Oh yes, you ARE here in these lines...

The above images are details of (from top to bottom):
1. Jenny
2. Hazel
3. Grace
4. Garrett
5. Emily (whoops, Cathryn)
6. Ashley
7. Amanda

Toward the end of Thursday's class, I snapped some details from a few of the drawings still being worked on...

I uploaded them to my computer and then, today, readied them for this post. I find it interesting to note that though I did not mark where each image came from on Thursday, I was able to identify them pretty easily today. And I recall very clearly where each detail comes from in the full-scale image. Jenny's lines hold such care--slowness and precision. Cathryn's dappled, itty-bitty marks depend on value shift in some very smart, interesting ways. Grace's line's are assertive and architectonic. Garrett's and Grace's line have some affinities--but Garrett's lines employ diagonal shift. Ashley's were easy to recall--her subtle curve or slope toward the ends of her lines and their wispy-ness--these characteristics are distinctive. Hazel makes nice use of scale shift. And Amanda's lines can barely conceal their energy, their desire to hurry up and become a gesture. (I think I touched on all the images above...)

I write these comments because I want to assure you, or maybe reassure you, that yes, YOU are in these drawings. They are slow drawings and the directives I've given you do reign you in, BUT over the course of these weeks of working, 2o-some different hands have emerged before my eyes. I do have the benefit of comparison, and I've looked at a zillion drawings in my 9 years of teaching drawing, but you should see the differences above too I believe, if you really look.

On Thursday morning, a designer/illustrator/former UNCG undergraduate in design Kyle T. Webster gave a great talk in the Weatherspoon. I was struck by his passion, his energy, his connection to students, and by some things he said. In particular he talked about the importance of not "forcing" style but allowing style to emerge over the course of A LOT of drawing. He is right. You all DO have YOUR manner of drawing,YOUR HAND. And if you draw, draw, draw, that hand will naturally emergy, and you'll start to see it....be patient. (And keep drawing!)