Thursday 26 November 2009

Gooseberry afternoon

Most days I feel like I'm thrashing about, looking for the right thing to do. There are so many things to do, and so many things that have to be done, but I'm skidding around, unable to settle on which is the most important. (Guess that's why deadlines exist, right?)

Today I stopped the giddiness, just for a bit. I went outside to draw the gooseberry plant. I've been wanting to do a linocut of it, already seeing the stalks with the little fruitcases running along the top of a card, already having an inkling of the kind of lines I'll cut. I've also been noticing that the fruits are dropping, the leaves are getting bigger (and being eaten by something), and that the time for drawing is slipping away.

I tried to remember what I'd been taught: that drawing isn't about producing a picture, it's about putting down information, enough information to carry back to the studio and work from. I noticed the thickness of the leaves, and the way the tops of the fruits snug up against the stems, the gorgeous swoop of the leaves. After a while I realised that the only thing I was hearing in my head was something like "uh-huh... uh-hm... hmm... oh... yup... ah..." Thinking, fiercely, without any words. And that for me is the trick of drawing, and it's reward.
So I haven't finished the ornaments I was making, or the tutorial I planned to post today. But I have started a new print!

8 comments:

kat said...

Loved reading this description of your process. Glad you took a break from the craziness - looks like the beginning of a lovely print.

flowerpress said...

I could have written this post yesterday! I couldn't finish anything (and I felt like going out and drawing instead - wish I had).
Love the gooseberries, great shapes.

*ceci* said...

such a pretty and delicate drawing... I love pencil sketches! I wish i spent more time with myself, a good pencil and paper... maybe this weekend! Thanks for inspiring me!

Pinktulip said...

The gift of an artist is to notice the finer details, which we ordinary mortals completely overlook! Stunning drawings, as always.

Ruby in the Dust said...

you are such a talented artist, thanks for sharing the process!

Fox & Locket said...

Hey Jesse! Finally got my blog going. I'll be sewing with our beautiful fabric tomorrow morning and shooting the finished bags on Sunday! Can't wait to see how they look :)

Heather Moore said...

Such beautiful, beautiful drawings.

Danya Ristić said...

Lovely spontaneous description of your creative process - so interesting!