Sunday, September 20, 2009

From Summer to Fall

My limelight hydrangea bush is all droopy but the blooms are turning pink. The changing of the color started on the tips of the leaves and slowly moves in towards the interior as the weather gets cooler. Soon we'll be taking the AC out the window's.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Working on the exquisite corpse drawing











I did some research on torsos and drawing the human figure. It's been a while since I have been in the life drawing class. I realize with the exquisite corpse that it is a surrealist exploration but I wanted to have a beginning point in my head as I start working. The torso really encompasses much of the body. And the way the paper is folded I am limited in creating the length of a true proportional torso. The torso contains the vital organs of the body, the heart, lungs, and then it also has the arms and the back.

In my studies I found some older drawings of figures, which I think, are Rembrandts. I love the way the fabrics and body become one in a way. Also the figures shown from behind and the back and arms are very distinctive. Also the lines are very gestural which I enjoy. The head of the figure is rotated towards the viewer. Now of course when I draw this it will be completely different.

As I was doing my stretches this morning I was thinking about the repetition of moving the body. But also how the body changes shape in relationship to the viewer, myself. As each motion of a stretch is carried out. This sounds like it could be a place for taking some pictures. Because for example when it do backstretch bring my knee to my chest my knee is only a half moon shape than as it bends them comes closer it changes its form to the point I can actually touch it with my head.

Corn in the neighborhood







My neighbor is growing corn in their front yard, in the space between the sidewalk and the street. I'm not sure what that strip of greenery is called. The corn is stunted somehow, in too short. I was taking pictures of it the other day and some video. I realized that I enjoy a capturing moments of nature in my backyard so to speak. On that video I enjoyed when the wind swept through and you could hear a dog barking in the background. It was capturing a brief moment in time.

With the photography I enjoy taking macro shots of the shapes that the cornstalks make. Discovering the structures of how the plant grows. Breaking down the overall forms into individual shapes. With the macro lens on I could really see the shapes and forms and also the veining and leaves.

I think I would like to videotape other segments of my own garden and possibly other local spots.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Exquisite Corpse

Package arrived from the exquisite corpse show that the Paul Robeson gallery and Rutgers University in Newark. Very excited to get to work.

I am been researching torsos. Because that is the part of the corpse that I am drawing. I thought I would do a little homework before I started on the piece. I also want to research the history of the exquisite corpse and see what some of the other surrealists did. The gallery sent along an excellent sheet on surrealist techniques with definitions. I love stuff like that. I'm thinking of even writing a few into lesson plans. Need to start work soon though.