Monday, April 4, 2011

The Lightness Of Looking, The Elusive Form

Garden Notes, 9X12, Pencil

Hillside With Trees, 9X12, Pencil

Gunpowder Riverbed, 9X12, Pencil

Route 7 Bridge, 9X12, Pencil
There's something about just the right amount of information needed to convey a thought.  The mind does the rest.  I haven't figured out yet just what to do with this drawing approach, other than to just let them be what they are--quiet moments in meditative seclusion.  And I've tried making paintings out of them. They just laugh back at me reminding me that gilding the lilly  becomes King Arthur's pet mule all too quick.

\\///\

25 comments:

Sonya Johnson said...

Nice! You've given plenty of information for the viewer here via your strategic use of directional line to suggest the scene. That's really all that does need to be said.

This technique/style would have been ideal for the sketches I was doing yesterday. I was using charcoal, and it was too heavy-handed. I'll go back and re-visit some in pencil after seeing your post.

Thanks for the inspiration, Bill!

William Cook said...

Strategic is an excellent word for this sort of note taking. Observation is so crucial. and deciding what gets noted is not real clear sometimes. But there are rhythm directionals everywhere you look. You have to be very calm to see them. So happy to hear from you! Regards, Wm

Susan Roux said...

Wow Bill! These are so soft and delicate. I love them. They could be framed as is.

Linda Roth said...

I agree. These lovely "notes" are best left as drawings. Paintings would demand more and more would drain the life out of them.

I think when you feel like you need to do a preliminary drawing for a painting, it's a clue that perhaps there shouldn't be no painting, just the drawing.

SamArtDog said...

You have a calm, light touch. I'm beginning to recognize your handwriting. Some would call it "style", but I also see your marks as written words. Hieroglyphs. Rhythm glyphs.

hw (hallie) farber said...

SamArtDog is right again. Rhythm glyphs.

William Cook said...

Hi Susan----- With these, I catch myself going, "but but but..."-- I just have to admit that these are finished statements. I feel like art should be harder, more involved. But the drawings insist--do not touch! Thanks for stopping in.

Hi Linda--Exactly! One dab of color and POOF--the essence, the life, the mojo whatever you call it, disappears. Still I feel like they are leading me somewhere. And this dilemma has been going on for years. One day maybe, who knows?

Hi Sam---Wow! Rhythm Glyphs--a perfect description. What a cool comment. I've always noticed and admired the autographic hand in art. But your comment goes beyond that. To be thought of as writing itself or glyphs--that's a new one. And yup, it fits! Thanks for that wonderful observation.

William Cook said...

Hi Hallie---Sam's observation really was neat wasn't it? Really strikes a chord with me. Took a small sketchbook out today and tried a couple! Felt good to be looking and drawing again.

RH Carpenter said...

Nothing I can add to this, Bill, except that, if I could draw like this, I would! Less is more, less is more, yes, I know, but my hand seems to think "just a bit more" is even better :)

William Cook said...

Hi Rhonda--Thanks! I have to chuckle. It doesn't take much to go into "just a bit more" mode--much like my sketches from today.

illustration poetry said...

Sir, ive always wanted to draw something like this http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XvCQAgzXKU/TZlU-9hpjlI/AAAAAAAAAOM/4rCd3jT8MLU/s1600/Current+Gunpowder+River+With+Bridge.jpg (since i saw a bridge drawing by Isambard Kingdom Brunel a long long time ago)!
but i think i should learn how to draw, first.


Good day to you and the bridge!

M.
with2valley2mountain.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

I love these! Isn't it great when you have something in your hand and you can explore it without knowing what you will do with it? It can just BE. And BE in such a way to be filled with every possibility.

It seems as if your eye touched on the subject just as your pencil marks touched the paper. Beautiful, William.

Jane said...

I am not exactly sure i know what it means that the lily becomes a mule or something like that, but I suppose it is like you can easily overdo things?? Anyway I think these sketches are beautiful as sketches, they need nothing more to be done. And as Rhonda said, if I could paint this way...I would never stop:-))

Casey Klahn said...

Good posts - sorry I've been too busy to do much but rush around.

OTOH, these drawings definitely make a guy slow down and look. Wonderful.

William Cook said...

Hey Casey! Thanks so much for checking in. I know you've been running around. Assuming you've arrived back home, hope you had a great trip!

Yes they are a bit demanding in that way now that you mention it. Thanks!

Leovi said...

Preciosos bocetos, tienen personalidad propia porque están realizados en el instante preciso como un estudio, y eso siempre queda dentro para otras creaciones. Saludos.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

These are just fabulous. I wouldn't go over them, gilding the lily and all, but I'd maybe do a similar sketch and do watercolor. I say this often but it's true. There's nothing as elegant as a beautiful sketch.

William Cook said...

Hi Leovi--Gracias por visitarnos y por tu amable comentario. Saludos cordiales! Wm

William Cook said...

Hi Mary--Great to hear from you! I do have that in mind, only with watercolor pencils. I've only been messing around with them so far. It will be such a pleasure to just get out and spend some time with the technique. Great suggestion!

joan coch said...

thanks and keep creating, which is what it's worth even in this battered world.
good work, greetings

William Cook said...

Hi Joan-- I needed that. I've just started 20 new panels, not unlike the one you are working on in your header--exact same pallet knife. Far from finished though, eventually I'll post . Best regards--Wm

Franco said...

Con su permiso

Me gurtó mucho la serie I was once a Heathen.
Te seguiré.
Saludos.

William Cook said...

Hi Roseli--Welcome--thanks for following my blog. I'm having a bit of trouble translating your comment, though. But I have seen your work and it is wonderful. Your new friend, Bill

Franco said...

I will comment in Portuguese

As vezes os tradutores do Google
não fazem uma boa tradução.O comentário anterior foi feito em Espanhol,pois creio que para vocês,
é um idioma mais conhecido que o Português.Disse que gostei muito da série "I was once A Heathen",e que
seguirei teu blog.
Meus cumprimentos.

William Cook said...

Thank you Jala--Great to hear from you!