I should add that if what one wants to do as a pen and ink artist is to do scenes and/or character work [I prefer that more than to say portraiture], I am not disparaging it nor discouraging it - indeed, GO FOR IT, for that is what gives the satisfaction... but - if such is, like is for me, not enough, then what has been written is a way of furthering the seeking of that satisfaction that otherwise is not there... at the least, even if scenes are the forte, knowing all this other can aid in improving that, crystallizing the essence more so than would have been if not knowing... remember, the essence of art is 'for contemplative purposes' - it is why one goes and looks at a work over and over and over, savoring the impact received, being refueled by the savoring...
Indeed, that one seeks recognition as an artist instead of as a drawer or sketcher indicates an awareness that even to do renderings of buildings or animals or objects involves selectivity, of emphasizing this or over another, of omitting the non-essential, and of seeking to dramatize so as to bring forth furthering interest in the showing - and by thus bringing forth the artist's sense of life, whether consciously held or not, for it is inescapable in the rendering, as is the desire of finalizing the work to the highest standard...
And for the pen and ink artist, this is displayed in the often amazing ability of so many using pen and ink to create so much variety of shades and textures using an 'either/or' medium of black ink, to say nothing of those who go on to use colors as well... drama, it seems, is made for the pen and ink art, for that 'either/or' emphasizes this, forges it really to a degree rarely seen in other mediums...
Indeed, that one seeks recognition as an artist instead of as a drawer or sketcher indicates an awareness that even to do renderings of buildings or animals or objects involves selectivity, of emphasizing this or over another, of omitting the non-essential, and of seeking to dramatize so as to bring forth furthering interest in the showing - and by thus bringing forth the artist's sense of life, whether consciously held or not, for it is inescapable in the rendering, as is the desire of finalizing the work to the highest standard...
And for the pen and ink artist, this is displayed in the often amazing ability of so many using pen and ink to create so much variety of shades and textures using an 'either/or' medium of black ink, to say nothing of those who go on to use colors as well... drama, it seems, is made for the pen and ink art, for that 'either/or' emphasizes this, forges it really to a degree rarely seen in other mediums...
Part of what has drawn me to pen and ink is the sense of wonder as the scene or whatever emerges out of the pen strokes to make itself known. The challenge of rendering in ink, totally unforgiving, comes from the combining strokes to create the tones and values that breathe life into the art. Like a black and white photo, the intrique draws (no pun intended) me in. The awe I feel, as it takes form, takes my breath away. And that is just my poor attempts at art, think how I feel when I see true works of pen and ink art. It is the essence, the thing that takes my breath away, that I stive for in my work...
ReplyDeleteMichaelangelo often used to say the sculptures were already in the marble, and that he was merely chipping away the extranious, freeing what was within... now, while laying in ink is not removing, in a way it is - removing the white, thus showing the image - and that is how i see my renderings, being 'revealed' by the process of rendering...
ReplyDeleteExactly!!!
ReplyDelete