Molly, My First

[Steven Sweeney]

But then, haven't you all said that drawing from two-dimensional is much easier and a step in development before refining abilities to draw from life??

Hmmm. I don't believe that "drawing from two-dimensional" has been suggested, though perhaps I don't understand what you're referring to. (Perhaps copying drawings, but those drawings should be ones in which three-dimensional representation is apparent.) We could chat about that more, if you'd like.

P.S.

Good to know, Steven, that you too, were once a self-conscious beginner.

"Are", not "were once". But it's not endearing to anyone and it's a huge impediment. Need to plunge through that fiery hoop -- which, after all, exists only in the imagination.

[Patricia Joyce]

Sorry, Steven, I should have more more specific (chronic problem of mine, I am always in a hurry!) I was referring to copying the old masters, and the rigors of some of the ateliers I read about here on the Forum (I think Mari DeRuntz is at Mims Studio this summer. Can't wait to hear how it all went for her). I have been buying up second-hand coffee table books and posters to practice from. I also purchased a plaster cast but have not done anything with it yet. It is fascinating to study the masters' drawings, even literally copying with tracing paper when I have little time for much else.

But, for my portrait commissions (very few - ok for now) I have been using photographic references. I have only taken life drawing classes for six months so my experience in drawing from life is very limited at this point. It seems much harder to capture the model in class, live, than to capture an image in a good photograph.

In two weeks I start a portrait drawing from life class with Lou Grasso, faculty member at CIA. I'm really ready to begin!

That fiery hoop scared me for too many years. I guess I had to raise my kids, get them off on their own before jumping through fire! Of course raising two boys alone pushed me through a few hot blazes! Not much can scare me away now, however bumbling I may feel (first oil painting class this summer - what a humbling experience that was! Mud, everything looked like mud!)

The hardest part for me is developing a course of study. Now that I will be in the classroom two nights a week, I feel on track again, after the summer off. I want to make every hour count, making up for lost years I guess. I am always telling my kids that Grandma Moses started in her seventies, so 48 is not too late!

[Jeff Fuchs]

As I say, art isn't for quitters. I've known my share of people who have tried their hand at it and given up after a few months, because they just didn't have "the gift for it". Then, of course, when an artist creates something good, people attribute it to their gift, and don't realize how hard they had to work to get where they are.

The plus side is that it gives artists a mystique. The down side is that there aren't enough people who'll invest the time to develop the skills.

[Patricia Joyce]

So far gaining the skills has been a big part of the fun for me. But then, learning is always exciting, and trying something new is rejuvenating. I just started another portrait this week, and it is all I want to do. I can't wait to sit down to the drawing board and work at it some more.