Sensory Drawing 5

Collage imagery, acrylic paint, ink, 17 " x 24" .



Last day of the course, was pretty much a free day to work on something relative to the week. I did two large collages, about 20 x 30". Magazine imagery, acrylic paint, indian ink. One is titled "News" influenced greatly by the turmoil in the Middle East and fuel crisis - isnt it about time we had alternatives??!! The other .. well... in my mind I titled it "Breathe" but not 100% sure about this. Not quite finished yet.

On my way this morning I stopped at a nearby beach, and got out to watch and photograph the surfers. Good swell at the moment. The beach is very close to Wellington airport as you can see.

The course was a demanding one, as artists we need to be able to 'see' but this week was practice in seeing not just visually but using our senses to 'see' and then creating works to describe that. It will take a while for this to work through in my mind and inform my work, I know it will.

Sensory Drawing 4

All sensory drawing works are 17" x 24" on 130gsm cartridge.

Today we were drawing taste! Vietnamese mint, apple, hot chili fire sauce, Dan's curry he made us for lunch - hot and medium versions, lime. Strangely I drew similar images for Vietnamese Mint and one of the curry pictures, didnt notice til I uploaded the photos.

Sensory Drawing 3

Today was the sense of hearing - music. We all contributed music for this. Everything from Dvorak to Lady Six to Rob Zombie to Neil Finn to David Bowie to I think it is Deuter-The Temple of Silence

Sensory Drawing 2

Today we drew smells/scents. From the top - Incense (moody, mysterious, rich) , Basil (sharp, spiky, pungent - was the fresh herb), Lavender (yes lavender!! made me think of triangles dancing and sharp bright colour); the next two are incense, and the last picture is oregano (earthy, sharp but mellow, warm and sunny). The scent ... not the items!

Sensory Drawing 2

Sensory Drawing

Spending the week in Wellington and exploring drawing inspired by the senses. Am quickly putting up some of what I created today.Everyone's work was very different, mine abstract, many drew realistically. Ink (sumi and/or indian, acrylic paint, compressed charcoal, chalk pastel, charcoal pencils white and black).

I was trying to describe the sensation of touching the various plants/trees in the bush and gardens surrounding the art school (we walked through them first thing Monday) in the first and last works, the second is the feel of a hard piece of dried seaweed, gritty with sharp edges, the third was drawn in response to running my fingers over the back of a small paua shell.

Last of the mixed media collages

I don't know why some of the figures have closed eyes. Now to name them all...

Some drawings & more MM collages

Threw together some more mixed media collage/drawings inbetween painting endless pieces of canvas with gesso, Paynes Gray and sumi ink. And dunking rolled canvas in paint. More to follow on that. These quick drawings are done with a cane stick pulled from a sushi mat, forcing myself to just draw quick and not agonise over correctness. Hopefully I'll get them sent away for ICE. And in the middle of my mess the kitten. Since jumping out a window and spending the night outside she's been clingy. A friend visiting took this picture before I put her out of the studio (the kitten of course, not the friend!). The kitten likes to try and catch my brush as I paint, or knock over the rubbish basket and make a mess.

Also attached to this post are some recent drawings, from life drawing group (pastel and charcoal, blue portrait is done with a chinagraph pencil).

Mixed media collages

So different from my current work but similar to what I've done in the past. Magazine imagery, ink, acrylic paint. The faces are quickly sketched with a thin bamboo stick dipped in sumi ink. Just playing.