Sunday, February 9, 2014

29 Faces in February #13 and #14


These upside-down drawings are turning into my morning meditation.  The moment you turn the reference photo upside-down, it becomes completely unrecognizable.  Your brain says "this does not compute," and then you choose a starting place (this time it was the hand), and you deal entirely with lines and shapes, which is really what you do when you draw anything anyway, but these ones are divorced from what your mind "knows".  It is an exercise in meditation, and then, such a treat when you turn it over and amazing--there's this recognizable person.


11 comments:

  1. wonderful drawings, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  2. These faces are amazing - I imagine it is very meditative to draw these every morning! I'm still amazed by your hatching style - lovely work!

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  3. the first one is amazing. can't believe they are upside down drawings!!!

    http://mimitabby.com

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  4. Love that first one, the way you can see the lower eyelid, the way you look *behind* the glasses. I've heard of this technique of drawing from an upside-down original--where did you get the pictures from (newspaper? own photo?)

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  5. (forgot to check the box that says "notify me" about future comments…)

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    1. Asakiyume--I hope you get this reply. In answer to your questions, for these upside-down ones, some are from the newspaper, and most are from people at Julia Kay's Painting Party, which is a group of fabulous artists who post pictures of themselves so other people can make portraits of them. Here's the link, if you want to check it out: http://www.flickr.com/groups/portraitparty/
      And for other things, I do use a lot of my own pictures, especially now that I've gotten a new camera (my 50th birthday present to myself).

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  6. I'm really glad I came to look at your site, too. What a grand idea! You do such a great job of just 'drawing what you see' I would never have guessed they were 'upside-down'. I can image the meditative concentration it takes. I love that when that happens. I'm going to have to try it myself! Thanks.

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  7. this is brilliant…drawing upside down. i will have to try this. i imagine your brain does have trouble trying to find something recognizable.

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  8. I've heard of this exercise but haven't tried it. It seems to be working terrifically for you! I love all that hatching. Beautiful work!

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  9. You're getting ahead of yourself, but I'm glad you did! I LOVE these!

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  10. Great!!! Especially the first one, who is daydreaming :-)
    xxx Marianne

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