Sunday, May 6, 2012

Two Blue Ladies



Yes, two on blue paper,  one in ink with added white hi-lights, the other, brown pencil with white, but that's not the end of the connections or problems.  At first the things that link these two for me are wild hair, strong facial features and hands.  The right hand of the young woman on the pillow is so-so, - just a hand, not very carefully drawn, but her left hand is quite personal and expressive. It looks as if it is in a position often taken, one very natural. In writing about this person, you would likely have more to say about that left hand than the other.  I'd be happier had I drawn both hands a bit larger but still with more emphasis on the left. 


This seated woman's right hand, resting lightly on the wooden chair arm pushes out toward us. Even tho' basically accurate, I think those fingers also could be a bit larger. BTW, take note of the light falling on those fingers, pointed up by the small dark shadows on her knuckles. See how this helps define the form.

In the end, it's perspective that unites these two drawings. Our point of view, high in the first, low in the second, is shown by perspective, - eye level high in one,  low in the other. In the seated figure that hand resting lightly on the chair-arm is just at our eye-level so the fingers and knuckles hide the rest of the hand. The nearest breast is higher than the other because they are above our eye level.  Likewise,  looking at the perspective in the body and legs of the reclining woman, - the feet look so small because of the (exaggerated?) distance.  I'd like to see the same "distortion" reversed in that near hand, larger because it is so much closer and more interesting.


I know, this is not the most exciting post in the world but linear perspective can be helpful, restricting or something to be pushed aside depending on your outlook and purpose.  Use it carefully, exaggerate it or ignore it entirely, it is part of your visual vocabulary.  As I often say, it's your work, your art, - just do it!

"What a delightful thing this perspective is!"   Paolo Uccello

"Perspective is a ghastly mistake which has taken four centuries to redress."   Georges Braque

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