My friend the pencil! (Drawn with dominant/right hand)
“A pencil is quiet, clean, odorless, inexpensive, and lightweight. I can slip it in my pocket and take it with me everywhere – my secret friend.” (Sherry Camby)
Years ago I taught art to elementary school students, and I reminded them that they were ‘safe’ from ridicule from their peers. All that I expected from them was that they try their best, and they were not to laugh at anyone’s attempts. How rewarding it was to witness the improvement from all levels! Awkward with their early drawings, some students worked on mastering their pencils, which were foreign in their hands. Other “naturally-talented” students had many more hours of drawing than the others and had found solace in their pencils and crayons. Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
The most important ingredient in being a good artist is practice! Practice, practice, practice! I was reminded of this last week, when Ruth, with her dominant hand in a cast, said that she’d try drawing with her left hand! I volunteered to include an additional sketch with my left hand each week in her honor. It was much more difficult than I realized! Although I draw well with my dominant hand, I am again at beginner status with the other!
Drawn with left hand…
Now look at Ruth’s powerful drawing of the rope! (below) She shaded the background, which brought the rope forward and gave it presence! The edges of the rope disappeared, as they should! Remember, this rope was not drawn with her dominant hand! When discussing how well she mastered this drawing, Ruth mentioned, “…perhaps because I play piano??”
(Note: double click any of the images that follow to visit the posts.)
Ruth – At the end of her rope? No way! (Jots from a Small Apartment)
Tim and Mary Livingston are an amazing couple, and both are accomplished artists. Tim found time after battling a fire to capture the essence of last week’s “Fire at the Mill.” Even when there’s no fire, I’m amazed at how Tim (The Forester Artist) finds time to create art – and good art! Great job, Tim!
From Tim Livingston: “Fire at the Mill”
Mary and Tim have also been posting a fun series about the turkey vultures that nested in a hollow tree at their home! With this sketch, Mary has captured the freshness of the precious vulture chick. Yes, it’s precious! Visit her blog (The Backdoor Artist) and see how they’ve been monitoring the nest and to find out what a wood duck and a turkey vulture have in common!
Mary A. Livingston
Anyone who follows Penny at The Why About This will not be surprised that she handles her pencil well! Working from a music video, she has captured “…one of my favorite musicians Adam Hurst, with his Gypsy Cello… “ Penny added, “When you’re lost in the detail of a thing it is like absorbing a piece of life or nature – inhaling your vision within you and then laying it out on a piece of paper. Most relaxing and satisfyingly delicious sensation! This is fun, let’s keep doing this!”
Penny of The Why About This captures one of her favorite musicians with pencil.
Alastair! Are you squirming? No, it does not look like a three-year old did that work! I’m so proud of you! How I wish we could shorten the distance so that I could give you two hours of instruction! Two hours is all one needs to unlock many of those mysterious doors to the drawing world! At times an adult student came to my classes and professed, “I have never drawn or painted in my life, but I would like to try!” With each exercise or drawing, the beginning student makes amazing progress! Part is learning how to see, and the other is mastery of the pencil.
You did well! If you haven’t started on a drawing for this Thursday, would you try to draw that medallion on the box? Note how the very center looks like a plus sign; draw the plus sign (negative space) and then those four little squares of negative space… The rest should fall in place!
I predict you’re going to enjoy working on the detail. You’ll probably find that after ten or so minutes into the drawing, you’ll have a shift of awarness and will see things you had not noticed earlier. Don’t rush it! I’m eager to hear your feedback!
Alastair’s First Pencil Drawing!!!
Although she has her hands full with a unique life on Isla Ometepe in Nicaragua, Debbie found time to draw a cultural pizza of preColumbian relics. Debbie expanded on her drawing experience. “I lost myself in my drawing I call Cultural Pizza, for in sketching the Pre-Columbian pottery shards I found on my daily beach walks, I lost my ability to talk and time lost all meaning. My perceptions of life turned inward looking at edges, spaces, relationships, lights and shadows, and gestalt (or perceptions of the whole).” Visit her post for an expanded version.
Rewired and Retired In Nicaragua – Cultural Pizza
Modest Cindy knocked her first drawing clear out of the ballpark! These alphabet thumbnails, complete with delicate lettering, capture the essence of good drawing skills.
Cindy’s Humble Beginnings
Not one page… but two… and a third as well!
Cindy stated in Humble Beginnings, “Last week I opened a big can of worms.
Last week I admired a friend’s drawing. I mentioned that I should get back into drawing, as it is a skill that suffers with neglect.
She suggested we set a day, and each post our efforts.
I jumped at the opportunity. Who wouldn’t?”
Everyone, please visit Cindy’s blog and give her a big THANKS for inspiring these ‘community’ pencil-drawing posts!
Doris of The Terrain of Symmetry shows her skills with two drawings; one with her right hand and one with her left. Doris states, “Lisa it is so interesting how you want to do something and your hand is not use to it, but I went wild with my left hand, I did two more drawings today. I started the butterfly in color but in Pointillism with color pens, like I did when I was in College. I have to thank you this helped me very much, I try things I had not in years, now I have so many ideas in my head. Thanks amiga!!”
Doris’s Butterfly with Dominant Hand
Doris’s ‘other’ drawing, still quite strong and striking! (Buen trabajo, amiga!)
Mary, of Pastels by Mary states, “Oh boy – I’m not sure what I got myself into, but I’ve joined in with Z of Playamart to draw for 30 minutes each Thursday. I haven’t been drawing lately and decided it’s a good way to polish my drawing skills and discipline myself to pay attention and concentrate on my subjects – drawing always had a way of doing that for me.What I have posted here is just a sample sketch (5×7) to get a feel for the full-sized portrait drawing. Next week I will start the actual drawing on a 9 x 12 Bristol Vellum surface.”
Mary, I am sure that your progressive drawing is going to be a stunner when you’re finished! The sample sketch gives us a great idea of what’s to come!
Mary’s Sketch –
Pauline/Pommepal’s blog, Memories are Made of This, is rightfully named! Presently she and Jack are dog sitting in Tasmania, and Pauline jumped right in with an assortment of views of Tessa. She had qualms about hitting the ‘Publish’ button, but I am extremely impressed with her sketches! ” I am not an artist, I love photography, it is quick and with digital you can take as many shots as you like, but drawing, now that takes time and concentration and careful observation …For my first attempt I have chosen Tessa, the cute little dog we are looking after at the moment. Not easy as you just get going and she moves, “
Thanks, Pauline, for having the courage to join us! Thanks, also, for sharing the drawing of the graceful palm trees.
Pommepal worked from life!
From Pommepal’s archivies…
Jack drew Henry, the other dog that he and Pauline are spoiling in Tasmania! Jack has shared some amazing art since I’ve been following his blog, and I am pleased to see this sketch of Henry. By shading the background, he brought the image of the dog forward. Jack added, “Like the song, “you got me going you really got me going….” I am back sketching again they may lack the speed and accuracy of the camera but they are more entertaining. People are in too much of a hurry so a drawing is a novelty.”
Jack’s Sketch
Didier Galindo posted several sketches. The first two illustrate what I often stress to my students; one main difference between a professional artist and an amateur, is that the amateur stops too soon. An beginner sometimes rushes through in order to see the finished work, where a seasoned artist has patience and doesn’t rush his/her work. Now look at Didier’s drawing of the rooster; it’s well drawn. Would you change anything or add any details?
Sure of his vision, he refines the original study and creates very strong new work of art. One can tell that he did not rush this second piece; his homework paid off, and the drawing is strong.
Note how Didier marries dark shading behind light areas and light shading behind dark. Thanks, Didier, for joining us on WordPress!
Mary is another one of those multi-talented people who juggles many hand-eye tasks well. A whiz in the kitchen and equally at home with fabric arts, she has reconnected with her drawing and painting skills. “I love to create: to draw, paint and design crafty colorful objects. When we retired to Ecuador the first thought in my mind was now I’ll have the time to learn and hopefully grow the little talent I hoped I had.”
When she posted this drawing of a sea turtle, I immediately pictured it in one of her strong colored paintings. This is really nice work, Mary; will we be seeing a color version in the near future? A little birdie told me that someone else under your roof might be joining this drawing circle!
Miss Mary’s Tortuga!
Please follow the link from Mary’s tortuga to see several of her color-drenched paintings, The Rainbow Zebra and Jeanne’s Giraffe! The zebra is surely the happiest zebra on the planet!
I’ve checked and rechecked the Timeout for Art posts to see if there are any that I overlooked. Some of the pingbacks did not reach the post, although the links were in place on most of the submissions. I’ve not been able to access most web pages in the daytime, due to continued internet problems, so forgive me in advance for any errors on this post!
I’ve more work to do!
In about 18 hours, I will post a new Timeout for Art to start a new thread for the next week. Thanks to all who contributed this past week, and I look forward to seeing new drawings and getting your feedback! Sharpen your pencil, pull up a chair and join us – there’s plenty of room at the table!
Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
What an amazingly display of talent Lisa! And what is nicer is how much fun everyone seems to be having. Great initiative, and i so look forward to the next one 🙂
Hmmm. I suspect you have some talent as well/ you’re certainly sensitive enough to have the personality and ability to sit quietly and observe!
I used to draw a bit. Never pursued it into adulthood. Way too rusty now to attempt it now Lisa. I am a perfectionist remember? 😀
Completely fascinating. A few months ago I bought a pencil and sketchbook. It sits in a basket across the room and looks at me sorrowfully; who knows… I maybe inspired yet.
Really nice work Lisa , love the rope! Also looking forward to seeing the leaf completed please! Kathryn
Would you believe that the pad with the leaf drawing ran away from home? A friend gave me a ride to town, and we drove through his shrimp farm, checked on workers, then reached town just as the bus was departing. I bolted for the bus and left the pad in his truck!
I’ll be on the road for another ten days/two weeks, but will hopefully reunite with the pad!
Z
I love them all. Thank you Lisa for the wonderful comments. Oh yes, John finished not one but two sketches..wow, I was really impressed, though not surprised. Just another talent my wonderful husband has uncovered.
Another tortuga is in the works and it will be colorful 🙂
hey from the sunny patio.. quito’s daytime weather is lovely, and i bask like an iguana in the sunshine!
i am so proud of both of you and always look forward to the show and tell of your art!
How exciting to see everyone’s work! Thanks for posting this way, and for your kind encouragement!
hey cindy! my only regret is having so little time to devote to this thursday series! in a few weeks i will be home and look forward to some special features!!!
i am really enjoying your own series!
Wow, incredible and exciting to see everyone’s work. Amazing to see your left-hand drawing, as well as Ruth’s – there’s just no way I could manage the control. The talent here is awesome – love what you’ve done, great encouragement and community involvement. Cool!
thank you so much, mary; how ironic that i’m now ‘on the road’ with little time to organize and share what everyone is doing. when i am home (mid july?) i look forward to a week of posts that feature everyone’s progress!
z
Mid-July really? Wow that’s a long trip – how do you managing your property and gallery back home if you are gone so long. I’d miss home ~ one of the reasons why I got off the road, too much travel.
my main ‘fear’ is that the free-range goats will find their way into the yard! they’ll strip everything bare! i hope that i repaired the problem areas, but they walk around the big rocks/boulders on the riverbank…
the house takes care of itself, and this month has unusually busy.. i thought it best to combine all of the ‘andes’ business in one trip, as it’s a 7 hour bus ride from the beach to quito. that gets old fast!
7-hours? Yes, that would get old real fast. Have a safe trip – you’ll be glad to get home, I’ll bet! The goats? Not funny right – we have a rabbit that has adopted our yard and he is having a grand old time munching through the yard. Can only imagine what damage goats would do.
They are cool. Mine looks so out of place in those.
I will attempt the sigil for tomorrow. See how it goes.
waiting…waiting…patiently for Thursday! Look what you’ve started, Lisa!
Well done….
Raye/JOTS
Love, love, love this post. I wish I had more time to devote to drawing. I have done it from time to time, and it is true how you “see” so much more when you draw something. In the past I loved drawing faces, because I felt that I really knew who that person was after I drew the face. Thank you for this post.
I understand totally! Drawing faces sometimes spooks me.. when i am in a deep zone of concentration, it’s as if i can see into that person’s psyche, and i feel like a voyeur.
Aren’t we lucky that our lives are full, and there is never enough time to explore all that interests us?.
z
This is a truly wonderful post, and display of talent and creativity.
Z, the word, the advice, the drawings are excellent. The Aristotle quote is right on. Thanks for sharing, BTG
Z, I saw the coolest graphic and thought of your pencil. It was from an agency that helps homeless children in schools. The taller pencils were lined up in the back to show the trend over time of the number of kids needing help. The shorter pencils in front were showing the trend of the relative number of kids they help. The pencils were sharpened to scale. Very inventive. The good news the number of kids being helped as a percentage was increasing. Take care, BTG
that is so great! thank you so much.. the benefit of drawing is that the students also get better with analytical skills as well as math… drawing teaches no verbal ways to solve problems.
i’d love to see that graphic!
thanks so much.. i’m holding my breath and hope that the internet continues to work when i hit the send button!!!
z
A elegant and brilliant post. We have remarkable artists within our midst.
“Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.”
― Pablo Picasso
Thank you very much for this wonderful post, I really enjoy it a lot,
A hug
DD
What a great idea Lisa, and what a talented bunch you brought to the table. In my next life I will be an artist and my medium will be pencil. It is so pure and real.
Lisa these are so stunning. I am in awe of your talent as an artist… and I LOVE the quote you shared about ‘a pencil’ — Blessings and Love – Robyn
hey robyn!
thanks for your comment; you surely use meditation as part of your pain management, but have you tried drawing to prolong that meditation..or draw before meditation and wean into a deeper state. as debbie pointed out, ” I lost my ability to talk and time lost all meaning,,
that is such an amazing place to be, and i think it might give you comfort.
z.
Ahhh Lisa – I know you have inspired so many to lift their pencils and draw, and the results are so fabulous here… I recognize many from visiting blogs. Amazing also that some can use their non-dominant hand. I can see it would be amazing meditation work ….but not sure my muscle control can withstand.. shoulders are unstable and writing with pen/pencil can even cause me flare. Photography has served me fairly well though in this regard… as I can get lost behind my lens too. I don’t know …maybe abstract finger painting can work ! 🙂 Will think about…Thank you dear friend – you are clearly a wonderful teacher! ~ x rl
you might be able to do that without holding a pencil or brush.. just the subtle motion of going round and round or back and forth as if you were holding the pencil. it’s almost as if that motion is hypnotic. the shift happens for most people after about ten minutes.. then just close your eyes and enjoy the relaxed feeling.
z
ooo – you are tempting me to try this!!! But I would want to make art too! Maybe abstract could work! Will think about 🙂 Thank you lovely lady! x
Some do (and do quite well!) and some admire (that be me). These are all so fun and diverse. Love them all. I applaud all of you!
I was really looking forward to this post knowing you were going to share what everyone was doing. It is inspiring to see such talent. My grandfather’s last piece of art was a self portrait at age 93 that he did in pencil. I treasure it.
No wonder you were up all night, Lisa!
Some beautiful drawing but the gypsy cellist speaks to my heart. 🙂
Lisa, I am absolutely blown away right now! I don’t even know where to start! But first things first: Thank you for sharing this art !!! (i feel tempted to add a very explicit adjective before the word “art” but on second thought, I realize it’s not needed, the word speaks for itself) You must know that your mission keeps proving accomplished , and once more as I read this post. Karma works in funny ways (I am actually laughing right now 🙂 ) This past week I was thinking of getting back into drawing and painting…I’ve done it when I was a teenager and it somehow…got list in the haze of adulthood. I cannot thank you enough for inspiring me so and kind of giving me that “kick in the butt”…yeah, that’s it, thanks for kicking me in the butt 😀 And again, thank you so much for sharing the ART 🙂 You, are, awesome!!! Keep doing what you do you are needed!!!!
every so often life presents us with an unexpected gift.. this post and other posts about art/drawing have touched you, and then you passed the delightful gift back to me with this beautiful comment!
sometimes life tells us that we’re on track! thank you so much, and i hope that you’ll proudly post a sketch, study, drawing, doodle – something that gives you a smile in your heart!
muchas muchas gracias, you’ve put one in my heart!
z
*huge smile* 😀 I will definitely post it up when the time comes, hoping to pass on the inspiration just as you have.
Your drawing with the left hand is much better than any drawing that I try drawing with my right hand, great collection of drawings all are wonderful I love the rooster!!!
you’ll have to meet didier one of these days.. he’s now in quito.. in fact, you should check out his blog. he’d like to spend some time in jama and would make a great teacher for a week art fellowship, though someone would have to pay him a token something and maybe provide a place for him to stay…
z
all excellent work !
A pencil is a wonderful thing indeed. Great post.
Wow, look at all that wonderful talent you’ve displayed Lisa! I’m guessing it makes you feel fantastic.Thank you so very very much for sharing these drawings for other’s to see (and allowing me to be a part). Your encouraging words are wonderful, I want to take a class from you too, or at least sit in so I could share with you the pleasure of watching amazing artists emerge.
Lots of talent on this page! Just simple awesome. Art is a life long passion of mine and this your “post of pleasure” for all artists is just awesome to me. I’ve noticed a few more artists in the comment section too, and your encouraging words. I’m hoping they’ll be picking up pencils soon to try their hand at sketching.
I found something in an old sketchbook that has special meaning (for new artists) so thought I’d share that tomorrow instead of the dandelion drawing, which is coming right along (lots of detail to pursue). I applaud this artistic post and you Lisa, thank you again. I am so pleased to know you. Take care of you ~ Penny xx
penny, you are tireless with your enthusiasm and support for others! thanks so much!
i look forward to what you will share with us tomorrow.. tomorrow.. i’d best get busy on that post now that the internet is loading pages!
z
Don’t stay up too late, I almost said that in the last comment, so I’ll say it now! You who has “the coolest floor on the planet”! 🙂
ha ha! i should paint a sign that says that with the quote going back to bob! i’ve been sitting on that flloor with my back to the wall, knees bent, and lapboard/table and in the zen of pencil drawing. ‘floor sitting’ takes the fatigue from my back.
the floor has been lots of fun; when someone stops by, we have two options – sit on the deck and watch the birds or go downstairs and sit on the magic carpet. the magic carpet is more fun, though the birds are so relaxing! nice to have two options!
the internet is still too slow to pull up the ‘new post’ page.. back to drawing! poor poor me!!! 🙂
Ah yes, I am feeling so sorry for you at this moment, um huh, right! 🙂
ha! am about to send out this next week’s post. i think you’ll get a kick out of the quote!
z
I’m sure I will!
penny, you are tireless with your enthusiasm and support for others! thanks so much!
i look forward to what you will share with us tomorrow.. tomorrow.. i’d best get busy on that post now that the internet is loading pages!
z
Pingback: Line After Line : Art Is Therapy | Peace Wisdom Prosperity
Lisa, I would love to hop on a plane and get two hours of instruction from you. I have really never drawn, or if I did as a child, it has escaped my memory. What a wonderful exercise you have created for others. 🙂
i suspect that one day we’ll have that drawing lesson in person! until then, i’ll try each week to nudge you along! (start with the shading and cross hatching as you wean into something a bit more challenging!)
I suspect we will have that lesson in person one day. I may start experimenting in the safety of my own little home. 🙂
that sounds great! maybe you’ll find the courage to share, but if you hit a wall, email the image and we’ll talk about it via email!
Thank you Lisa. 🙂