Art is imagination and emotions.

Recently I attended an open studio.  One of the exhibiting artists talked me through some of her works of self-portraits.  She explained the process and suggested it would be a great exercise for my classes.

I had several attempts before taking it to class to see how I felt and to give it a go.  Holding a mirror or a photo of you and blind draw your image is both challenging and exciting.
At class we spoke about Pablo Picasso and his portraits, they were not what the critics expected when he first produced them and was often criticised.   

At class we loosened up by each blind drawing a person I front of us.  Most felt more comfortable to be drawing the person in front of them.  We then swapped from being the drawer to the subject.  Each were able to feel what the other experienced. 
 
The next step was to add some collage paper to our paper then take a photo of ourselves. Now for the blind drawing.  Some felt it challenging to look at a photo of yourself deeply as you blind draw, not diverting your gaze to your page or taking your pencil off the paper.   Initially there was a lot of giggles and embarrassed sighs, then there was quiet as the room found the rhythm and eased into a calmness.
 
Art can be both liberating and challenging, it can be thought provoking or whimsical it can give you strength and hope, it can stress or destress. Art is emotion.  Art is so much to so many, a world without art is a world with no feeling or imagination. 

Lee runs classes both privately and group sessions, along with Creative Circle at Art in the Garden Room. 

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