Ok, so I just spent 2 to 3 hours drawing my friend Liz's 3/4 profile (the background landscape/seascape was done in the last 15 minutes or so), and while it was frustrating to wipe down and rework the drawing so much, I know it will make the final product (and process) so much more enjoyable.
You see, I have been developing a thought lately that I believe to be universally true of any visual artform: ITS ALL ABOUT DRAWING. Essentially, Im drawing with the paint, but, even if I was using clay or metals or a design program, the basic fundamentals are the same: Im working with lines, contour, composition, and ultimately, subject matter. These are all the basics of any good drawing--in fact, they are more exposed and raw in the drawing process.
So heres what it comes down to for me.....Drawing is key. If I can find life and vibrancy in my initial drawings, then adding color, shapes, planes, etc. will be a cake walk....in fact, it will do best when it builds upon the solid foundation of drawing I've already set in motion.
Often, I will find myself working and re-working the paint over an area until Im completely frustrated and confused as to why it doesnt seem to be coming out "right". When I step back and ask myself if the initial drawing of the subject is right (questions like, "are the proportions right?", or "are the angles on or off?", "is the whole composition falling flat or is it dynamic?", etc. etc.), the answer is almost infallibly "no". Its only then that I realize I have been approaching my work ass-backwards and that I need to restructure some foundational issues before I strive anymore with mixing colors or shades or any other esoteric procedure.
So here is my nugget of advice: draw ALL the time. In fact, look at your work as one giant drawing. Because ultimately, if you find yourself drawing all the time in your work, you'll begin to connect with some solid creative axiom's, making your work deep, rich, and as effective as you want it to be.
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