The following list was found among the papers of the painter Richard Diebenkorn after his death in 1993. Spelling and capitalization are as in the original.
Notes to myself on beginning a painting
1. attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.
2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued — except as a stimulus for further moves.
3. Do search. But in order to find other than what is searched for.
4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.
5. Dont “discover” a subject — of any kind.
6. Somehow don’t be bored — but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.
7. Mistakes can’t be erased but they move you from your present position.
Rodin’s hands feel more real: …If you’re wondering, yes I was the crazy lady of the day that became all verklempt over the Rodins. I’m told it’s a thing. Interested in hearing more thoughts like this? Take my figure drawing class, or the more sculptural Planes of the Face. I am also teaching drawing camps …
Below is a video by Proko showing a brief overview of basic drawing supplies, and a demo for how to hand sharpen a soft charcoal pencil. He explains what the weird sandpaper thingy is for.
Haniwa are unglazed terracotta clay figures that were placed on and around Japanese tombs. The word “haniwa” is a combination of two Japanese words: “hani” (meaning “circle”) and “wa” (meaning “ring” or “circle”). When first created, haniwa were made in various cylindrical shapes. Later they became more elaborate, featuring sculptures of warriors, shamanic women, attendants, …
Hey there. Want to see some interesting sketches? I’ve collected some drawings and creative responses from the last couple weeks of our recent 30SAL Challenge (30SAL Challenge Faves part 1). You can find these and other creative responses on Instagram by searching for #30SAL, or click Padlet links in each post to discover a treasure …
Diebenkorn’s Notes to Himself
The following list was found among the papers of the painter Richard Diebenkorn after his death in 1993. Spelling and capitalization are as in the original.
Notes to myself on beginning a painting
1. attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.
2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued — except as a stimulus for further moves.
3. Do search. But in order to find other than what is searched for.
4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.
5. Dont “discover” a subject — of any kind.
6. Somehow don’t be bored — but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.
7. Mistakes can’t be erased but they move you from your present position.
8. Keep thinking about Pollyanna.
9. Tolerate chaos.
10. Be careful only in a perverse way.
Source: http://www.powersofobservation.com/2012/02/diebenkorns-notes-to-himself.html
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