Artist @mrpaulbecker gave participants insight into his approach to creating drawings. One practice involved drawing in one continuous line on the paper without much thought or intention. He then asked us to rub out everything, highlighting the importance of editing and reminding us not to hesitate to go through this process.
Following this task, we rubbed out the lines on our paper and focused on seeing what the previous marks could become. Coming from an art education background where repeated editing was considered time-consuming and unhelpful, it was initially difficult to grasp the idea of editing a drawing repeatedly. However, I realised how this method allowed imagination to come through more easily, as the paper was already “used” and contained traces of different lines, just as Paul advised: to seek the image within the paper.
Reflecting on the drawings I created in this workshop, I noticed a drastic difference in how my work turned out compared to my usual drawings, which I usually start on a clean sheet of paper. I was able to use more surface area, find more detail in the images, and adjust parts that I found less interesting or fitting.
It also made a lot of sense as to how Paul utilised drawing as a crucial step in creating a painting later on.
Artist and writer @mrpaulbecker will be in the studio to give an artist’s talk on Fri 11 Oct, then he will give a workshop the following day. There will be a dose of reality as he touches on “what to do when things are going really badly. We will look at how to build interesting new drawings from failure, catastrophe, accidents, mistakes and compromises. There will be practical tips on disaster management and some new ideas on where to look when ideas and (that old imposter) inspiration are nowhere to be found.”
Paul’s drawing emerged from painting rather than the other way around. Within his work drawing and painting seem to be implicitly intertwined. They are beautiful, elegant, and delicately drawn but the figures who inhabit them are full of character, some of whom you might be weary of.
Paul will hang some of his drawings on the studio’s drawing wall for his talk. A selection of the smaller pieces will be for sale.
Come along and join us for Paul’s talk, or to draw with him in his workshop – all-day on Saturday 12 Oct. He will lead us to ‘draw from thin air’ reaching into our memory and imagination.
Talk: If you Don’t Succeed – Failure May Be Your Style
Fri 11 Oct, 6.30-8.30pm, £10
Workshop: Drawing from Thin Air
Sat 12 Oct, 10-4pm, £50
With @mrpaulbecker
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAXisdZMOdV/?img_index=1
