Drawing Life 14
Our drawing class started up again on Saturday with some new members. We spent some time doing abstract drawings so we could get the feel of everybody’s hand and explore the pure possibility of line and shade. Then we moved onto imaginary landscapes and tried to bring those lines, smudges, shadings into them. I think the new people were relieved; their drawings didn’t have to look like anything. But it can be hard to just play too. It looks like we’re not going anywhere but inspired play is so necessary to art and creativity.
Once again we listened to The Essential Leonard Cohen. The art got bolder.
That same night, by chance, Dear A and I watched Leonard Cohen, I’m Your Man. It’s half documentary, half concert. The director interviews Cohen and various artists perform his songs to varying degrees of success. But the words really open you up. The best performance was the last, when Cohen performed with U2, Bono and the rest ever so respectful.The devotion of all the artists in the film was just great.
Cohen says he considers himself to be a minor writer. I wouldn’t say that but the devotion to just doing the work day after day is major inspiration. I’m going to assign the film for homework.
The brilliance of the internet is that we get to see what we wouldn’t see. Now see this—