The importance of drawing/painting from life

The importance of drawing/painting from life

As an art teacher, I have often encountered some students wanting to impress me by showing me the drawings and/or the paintings done from copying the photo images or the images from the magazines.  These are usually done very beautifully, and I have no problem with the practice.  In fact, there is a long tradition of copying of the master pieces (paintings) done by the students/apprentices to further their artistic skills. However, there is a big difference between copying the photo images and copying the paintings/drawings.  The copying of the master pieces is done, so that the students can not only copy the forms and the colors but to also learn how the masters may have created the artworks. In other words, the copying of the master pieces enable the students to learn about the technique used by the masters.

Nevertheless, one of the best excercises to train the students is to let them paint and/or draw from life (i.e.,  still life,  portrait,  figure,  landscape )
Why?  It is much easier for the eyes to copy the images already done in the 2D forms to the 2D pantings/drawings.  On the other hand, it is quite challenging for the eyes that are used to observing the environment n the 3D reality to "translate/transpose" it to the 2D form on the rather flat surfaces.  That is the reason why the art schools usually prefer to view the portfolios made up of the works done from life.  Thus, I have encouraged my high school students in the Portfolio (Building) Class to have as many portfolio samples done from life to show, even if those are the simple sketches.

Of course, not only the skill developments but the enhancing of the imagination is very important.  You may already know about the famous quote from Albert Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

The artist would become formidable when the imagination and the skills go hand in hand.  What is the use when the aspiring artist has the great imagination but cannot express/manifest/articulate it well?

I am very glad to have received the training to work from life.  The drawing above was done from life, by observing my own left hand, when I was in the 4th grade.

The Naure of Light

Light is an interesting phenomena, entity, existence... whatever you might call it.
As an artist, it is almost inevitable that one encounters the mystery of light.  The nature of light has been discussed and debated throughout the human history: through Empedocles, Euclid, Lucretius, Ptolemy, Leonardo da Vinci, Newton, Goethe, Farady, Einstein.... etc.

Without going into the deep metaphysical and / or scientific discussion, I can say that the artists tend to encounter and deal with the two forms of light: the natural light and the man made light.
The most powerful natural light is the sunlight. Although there is light by the moon, but it is the reflected light of the sun and not of its own. Light from the stars are too dim to be useful unless, for instance, you are painting or photographing them.
Within the realm of the man made lights, we most often use the tungsten family and the fluorescent family.... of course, there are others (i.e., the candle light). The tungsten lights tend to emit the warm yellow/orange light. The fluorescent lights tend to emit the bluish light.
The nice thing about these man made lights are that they can emit the light constantly and consistently as long as we allow it to happen (i.e.,  not turning off the light)
The sunlight, on the other hand, keeps 'moving.'  I have had an interesting experience (and the realization )during my youth while I was trying to draw a rose under the sunlight. I remember having the difficult time trying to finish it. As I drew, the sun kept moving, and I've had to keep changing the 'shape' of the shadow, etc.
We do observe the nature and its beauty, but it was an eye opening experience for me to know that the natural light do keep changing.  I could understand why the Impressionists had painted the way they did.

I use the natural light to take the portfolio pictures of my paintings. The sunlight between 11AM to1PM are the best light to take the picture, for light tend to be most white. Before 11AM, it is rather bluish, and after 1 PM, it can become rather orange like. Also, it is better to avoid shooting under the direct sunlight. I usually choose the cloudy day, so the light is diffused and saturated well.

I often think about the light at the gallery. Many galleries are using the tungsten based lights, so the entire image becomes warm.  If you are used to painting under the fluorescent light, you can tell the differences right away.

The true meaning of the word, "amateur"

I have been doing art and music, etc., for over 44 years since I was 4 years old.
My creative life began with the strict guidance of my first teacher, my multi-skilled mother.
And yet, my  so called, "training," was rather serious one from the day one... creating like a soldier, doing the drill, the high discipline, the punishment and the rewards ... quite an ordeal.
I also have identified myself with the art-in-itself to the point of suffocating myself with the notion of the perfect art form and the expression... and to fully master the mediums.
as a matter of fact, I have, from time to time, hit the "bottom," although I have kept up with the discipline to produce things. ...trying to keep the professionalism, sort of.

In January of the year 2000,  it finally took the toll, and I was permeated with the feeling of dryness and the numbness as if the creative juice within my was suck dried and had withered!
One of my good friends gave me the "Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, the writer of the original TV series, the "Miami Vice." ( I have also done the various exercises given by her in the subsequent publications of hers.)

...but as I was regaining the creative fountain within, I came across in her book, "Walk in This World," an important message of being a creative person.
It had to do with the word, "amateur." Julia says on page 85: "We cannot 'improve' ourselves into great artists by doing creative sit-ups. Great artists are actually the great amateurs - from the Latin verb, amare, 'to love.'" (It is also based on the Latin word, "amator.")
That was enlightening, for 1) I love the etymological studies of the words, and 2) I have struggled so hard to separate myself from the people whom I have considered the "amateurs," forgetting the true message underneath the word.
As professionals, we often need to finish many projects, many times in our lives. ...following through is important.
Yet, if it lacks the playful, child-like creativity of what Picasso had reminded us by saying, "We are all born children. The trick is how to remain one" ..., then we may lose the LOVE of creating. It becomes the chore.

It is wonderful when we create because we love to create...and that may be the message of the Divine Creation.  No wonder we are reminded by Yeshwa/Jesus to be like the children n order to enter the kingdom of Heaven - filled with LOVE an Creativity. 

Why bother with accepting art commissions?

I have to admit that I must have inherited some of the attitude of the Renaissance artists.  I not only love to take painting / mural commissions but happy with changing my style to suit clients' needs. I remember from my art history teaching days that nothing was too small to accept as the commission / project for the artists of Renaissance. They also did something other than art (i.e. growing the olive trees) to earn the living when there were not enough commissions. 
To me, having the skill means that such person has the responsibility. It is the responsibility of the one who attained the skill to not only master it but to use it to help others in need. 
Of course, the personal expression through your style and ideas are very important, but to me, accepting each commission with gratitude is also important even if and when you have to change your style. You are helping others by manifesting their inner visions onto the tangible form. I have seen the smile and the eyes filled with joy of so many clients,  and I have to say that it is worth it! After all, it is the team work and the joint effort between the client and the artist that enable them to create something unique and meaningful.

Why blogging when I already have the website of my own?

First of all, thanks for finding me, and I hope your visit will be worthwhile. 
One thing that I wanted to prevent was to make this blog the "alternative" website of mine. If you are dying to view my art images, please visit:
http://hikalux.weebly.com

In this blog, I would love to introduce my literally projects and the researches that I am currently conducting that would eventually become the polished book.
Although I may not be able to introduce some of the elements (...please buy my book! :)  ) The theme may include: Leonardo da Vinci, the Holy Grail, the Holy Scriptures studied from  both Hebrew and Aramaic, Mary Magdalene... etc.

Many of my artworks are done with the idea of supplementing the research article; therefore, it will be published in the book in the future.


I may also speak about my thoughts and my feeling during the conception and the creation stages of the certain artworks of mine. In other words, I would love to share my art processes.