Seek New Approaches in Old Masters, Plus Cartoon

Friends, I'm now playing around wash and colors in background for portraits. I'm thrilled with it.

Big brush strokes make a drama (*good paper is essential!).
Another experiment is a "limited pallet."

In order to seek new approaches, I look up great masters. Copying brings new ideas. This "private tutoring by great masters" is freebie! Friends, what a luxury tut! Sure, sketching excites you.

Here, my copies of French masters' drawings from the exhibition, "David to Cezanne" at NSW Art Gallery.

Above, Jean-Baptise Carpeaux, "Ugolino" 1860. (* "Sculptor" and painter) How impressive the model's sharp eyes and strong body language!! And simple expression. Carpeaux never wastes any line. The copying excited me so much. I should use a pen more often.

Below. Francois Marius Granet study of the death of Poussin 1842 ( for a bigger work ). How "simple," again, and a very well-organized composition in a single color! The sketch taught me the importance of a "thumbnail" and monochrome for value study.

My monochrome color work was "Young Boy" for a twenty minutes challenge. The young man and I enjoyed a chat during sketching. 

Another giant, Rembrandt might be in my unconsciousness.
Sydney university invited Australian Linguistics Conference in 2004. Good girl Sadami was sketching speakers rather than listening to lectures:).At a lunch break, we went to a second-hand book market. I bought "Rembrandt." Other students teased at me, "Sadami gonna be a famous artist!" I just blushed up. No idea to become an artist, but I secretly loved drawing and had admired Rembrandt. On a back cover, the single color work struck me, particularly, "Sleeping Woman 1654".

Breathtakingly, I looked, looked, looked into it.... and determined to explore watercolor...and to the present. I made it happen!

Probably, each artist has critical encounters with other artists and decision. Anyone starts with copying and develop originality. My admiring artists have been changed from time to time in seek of a style. Creative activities are identity forming and identity performance. Some people talk to me, "I wish I could draw like you," whistle my sketching on streets. My answer is always the same, "Be what you are."

My one regret in life is that
I am not someone
else.

Woody Allen
ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ
(That quote was on a linguist's door. Bahaha!?)

Let us find who we are in our journeys.

Well, a coffee break for you! A cartoon, "Australian Survival Game" from "A Day in Poor Artist's Life" series.

Is your life ok? Hope this post brings you some smile.
Friends, happy painting, drawing and do lots of "Bhahaha" and survive!!

Seek New Approaches in Old Masters, Plus Cartoon