Drawing – Hockney takes art back to basics provides an interesting read that should be motivation for some.
Drawing should be regarded as a major art form, artist David Hockney said. Despite long being seen as “almost irrelevant”, drawing is a vital part of every creative process, Hockney adds.
While I teach photography and computer oriented courses, I emphasize all my students keep a sketchbook. Most of them don’t but, those that do understand there is an important relationship between it and the finished work. I do check them during the term to see what they’ve done. Maybe, I should put even more emphasis there. I do say that sketchbooks don’t have to be all drawing but, can have text and collaged things pasted in. It’s about the process, even if the actual drawing is roughly done.
While he finds contemporary use of images “very fascinating”, Hockney maintains drawing can be one of the most direct forms of communication.
“Practically everything comes to life on a drawing board – there is a diagrammatic aspect to it.”
One of the more memorable exhibitions I remember while living in Florida were the Picasso notebooks at the Museum of Art Ft. Lauderdale. With the resultant images incorporated into prints and ceramics, for instance, it was the thinking process of Picasso that was revealed for me. It was the development of a narrative in drawing that provided me with an appreciation of Picasso that I didn’t have before that moment.
I, for one, would like to see more original drawing. I’m sick of seeing the copying of Japanese animation characters. Even if we don’t have an unusual drawing style, whatever comes from within has certainly got to be better than copying those big eyed humanoids.