Because I’m very interested in art journals and the process of drawing, I recently purchased three books about creativity and sketching: two by Danny Gregory, and one by Richard Bell. Although all three encourage a spontaneity and quickness in drawing that may seem to be at odds with a scientific approach, there is also a substantial amount of discussion and exhibition of careful observation and attention to detail. Through having (sometimes uncharacteristically heated and emotional) arguments with, and learning from, professional artists over the years, I’ve begun to relinquish some of the tight grip on realistic and precise representation in my drawings, but, after reading these three books, I feel somewhat vindicated in retaining a certain amount of detailed observation and verisimilitude.
Danny Gregory worked in the advertising business in New York City, and when his wife Patti, a stylist, was paralyzed after falling under a subway train, he began drawing as an antidote to the depression, anger, and self-pity that he felt. Everyday Matters is an illustrated diary that chronicles the development of Danny’s journaling style, as well as his family’s struggles to rebuild their happy, productive lives together. The Creative License is a much more extensive and detailed “how-to” manual for adopting the drawing and visual journaling practices into your own daily life. As a person who produces an average of at least one or two drawings each day, I skimmed through the first chapter on Drawing, so it’s difficult for me determine whether it’s sufficient to entice someone to begin sketching regularly. I found all the subsequent chapters, however, to be very engaging, and to encourage me to explore new subjects for my drawings, even if I’m unlikely to change my methods radically. I found the second chapter, on Journaling, to be reassuring, as I was beginning to worry that filling multiple journals with sketches and paintings was a bit … well, weird. I loved the chapters on Judgment and Identity as well, and the book is filled with Gregory’s own drawings of everything under the sun, as well as samples from the journals of other artists. For me, drawing in a journal is a natural, circadian activity, though it will take some discipline for me to add as much text and description as do Gregory and his art journaling colleagues. You can visit Danny Gregory’s blog here.
Two quick sketches in my traveling art journal. Ballpoint pen and Caran d’Ache watercolor pencil
Richard Bell is one of Danny Gregory’s drawing pals; he lives in Yorkshire, and has a lovely nature diary website as well. I would have made a special trip north, when I was in the UK, to attend one of his workshops. Richard Bell’s style and subjects are more akin to my own, though he, like Gregory, is a master of the quick sketch, whereas I am rather slower. That being said, I found a lot of very useful nature journaling tips in Bell’s charming little book, Drawing on Reserves. It contains advice on art materials and on using watercolors, in the contexts of depicting natural objects such as stones and plants. There are also numerous examples of Bell’s sketches of birds, plants, and landscapes. I think the most important take-home lesson for me, from all three books, is never to be caught empty-handed, without a sketchbook and drawing instrument. The worst that can happen is that someone will ask to see what you’re drawing, which is really not so bad (unless you’re sketching an unflattering portrait).
Cool! I used to read (and look at) Danny Gregory’s blog, but then forgot about it. I like being reminded of old blogs, and it’s time to look at more arty things again, so I’m putting him back on the reading schedule.
I like the sketches- especially the (not unflattering) dog sketches! Visual journaling sounds like a really cool way to capture moments (I have tried when I see a really cool piece of pottery or something I want to remember, but it usually looks skewiff).
I do like the dog sketch… although the chicken is rather stylish too. :)
Nice post – interesting to read what inspires people outside of their “scientific” lives.
@ Eva: Unfortunately, Gregory has not updated his blog recently. But I enjoyed the linked videos from “My Yorkshire”, with Richard Bell.
@ Sabbi: Gregory writes that “There are no bad drawings”. Throughout The Creative Genius, the reader is admonished to NOT erase, and to NOT throw away drawings. If you use a bound journal for your sketches, I think you’re less likely to discard them if you don’t like them, because you have to actively slice out a page (and there might be a drawing that you do like on the other side).
@ Richard: Thanks. My Labrador retriever makes a good model, I think. Were it not for drawing, I would be having a temperamental meltdown right now. The relentless heat and drought conditions, combined with a work schedule that precludes vacation for the next decade or thereabouts, have induced a lingering crabbiness of epic proportions. I. am. ineluctably. crabby.
And I have developed a deeply entrenched loathing and resentment of all who live in cool, moist places and/or can afford to go on vacation.
cool, moist places
How about 30+ Celsius and thunderstorms? That, we can do for you.
afford to go on vacation
Um, no.
Extra vocabulary points to you for using the word “ineluctably”. Although I was once referred to in undergrad residence as “dial-a-dictionary”, that is one word that I really would not know how to use in conversation. Nice.
30C with thunderstorms sounds better than 38C+ in Anfauglith, methinks.
Here Bill. Here boy. Good hurricane. Sit. Stay. Rain. Rain some more.
“Ineluctably” just popped into my head. I blame James Joyce. Or perhaps Pychon. Maybe both. If it had been “chthonic”, I would have blamed Henry.
Pychon —→ Pynchon
Henry is always to blame. See his out of office reply.
Chthonic, ineluctable crabbiness – the drawing:
Nice crabs. I particularly like the black one with the uber-claw. Very
chthonicTolkien-esque, somehow.The crab drawn in black ink is a fiddler crab. I think drawing crabs is more productive than venting my frustration over the weather in other ways. Perhaps I’ll draw bears or grouse next; the weather isn’t likely to improve any time soon, and I’ve no hope of escaping Anfauglith.
Nice drawing and nice crabs. I congratulate Kristi!