My son and I attended the Plein Air class sponsored by The Center in Palos today. It was held in a Glen Ellyn residential garden. After a rainy, thundery morning the day turned out beautifully. It was my first official Plein Air class and it was amazing. The smell of the damp earth mixed with the sounds of the buzzing bees (and mosquitos sniffing out my tasty arm) and the occasional left over drop of rain falling from the tree leaves. My little guy was at my side and it was cool. I studied our different approaches today. He approached his drawing with negativity which translated into anger and alot of erasing. I approached my drawing with negativity which translated into fear and a rather blank drawing. It's like that tense moment in the crime shows where the bomb squad needs to cut the right colored wire (and the guy's color blind). In between trying to convince my son to look at the shapes and cool the anger, I was telling myself it was just a drawing. Nobody was going to blow up if I wasn't perfect.
I've been tempted to try out a new technique (for me) on the surrounding leaves. After alot of indecision I finally just went for it. It's not perfect but it's a start. I'm happy with it - although it's not finished.
I like drawing with my son especially when we draw the same thing. Our interpretations are different. A few people have mentioned how special Plein Air drawing can be because you are transported back to the moment whenever you view the drawing. It's true. Upon scanning this I again smelled the damp earth and heard the various sounds. But especially having my little guy next to me. Anger and all.
I so enjoy those plein air events. Glad you go so I can live vicariously through artists like yourself. The birdbath above is so exquisitely detailed and I love the softer contrast of the dreamy leaves floating behind. Tje drawing to the right has a nice energetic feel to it, everything seems so alive. So whose drawing is whose?
ReplyDeleteSo enjoy your son being with you and the honest expression of feelings you both went through. I've been to those plein air outings and, in the past, have often felt myself comparing my images to those of the others and then shutting down and feeling angry about that. I may attempt an outing in the near future just to check in with my internal process and to have fun, of course.
Though I was not there with you all, I too feel transported to that place through your images, wondering what your eyes saw there!
Hope you'll have more plein air memories to store with this one!