Saturday, October 11, 2008

Rejects

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12

I'm calling this drawing done but I'm not happy with it at all. Its one of those that will be relegated to the 'bin drawer' where images that don't measure up to expectation go. I don't throw out bad drawings. Sometimes I try to revitalize them at a later date or I review them months or years later to gauge progress and remind myself of past faux pas.

I'll put it down to a variety of environmental effects that came together to ensure that this didn't work to the level that I wanted.
  1. A new support - I used Colourfix for this and it was the first time I truly used it to build an image. I need more practice on the surface and how it accepts coloured pencil
  2. A hectic schedule - I've been trying to fit this into snatched moments here and there without having a block of serious time to sit down with it.
  3. Self doubt - I'm still working my way out of a serious lack of inspiration and have found it difficult to get involved in any piece in any medium for the last couple of weeks.
  4. Bad photography - I've found it is near impossible to get a good photo of this piece. The light at either end of my work day is impossible and today was dark and damp so the light didn't improve a lot.
Its good to go through the process of analysing drawings or paintings and accepting that not everything goes as planned. Its also good think about the external and internal factors that may play a role in the success or failure of a piece and just move on from there, not dwell on the mistakes.

5 comments:

Rose Welty said...

Jeanette, I too abandon pieces that just aren't coming out right, particularly ones in pencil that will take hours and hours to complete. It's easier to stick with paints for another hour, but not with a slower medium.

I also tend to keep them, but only for a while. Then, once the studio is too packed, I unload them. I just cleaned out last night. I threw out a few unfinished pieces, actually they weren't all that bad, but with both of them I felt they weren't worth adding more effort...styles and ideas change I guess. :D

Hang in there, life has been busy for you. You aren't just wasting time there either, you are building within yourself that thirst for art that drives you. You're stoking up the fires of your particular passion by giving it some fallow time.

Kari Gibson said...

Shame, but I always feel a piece is never a failure, it just hasn't turned out as you expected. And of course, it isn't time wasted because you have learnt a lot about the support you are using and its own peculuar characteristics that will stand you in good stead for future pieces.

Hope you find some time to relax and enjoy your work soon!

vivien said...

just a part of the learning curve - and not terrible, just not your best.

how about tackling the seascapes you were considering, as a complete change? new medium, new subject and play, not demanding anything of yourself other than exploring subject and medium? it's freeing :>)

Jeanette Jobson said...

I consider the not so great images practice pieces for the future. I know they happen and I keep them to remind myself that images like them only happen 20% of the time.

Thanks Kari, life is hectic lately but I'll make time for what relaxes me I hope.

Good idea Vivien. A seascape may be on the cards tomorrow.

Jo Castillo said...

We are so hard on ourselves, aren't we. Consider the good parts of this. I love the interplay of the reds. The green complements are soft and lovely. Hmmmm......