Automatic drawing was developed by the surrealists, as a means of expressing the subconscious. In automatic drawing, the hand is allowed to move ‘randomly’ across the paper.
From Wikipedia
Surrealist automatism is a method of art making in which the artist suppresses conscious control over the making process, allowing the unconscious mind to have great sway. Early 20th century Dadaists, such as Hans Arp, made some use of this method through chance operations. Surrealist artists, most notably André Masson, adapted to art the automatic writing method of André Breton and Philippe Soupault who composed with it Les Champs Magnétiques (The Magnetic Fields) in 1919. The Automatic Message (1933) was one of Breton’s significant theoretical works about automatism.
(Drawing above by Andre Masson. Writing below by Andre Breton. Don’t get your Andres mixed up!)
What happens when millions of people stop what they’re doing, and all focus on the same beautiful thing, at the same beautiful time? Last Monday millions of people across the nation put on their funny glasses, stuck their heads in cardboard boxes, and stood looking up to the sky. For one beautiful unified moment, we all …
Never underestimate the beauty potential of a simple study on paper. These works are mostly vine charcoal on toned paper, some white charcoal (or white pastel), and pencil. The drawing above is watercolor. For most of these, regardless of color, the toned paper is standing in for medium value, so the artist only has to …
The First Common Photo Device Did you know the first commonly used photographic device was invented by a painter? It’s true! In 1829 French painter and chemist Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre was using a camera obscura for his work on theater sets. He’d obtained the camera from an optician named Chevalier, and was introduced to Nicéphore Niépce, …
Alan Honick contributed a beautiful photograph of his collection of moon snails. His statement described walks on the beach, and how the number of shells found by his friend decreased and eventually ended in the last fifteen years. The shells were beautiful, arranged in the spiral as they grow… or dwindle. The story was simple, …
Automatic Drawing
Automatic drawing was developed by the surrealists, as a means of expressing the subconscious. In automatic drawing, the hand is allowed to move ‘randomly’ across the paper.
From Wikipedia
Surrealist automatism is a method of art making in which the artist suppresses conscious control over the making process, allowing the unconscious mind to have great sway. Early 20th century Dadaists, such as Hans Arp, made some use of this method through chance operations. Surrealist artists, most notably André Masson, adapted to art the automatic writing method of André Breton and Philippe Soupault who composed with it Les Champs Magnétiques (The Magnetic Fields) in 1919. The Automatic Message (1933) was one of Breton’s significant theoretical works about automatism.
(Drawing above by Andre Masson. Writing below by Andre Breton. Don’t get your Andres mixed up!)
Related Posts
Total Eclipse
What happens when millions of people stop what they’re doing, and all focus on the same beautiful thing, at the same beautiful time? Last Monday millions of people across the nation put on their funny glasses, stuck their heads in cardboard boxes, and stood looking up to the sky. For one beautiful unified moment, we all …
Degas’ Studies of Drapery
Never underestimate the beauty potential of a simple study on paper. These works are mostly vine charcoal on toned paper, some white charcoal (or white pastel), and pencil. The drawing above is watercolor. For most of these, regardless of color, the toned paper is standing in for medium value, so the artist only has to …
On Painting and Photography
The First Common Photo Device Did you know the first commonly used photographic device was invented by a painter? It’s true! In 1829 French painter and chemist Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre was using a camera obscura for his work on theater sets. He’d obtained the camera from an optician named Chevalier, and was introduced to Nicéphore Niépce, …
Salish Sea Art Show Favorites
Alan Honick contributed a beautiful photograph of his collection of moon snails. His statement described walks on the beach, and how the number of shells found by his friend decreased and eventually ended in the last fifteen years. The shells were beautiful, arranged in the spiral as they grow… or dwindle. The story was simple, …