my skills and hopefully after a period of time, I should be able to see how it helps me to improve my botanical illustrating

Painting stems: what a fine line

At long last I finally seem to have cracked painting a graded wash for stems having covered a page slightly larger than A5 with stems from c.2mm up to 5mm wide and c. 5-10cm long.

Apart from finishing a few washes I’ve had around for a while, I’m delighted to see I’ve also improved on another key skill of painting over a graphite line.

It takes the most incredible concentration and focus to paint the stem outline without breaking the line, blobbing the paint  or deviating from the graphite line but as I’ve done it with reasonable success it is realistic.

Flaws of this nature typically happen when lifting the hand while painting the line, losing focus, having a brush overloaded with liquid or which has picked up loose hair or without too fine a point.  Sometimes the hand just needs to have a little break.  Picking up the line from where I’ve left off and making the connection as if I hadnt taken a break is part of the skill in drawing a fine line.

So as one really happy camper who’s achieved a passable degree of competence in the two essential skills of graded washes and painting up fine lines, I’m ready to move on with some other exercises.

Taking a few days’ break for Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and am back next Monday afternoon/evening to pick the brains of those two amazing co-authors from the Eden Project.  I’d give anything to spend some time there as well as Kew Gardens and the Chelsea Physic Garden’s botanical illustration course.  Perhaps if I pray hard enough that may be possible in the reasonably foreseeable future – nothing is impossible – although my finances tell me otherwise.