WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVE FOR DRAWING
Let us begin by establishing our common objective. You may be interested in drawing as a hobby. You may be an art student attending drawing classes. You may be a young professional, out of school, striving to better your work so that it will bring in more income. Perhaps you studied art many years ago and now have the time and incentive to take it up again. Perhaps you are well established in the field of commercial art, where competition is formidable, and are looking for something that will help you hold your place and, if possible, keep you moving forward. Whichever category you are in,enrollment at STUDIO MORTIMER will be helpful to you, because it provides practical knowledge and demonstrations of the techniques of drawing still life, heads, and figure both for the complete beginner and to help the more advanced artist in those most frustrating moments when the subject/object he is drawing seems to refuse to do his work justice.
There must lie a genuine basic motive behind any genuine effort. Ask yourself quite honestly, “Why do I really want to draw and draw well?” Is it for the satisfaction of personal accomplishment? Does it mean enough to you to give up time from other things in order to learn? Do you hope someday to sell your work and make it your means of livelihood? Would you like to draw portraits, still life, illustrations for magazine stories, the people in advertisements? Do you want to improve your drawing of to help sell your work? Is drawing a form of relaxation to you, helping to relieve tension and clear your mind of worries and other problems? Search quietly and thoroughly for this basic motive, because if it is powerful enough, it will give your efforts the strength to withstand discouragement, disappointment, disillusionment, or even seeming failure.
May I add one suggestion? Whatever your motive, try not to be impatient. Impatience has probably been a bigger stumbling block in the way of real ability than anything else. Doing anything well, I’m sure, means hurdling obstacles of one kind or another most of the way to the goal. Skill is the ability to overcome obstacles, the first of which is usually lack of knowledge about the thing we wish to do. It is the same in anything we attempt. Skill is a result of trying again and again, applying our ability and proving our knowledge as we gain it. Let us get used to throwing away the unsuccessful effort and doing the job over. Let us consider obstacles as something to lie expected in any endeavor; then they won’t seem quite so insurmountable or so defeating.
If you are uncertain or struggling to draw well, Studio Mortimer has the requisite resources and skill sets in its instructors to help you become a better artist. We will be more than happy to assist you in developing your art.
Mortimer McPherson
Excerpts also from Andrew Loomis-Drawing the Head
After reading this article i realize i have no motive, no passion no zeal for art .
this is a personal concern what was once my “love” has now become uncertain.
this article as assisted me in realizing that art is an action word.
it is the only practical area that brings out the honestly in person where interest is concern. we should all look at this for introspection of ones Motive to Art.