Week 5: Tick Tock Draw Erase

Week 5

This week has been an unsatisfying week... I have worked on the sketch for Big Ben for what seemed like ages. I was too caught up on the details, where I erased, sketched, erased, sketched, and erased OVER AGAIN!! I was almost in tears in frustration. Why, why did I choose this picture, I did not know. However, I have finished the sketching, and thought, the hard parts are OVER! Yet, of course I was mistaken...

First what I drew off of:

Sketch:

Drawing...

Ahh!! My hand!!

Rough Sketch

Product of repeated SKETCH & ERASE

Some of the people asked me if I was going to do anything from my "imagination", instead of copying off of a photograph. Here's what I had planned out (I thought it was ingenious at the time). I was going to draw a clock surrounded by a giant tree. Inside the clock would be a depressing winter image with a lonely swing like this image:

Sketch:

However, outside the clock would be a happy, beautiful scenery, highlighting the difference. The message I wanted to convey is that we're too caught up with our own schedules to stop back and appreciate the good surroundings around us. Check down below to how that turned out... 

Tom Lynch

This week, I read about a new watercolor artist, Tom Lynch. I have to admit that I had a stereotype where artists like to keep their drawing technique "secrets" to themselves and only tell their students to just try their best and paint as they like. However, while I was watching his videos and reading some of the tips, I began to feel ashamed to have thought that way. This guy just seems to nice and relaxed, where he makes you feel like you're welcome to come over and stare at him while he's painting. Okay, I think you've had enough of my adoration of Tom Lynch, so I'll talk to you about who he is. According to his website, he is referred as one of the U.S.'s premier watercolorists. He's very involved with his works, where he wrote 7 books and hosted several PBS TV Art Series. It seems natural that he has been the spokesperson for the entire National Arts Materials trade Association, since he talks at ease. Also, he was just recently listed as one of the nation's top 20 teachers by a leading Art magazine.

Here are some of his breath-taking paintings:

Cafe Row by Tom Lynch

Early Colors by Tom Lynch

Link for more pictures: http://www.hilligossgalleries.com/search.asp?artist=lynch

Link for his webpage: http://www.tomlynch.com/

He's fascination towards his work is everything I had thought of a perfect mind set of a true artist. I've always said to myself that if I had the talent, I would want to highlight things in my work that are easy to miss. I wanted to convey a message that is original and genuine. Tom Lynch-the amazing artist said, "I feel it's the job of the artist to bring to the viewer the best of what can be found in the landscape along with a little creativity or exaggeration...normal and ordinary are not for me." Who wouldn't love this guy?

I also learned very important things that I had troubles with. He said in one of his videos that his painting thoughts have evolved as I've noted below:

-Realism detail (capturing like the photographs)

-Close values

-Impressionism (subtle impression)

-Color and contrast (feel good)

-Sunlight and shadow

Like him, I think I've went through the same kind of process. When I was first drawing off of a photo, I wanted to make it exactly like the photograph. I have definitely missed some of the key components, such as lighting, and color with contrast, because I was so caught up with copying off of the picture. Later, I began to think that it would be nice to put my own feelings to the paintings, such as impressionism and convey to the people of my own feelings. However, I felt it was impossible, because I was just copying off of a photo. I hope that next week, when I'm sketching and maybe painting on the spot will bring those elements out. 

Lastly, what I hope to gain off of Tom Lynch's teachings is his driving force. He had mentioned about how he wanted a variety of paintings, and want the artistic extra. Every artist, I presume, want someone to look at his painting and be able to say "wow". How long and how much dedication I need to bring that kind of compliment out of people, that I don't know. However, even after this project is over, I want to continue this "hobby" of mine until that goal has been met. 

My paintings

Big Ben

The result of using too much water...

Final painting

My own drawing

As you might be able to tell, my idea of clock just disappeared... I didn't know how to make it as a clock without making it seem...awkward...

Works Cited 

""oak Creek 9 X 12"" - Originals. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://tomlynch.fineartworld.com/artistViewingRoomCtl.php?artistid=263>. 

"Tom Lynch - Home." Tom Lynch - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.tomlynch.com/>. 

"Welcome to Hilligoss Galleries." Welcome to Hilligoss Galleries. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.hilligossgalleries.com/search.asp?artist=lynch>.