Suzy

I really liked this experience. I did OK, better on some than others. I noticed that those in the group who tried smaller pictures seemed to do better, so maybe I will try that next time. Focusing on what I did right was a great experience that I need to apply to all my endeavors! I was pleased that I usually managed to get the overall relative size and shape correct, if not the parts and their connections, and I was super happy when I ended up just about right where I started a couple of times. I figured out that if I mentally pictured the drawing materializing on my page before I started, I had a better outcome (like athletes picturing making the goal). I had the idea after doing the exercises to do the contours of some trees, because I'm interested in the variety of shapes of trees. I should have chosen a vantage point where I could see the whole trees in outline at a distance, but instead I went to a nearby nature center where the sit-spots were close to the trees.  No matter, I gave it a whirl, and while it was very challenging, I felt like I sharpened my perception of depth as well as subtle details about the trees, so yes, in that sense, the exercise helped me focus on my subject more. When my drawing went off the page, I just continued to imagine I was drawing until my pencil returned to the page!  I actually ended up thinking the rather abstract overlapping drawings were pretty--suggestions of trees. Thinking about how I might want to add color. Contour drawing in general has made me be mindful of  loosening my grip--relinquishing some [illusion of] control in exchange for better flow. Who knows, a looser grip might improve my drawing overall!