depictive to the evocative; let’s talk

One of my purposes in studying drawing in Civita in 2013 was to further my teaching in the subject of abstract and begin to develop methods to understand this expressive side.Abstract drawing is the practice in which one represents their work using emotive powers, allowing the artist to fall into a meditative zone, representing ideas of the ‘unseen.’

These studies show this transitional process, from the representational works to the abstract; tools are developed to further this creative process. 

This is how I break it down: Representational (depictive) works: drawing what you see. Abstract (evocative) works: drawing what you don’t see; aspects of design, feelings and emotions.

So began the investigation of ‘crossing over’ to the abstract.

I start with naming my work which conjures feelings and new emotions about the subject.In the representational exercise, I use tools to describe the subject with line, texture, value, edges, shape, color; those I see within the subject. Then, in the abstract exercise,  I delve further into design notions and their relationships. I investigate and probe design/felt concepts of movement, dominance, unity, variety, composition; those unseen within the subject.

These studies and design tools aided me in the first steps of ‘crossing over’ to the evocative; mark-making about a place and time, aspects purely felt on a given subject.

To fully embrace the Renaissance wisdom, that to draw something is to fully understand it.

Realize drawing connects us to our experience, with an intimacy not otherwise possible.

Experience the inherent intimacy with drawing, because the materials are limited. One simply holds a pencil in one’s hand. The artist’s touch is elemental and we are able to see how much an artist can do with a pencil and how distinctive each artist’s language of mark making can be.

Learn about the ‘power of a place’ through drawing.

Join me in Civita this Fall.

https://anitahlehmannteacher.com/civita-workshop/