This is a little sketch I did for an artist friend that I was texting. The story behind the sketch doesn't really matter but what is important is what this sketch began.
For years I have tried to become better with the pencil. Drawing isn't my strong skill which is kind of crazy. I mean, I can scribble out an idea for a painting but it really doesn't come to life until I touch it with a paint brush. Imagine if an artistic license was like a driver's license...I would fail the written test!
My high school art teacher required 10 sketches a week. They could be of any subject but they needed to be a full sheet of paper. Any subject?? What kind of monster was this woman??? I would stare at my blank sheet, I would walk past my dog, our gardens, the giant towering oak trees and out into the fields of the Midwest stumped at what to draw. I mean there was nothing!
Okay, I admit, I look back and think, good heavens why did that seem like such a chore. I shake my head at my younger self and open my sketch book. I walk past my dog, my garden, the gangly spruce trees and out into the mountains stumped at what to draw. Come on, we live in Alaska. There is NOTHING to draw!
Don't think the ridiculousness of all this doesn't make me insane. But I don't seem to have a mind for drawing. I'm only a working artist for pete's sake!
My little bee has changed me a bit. Since then I have been sketching quite often. This artist friend of mine is a great drawer. He is inspiring me and encouraging me. It's a simple thing but I know it will make my paintings better. I don't imagine me packing away my brushes but it would be nice to not have a blank piece of paper haunt me. Even if that means simply bringing to life a little, fuzzy bug.
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