I just walked out from a lecture of this topic (or something really close to it): how kids draw and why they often stop it at certain age; because they feel they can’t draw.
I have battled with exact same question about realism > minimalism/expressionism/abstract art/process art/whatever that even sounds fairly contemporary. I honestly don’t understand why “real art” should be a traditional da Vinci-like realistically portrayed human figure or a super realistic landscape with nature high and mighty. Not that those things were boring/uncool, but really, people. And why the hell the “best” artists are the ones with the most technical skill. A very well detailed, accurate and realistic piece can be boring, unemotional and lacking soul & spirit. I just recently realized it myself that hyper-realism does not equal good art.
And then the kids at school think they’re not good enough because they can’t draw a realistic stuff - because they’re taught that REAL art is REALISTIC art. Not by their art teachers (I HOPE 6_9) but the general public and society around them. It’s such a shame to block real, pure imagination and expression by NOT letting them think outside the box when it’s most needed.
dA is a good example of this, because almost all the so-called popular artists (who don’t draw anime/manga styled things) tend to be the ones fixated on realism (this is only my opinion, and not meant to insult anyone). The general atmosphere here, which may not manifest itself as a concrete written/spoken “rule”, seems to be that “if you can’t draw that damn hair/fur/whatever with every single hair in a correct shape, size and colour, just don’t bother at it - or don’t expect any comments, at least”.
Of course realism can give a powerful expression in a picture, it’s hard, but possible. But often this doesn’t happen, because the freedom of thought and expression does not come over if the artist themselves judges their work for being too “unrealistic”, thus taking the expressionistic elements away or laming them down.
I struggle with this as well. I do want to create art that is expressive and breathes life and meaning, but lately I have been so caught up with getting the technical side of art, trying to make a drawing realistic, because I am so caught up with trying to make my drawings look good for the graphic design program…because I know the drawings they look for have strong composition and line, and one of the professors (Richard) said I should have at least one realistic drawing. I want to get my art technically correct, but I also want to make my art expressive and soulful, but I feel like without mastering the technical aspect, my art will be for naught…I don’t know, I’m just rambling…art is very subjective…all I can say is that I can’t wait to go back to university in the fall because I am going to take an advanced drawing class, which should help me a lot with not only the technical part but also the conceptual part. In the meantime, I will practice drawing and sketching everyday like my professor from intermediate drawing class encouraged us to do…every single day, even if only for 5 minutes.
I also want to get the book “Keys to Drawing” since it looks very interesting, and emphasize relaxation and getting lost with your own work since I along with many artists tense up and worry if our lines and shapes don’t look exactly right. And the exercises seem better than the ones on “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” (which I have, and I did the first few exercises, but I lost interest…plus, all the psychobabble about left brain/right brain stuff went over my head…well I got it but I didn’t need to keep hearing about it over and over, and many other people agree with me…and it’s mostly geared towards beginners, while I am more intermediate, I’d say)
picsandquotes:
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youmakeme-laugh:
This blog is so funny! the newest and coolest! Must follow!
Yeah! You tell em Chris!
Taken with instagram
lizdexia:
party like it’s 2004: a middle school mixtape
Put on your best party dress (from Kohl’s, natch), your platform flip-flops, and your hair mascara. It’s time for the end-of-the-year dance, chaperoned by your gym teacher Mr. Belcher and your evil-bitch art teacher Mrs. Bjerke (sounds like beer-key but should’ve rhymed with BEE-JERK, ‘cause that’s what she was). No freak dancing allowed, kids. Sodas are $1 at the concessions table.
- Yeah! | Usher ft. Lil Jon
- Since U Been Gone | Kelly Clarkson
- 1985 | Bowling for Soup
- Bad Day | Daniel Powter
- Sk8er Boi | Avril Lavigne
- Crazy in Love | Beyonce
- Dirty Little Secret | All American Rejects
- The Reason | Hoobastank
- Hey Ya | Outkast
- My Humps | Black Eyed Peas
- The First Cut is the Deepest | Sheryl Crow
- Rock Your Body | Justin Timberlake
- She Will Be Loved | Maroon 5
- Work It | Missy Elliott
- White Flag | Dido
- Pieces of Me | Ashlee Simpson
- Leave (Get Out) | Jojo
- Milkshake | Kelis
- Hollaback Girl | Gwen Stefani
- Mr. Brightside | The Killers
- Stacy’s Mom | Fountains of Wayne
- So Yesterday | Hilary Duff
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Fun! I always wanted a 90s/early 2000s party.
(via the2000sblog)
(Source: Flickr / kittylaroux, via your-girly-fix)
Summer reading list…all given by my sis. Already started on “Birth of Venus”. I finally have time to read more. (Taken with instagram)
(via innerhappiness)(via lalaladylove)
(via your-girly-fix)