Artist's Back to Basics

I Can’t Draw a Straight Line

Greetings! Have you ever seen someone hypnotized? They often do strange things such as acting as if their foot is glued to the floor. Have you hypnotized yourself into not being able to draw?

How many times have I heard people say “I can’t even draw a straight line?” Is that the ultimate test of artistic ability? How important is drawing anyway?

“Just as a chef has to learn the technique of using a knife safely, so do we need to learn a number of techniques for each of our tools. For each technique, we have unlimited options – that’s what makes art so versatile and so much fun.”

Using the tools of the trade

Would you expect a carpenter to build a house without a hammer, or it’s technological equivalent, a nail gun? Would you trust a mechanic who comes to work without a set of spanners? How about a hairdresser with blunt scissors? Every craft has

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Artist's Back to Basics

Artist's Back to Basics8 min readVisual Arts
“In The Frame- Part 1”
The perfect frame is the one you really don’t notice as it’s done its job of leading your eye to the art, which is being presented in its best possible light by the framing choices made. Exhibition grade picture framing is both a bit of a black art a
Artist's Back to Basics4 min read
Maitland Regional Art Gallery
Steeped in history, the Federation Gothic building housing Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG) in the lower Hunter Valley of NSW is an awe-inspiring example of early 1900s architecture. Officially opened in 1910, it was constructed to house the Mait
Artist's Back to Basics4 min readVisual Arts
Indulgence
I began with the completed painting already visualised in my mind, then collected the objects I needed and purchased the fresh strawberries. In my studio I draped dark cloths and an old, lace tablecloth and arranged the objects and lighting, after wh

Related Books & Audiobooks