The Book

I have been thinking some more about the content for a: How to Make Pictures book. My old ambition was to make the best How to Draw Book available, now I have changed that to making a book that comprehensively explains the major systems used in picture making.

I think they will be:
1. Space, with the sub-category of Form
2. Color
3. Composition

I am sick, and my body is achy, so that is all I am writing tonight. Just wanted to keep you in the know on my book project.

You can get a copy of my book that is filled with the drawings from my journals in Afghanistan, click here.

Form

Can Form be described as a sub-group of Space?

It is a difficult problem, because I associate different things with the two words: Form and Space.

Form is a representation of light hitting an object.

Pictorial Space is the illusion of three dimensions on a two dimensional surface.

Different techniques are used by artists to articulate the two concepts. More importantly they are thought of in different systems. When I write I am thinking in words, when I think in light I am drawing/painting Form, when I think in the context of spacial systems (linear and aerial perspective, depth of field, overlapping shapes, relative scale) I am drawing/painting Pictorial Space.

But I sense that the two ideas are reconcilable, and that if I can get my mind around the idea that Form is a sub-group of Space I will have a more organized visual self-dialogue.

By synthesizing the ideas they will probably gain from each other, and may be able to borrow from each others systems, making some convincing illusions with more economy, and probably making more compelling work overall.

Idea Part Duex

So the idea I started to write about earlier, a manuscript that details the major concepts in image making rather than the two current main points of emphasis I find taught in most universities and colleges: narrative and you would think its polar opposite (but they are really unrelated) technique.

Neither narrative or technique focus on the main point of learning to be an image maker. They are tangential, and besides that they are confusing, and besides being confusing are often taught by ideologues! They exist in art too, not just politics!



But if you can teach someone how to create space, render form, and think in color without being didactic and resorting to recreating your techniques for them to learn then you have started someone on the path to being an image maker. Being an artist is up to them in my opinion, you have to lead the horse to water so to speak!

Idea

Teaching has given me an idea. What about a book that describes how a picture works. I have read a lot of how to draw books that talk about drawing in terms of techniques, but have not read any that discuss the abstract devices image makers use to construct illusions. If you understand the parts of the illusion like pictorial space, form, and color, technique becomes secondary. I think this may get more to the heart of the idea of learning how to draw and paint.

I will probably start writing it sometime this week. If you want an advance manuscript email me at donovan.bill@gmail.com

Sculptures for Teaching

I made 2 sculptures from painted foamcore. I am using them to teach color, light, and form.

I am going to make more complex ones, these are the first two.