Drawing is Hard

What our teacher keeps telling us is that drawing is hard. And it is. There's no short cut--at least not if you want accuracy and realism. You just keep checking and making corrections. Details come at the very last, so try not to worry about them until later. It's much more important to get the big shapes correct first. Of course, this is a very slow process, not unlike how I learned to draw a few years ago with my local teacher, Peggy. She taught me to draw using a grid method. Sight size isn't that different, except that the grid you use is in your mind, and you are measuring with plumb lines.

I'm feeling better in class this week. I might be a couple steps behind some of the students in class, but I am recognizing that we are all struggling with our drawings. What we are trying to do is replicate the perfection of nature and that's pretty hard to do. The photos attached depict the initial block in and then forming the shadow shapes. My teacher told me today that my drawing was very good. Personally, I don't think it's much to look at right now, so I will have to trust her judgement.

I'm getting more used to the city. Last night I went down to Millennium Park with Mary and watched a movie at the pavilion. It was Apollo 13, which I had never seen before. Huge crowd on the lawn. Chilly. It's been chilly the last few days here. Honestly, I prefer that to the heat.

While waiting for the bus after class, I saw Tom walking. I ended up walking with him back to our street. It's better having someone to talk to.