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Monday, July 30, 2012

How Long Does It Take to Create Art Work?

Have you ever thought of an appropriate time frame for work? How many hours do you spend to create a work? Or working speed? The other day, I enjoyed a half-day-long life drawing and a choir members get-together. In that life drawing class, we had ONE posture for hours!! Sounds great?



Harmonica Player with Mic (A4)
(His concentration and eyes caught my heart. 
I'll work on it in the studio later) 

Of course, working speed is varied. It depends on media, a size of work, an expecting result, a subject and a style.  
In the day-long life drawing class, I've found myself...
1) a very slow starter or very fussy about getting an inspiration and take time to develop an image. 
(I was 2 sessions behind from all other members. Tried very hard to find a favorite spot, an angle and did a thumb nail study. *1 session = 20 minutes.) 
2) Once get on work, I was so quick. At once, caught up with others and made more than others.
Portrait in Life Drawing Class (A3, 15 minutes. 
Yes, after finishing a face, I'm having a break.)

For me, 10 to 20 minutes are not bad. Maximum 30 minutes. Creating art work requires huge energy and great concentration. After it, I'm flat out. Need a break & check a work. If necessary, get on it again, but try not to do too much. Otherwise, overwork. Although my figurative work seems very fast and quick, landscape takes me FOUR times longer.
China Town (A4 took 2 hours!
But I feel my brush dancing in this work.
Yey! Practice, practice!)

I told another life drawing class member, "Making a rush seems good for me. I do not think twice. I draw strong, confident lines and make dynamic brush strokes. Interesting textures can come up. In a long session, I make a dull work."  In a dull work, my most strength, "spontaneous and vigour" will be lost. No way! 


So, I've found I should be quick, but I carefully plan at the beginning. Good sart up is critically important. It means a half way through and right on a track. Once, I've got a good speed, it gives me a rythmical and smooth pace to finish up work. It often results in a nice work. 
What about you, Friends? I look forward to your feedback. 

Friends, Happy Painting!!  
(Balmain) 














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40 comments:

  1. Sadami, I study your work but I can never hope to achieve that spontaneity you have, great stuff!

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    1. Oh, Origame, thank you. But "Where there's a will, there's a way" is true. My strategy was very simple, "Just do it!" 5 or 3 minutes every day drawing makes a huge difference in a year.
      Cheers,wink,wink, Sadami

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  2. Hello Sadami, I like your works.
    unrestrained, happy like .

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    1. Hi,Jia or 多乐阳光 -- lovely name, you love sunshine!
      Your photos are so beautiful. It means you have wonderful eyes to capture subjects. Just do drawing everyday, all the time. It brings you a huge difference. Have fun!!
      Best regards, Sadami

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  3. Thanks for sharing your process, I find myself the same way at times. These are so expressive, and I think the speed at which you've painted them lends to that.

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    1. Hi, Shane,
      Thank you. I enjoyed your art work! Brilliant! Let us share joy in creating art works!!
      Cheers, Sadami

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  4. Como siempre una entrada muy inteligente. Todos los dibujos que le acompañan son muy buenos, pero el ultimo paisaje me parece delicioso. Un abrazo

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    1. Querida Tina,
      ¡Gracias! Felicidades por los premios de su blog.
      Muy feliz de conseguir su comentario agradable sobre el paisaje pasado, usted, el super del paisaje. Voy a seguir el ritmo!
      Saludos, Sadami

      Dear Tina,
      Thank you! Congrats on your blog awards.
      Very happy to get your nice comment on the last landscape, you, the super of landscape. I'll keep up!!
      Cheers, Sadami

      >>>Tina said...
      As always a very intelligent input. All drawings that accompany it are very good, but I think the last landscape delicious. a hug

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  5. I liked seeing the sketch that you made before applying the paint. You do have confident lines! I wish I can be more like you, I need to be bolder!

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    1. Hi, Tiffanny,
      Thank you so much. Yeah, sometimes, be brave is not easy. It takes a risk. But I'm sure, if we can go back to children, we can do it!
      Cheers, Sadami

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  6. Greetings Sadami! I'm with you. Love working quickly as it does prompt decisive action and keeps you initial response to your subject fresh. Especially with watercolor. You are so right about planning things out first... that takes the longest but then painting can be free. Love your portraits. They rock :) Now I would be hours and hours on portraits, where as landscapes flow quickly :) Have a great week!

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    1. Dear Pam,
      Thank you, other artists once said, "Your figures MOVE." I chuckled.
      Yes, like you said, a quick job means I pin down the most fresh impression before it will be gone, even though, technically, watercolour can bear both short or long use, I feel.
      Each artist has a favorite area. You're so good at landscape. One day, you have to teach me!!
      Kind regards,wink,wink, Sadami

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  7. Hi Sadami! Your people sketches are always wonderful! I also love the washes in the last one, the landscape! Have a nice week!

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    1. Hi, Judy,
      Thank you very much. Interesting. Unexpectedly, that last work has won good feedback, too. I'll keep up!
      Cheers, Sadami

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  8. There are works that I carry within for days ... and then it is as if something exploded and came out in no time! Other works have long to organize and plan but (when it ends well) I realize that they are always a few minutes to a few number of steps.
    When the watercolor work is too long .. usually (for me) ends badly!Lovely watercolors works in your post,Sadami.
    Warm regards,Rita.

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    1. Dear Rita,
      Yes, I agree with you. When I studied psychology, I learned that if a person draggs something in her mind, it gets the longer, the heavier. So, I've decided to outlet the heavy stuff ASAP. In art work, I don't think twice. "Just do it" and see the result. Then, I think it worked out or not. Now, I can try another way or chuck the old plan without no regret. Simple, but works well for me.
      Kind regards, Sadami

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  9. Los domingos hay una cita obligada Sadami: ¡ver tu blog!
    Es un placer ver tus trabajos.
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Estimado Onera,
      ¡Muchas gracias! Yo también, siempre disfrutando de su trabajo en Ladrones de Cuadernos. Vamos a compartir la alegría!
      Mis mejores deseos, Sadami

      Dear Onera,
      Thank you so much! Me, too, I always enjoying your work at Ladrones de Cuadernos. Let us share joy!!
      Best wishes, Sadami

      >>>Onera said...
      On Sundays there is a must Sadami: see your blog!
      It is a pleasure to see your work.
      A hug.

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  10. Sadami, you do realize that you are unusual, don't you girl!? :) What is most difficult for most people, portraits and figures, is the easiest for you. Both these portraits are wonderful! You painted this woman in 20-30 minutes!? Wow! Have a beautiful week!

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    1. Hi, Blaga,
      Thank you. But I'll tell you, many portraitists can do demo/sketch quickly such as Barton Silverman and Mary Whyte. No magic. "Just do it everyday" has brought me the huge difference in years. But also, I feel, "interest/enthusiasm" in subjects allows me go forward. Let us share joy in art work!
      Kind regards, Sadami

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  11. Hi Sadami. Agree those Olympics are fabulous and they are taking me away from my first love: watercolour. Your spontaneity and speed are fabulous. Something I really need to practice. At the moment if I do anything in 15 minutes it looks like a 5 year old has done it. I suppose that is where talent comes in and you have it by the bucket load. Take care. Laura x :-)

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    1. Dear Laura,
      I'd devote Picaso's say for you, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” I truly believe so and want to draw like a 5yrs old child forever. Regarding talents and work, I believe, Thomas Edison's say, "Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration." Let us keep up and share joy!!
      Kind regards, Sadami

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  12. Sadami, I really would love to see you painting !
    I think I would enjoy it a lot !
    your work is wonderful !
    have a nice week

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    1. Hi, Marty,
      Me, too, love your photos and beautiful words. Your sensitivity, good eyes and word use are magic!!
      Cheers, Sadami

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  13. spontaneity capturing the moment ! ...love the top sketch sadami

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  14. lovely paintings, Sadami...alive with spontaneity and color

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    1. Hi, caring Celeste,
      Thank you so much. You,too, make wonderful paintings. Let's enjoy it!!
      Cheers, Sadami

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  15. Hello Sadami:) Again beautiful sketches! To create a painting takes me two or three evenings but before I start painting I have watching the painting for over a week to think how to handle it! So no speedpainting for me:) Have a nice week!

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    1. Dear Renate,
      Thank you. Each one is different. Keep your style and work on your style. When I make picture book illustrations, it takes me much more time. Sometimes, I'm in the hell, really.
      Kind regards, Sadami

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  16. Estupendos tus trabajos, como siempre Sadami!! Un placer descubrirlos en cada nuevo post. En especial me gustan tus retratos, tan expresivos, con fuerza y alma. Te felicito! Un cordial saludo.

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  17. Dear Joan,
    You're so caring. Thank you for the kind comment.
    Your creativity is amazing. Please keep up your wonderful work!!
    Kind regards, Sadami

    >>>Joan said...
    Your great work as always Sadami! A pleasure to discover in each new post. I especially like your portraits, so expressive, with strength and soul. Congratulations! Best regards.

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  18. Hi Sadami
    It does take a long time, or I am verrrrry slow. Often when I go out drawing, after half a day, I only have a few drawings.

    Evelyn

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    1. Hi, Evelyn,
      Thank you! Each artist is different. Keep your own way. Regarding daily outside sketches, I try to make ONE good work and enough. I do not push myself too much.
      Cheers, Sadami

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  19. I love the eyes in both the figures - you have caught the essence of the person!

    As for me, I start slow, work slow and finish slow :) yet to acquire confidence in my work - ansd stop second guessing myself :(

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    1. Dear Meera,
      Thank you. Yes, often eyes speak most in a face.
      Also, yes, we need to work on with a "comfortable or favorite" pace. If you like the pace, keep it and enjoy it. I do not think too much.
      Kind regards, Sadami

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  20. I've been here before. :) Your faces and figures are inspiring! I love the overlap of colors. Wish I could do that quickly. I tend to fidget and then be too darn slow for my taste! Once or twice I have done the kind of skin tone overlap in a way that I deem successful. one of my goals is to see it appear more in my work. Happy painting!

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    1. Hi, Dan,
      Thank you for visiting. The overlap of colours is the beauty of transparent waterclour;"you can see another colour underneath the other." Let us enjoy watercolour painting and drawing fully!!
      Cheers, Sadami

      Delete
  21. Ciao Sadami,
    mi piacciono sempre tanto i tuoi visi che appaiono sul bianco del foglio con tutta la loro personalità e immediatezza...potrebbero iniziar a parlare e...sarebbe naturale!
    Ciao, abbracci, Floriana

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    1. Ciao Floriana,
      Grazie per applausi gentili. Il vostro lavoro, libero come un uccello, è incantevole. Anche a me, voglio essere libera e audace. Teniamo alla pittura.
      Cheers, Sadami

      Dear Floriana,
      Thank you for kind cheers. Your work, free like a bird, is lovely. Me, too, want to be free and bold. Let us keep up painting.
      Cheers, Sadami

      >>>Floriana,
      Hello Sadami,
      I always enjoy both your faces that appear on the white of the paper with all their personality and immediacy ... iniziar could talk ... and it would be natural!
      Hello, hugs, Floriana

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