Rubik Kocharian wrote:
1. Drawing is the "legs" that artist stands on.
2. Accurate renderings and copies from photographs taken as "good drawings" are for those who are trying to kill the whole understanding of drawing.
3. Teaching drawing is only for artists who know and understand what drawing is, but not for cheap taste, pretty, imitators of photography - "merchandise"/NOT drawing renderers.
1. Drawing is the "legs" that artist stands on.
2. Accurate renderings and copies from photographs taken as "good drawings" are for those who are trying to kill the whole understanding of drawing.
3. Teaching drawing is only for artists who know and understand what drawing is, but not for cheap taste, pretty, imitators of photography - "merchandise"/NOT drawing renderers.
Dear Rubik,
It is good to know that you are thinking about 'drawing' as the foundation of art. I hope you don't mind a few comments because I believe drawing is much more than an exclusive province of the artist.
Drawing is a natural desire (I would postulate it is a basic need) of all human beings. This can be anything from scribbling and enjoying visualization of one's actions (as an infant), to articulating the most complex shapes and forms. It is not a static state of mind and as the human matures expectations or the desire for clarity of image (accurate renderings) becomes more acute. At a certain age or level of maturity random drawing activities which were satisfactory to an innocent eye of a child become embarrassing to a discriminating young adult. Without assistance from someone who can draw better or more accurately, most children turn away from this form of communication and seek aesthetic satisfaction (basic need) through other means - music, literature, scholarship, sports, etc. Their sense of artistic appreciation or judgment of art remains good, but often becomes stilted with time and degenerates because of lack of use. Many intelligent adults become faddists and feign an appreciation for politically anointed images fed to them by an artless art establishment. Others continue to appreciate realistic art, but seldom develop real connoisseurship. The reason for this is usually the absence of drawing experience in their lives.
Accurate drawing is a natural desire of man. Inaccurate drawing is obvious to any unbiased viewer. Good drawing is a skill which can only be obtained through competent instruction and practice (without discipline there is no progress). Excellence in drawing is a goal of any true artist and must be the focus of all of their art activity.
Rubik is right: "Drawing is the 'legs' the artist stands on." With competent instruction and discipline, the artist can learn to "walk". With a passion for excellence the artist may even learn to "run."
