Week 3 of #the100dayproject
Still getting to grips with the project concept
Last week I focused on completing a finished drawing of some shiitake mushrooms that were included in our CSA bag purchase. The goal was to achieve a looser, more informal piece that was still more polished than my project’s defined allotment of time and scale would normally allow. These are the results:
Immediately after completing this piece, I did set up a small still life of rocks, hoping to repeat the process. Again, I got trapped in the perfectionism cycle. I wanted to work with more dramatic direct sunlight conditions to render sharp differences between highlights and shadows on the forms, as well as making some crisp, defined cast shadows—but that direct winter sunlight really bothers my eyes. Fortunately for the project, and unfortunately for our grass, our yard has been invaded by rabbits this winter. They’ve gotten so bold that they just sit there, grazing away, barely bothering to amble off slowly when you run outside to shoo them off (just edited. Did not spot that Substack’s Artificial Stupidity AutoCorrect function has never encountered the word “shoo”. Harrumph!) This made them easy to photograph for sketching. I might even have a good chance to sketch directly from life, as they seem to be quite relaxed about seeing us walk back and forth through the windows.
I have to admit I’m still of two minds on this whole project. On the one hand, it *is* pushing me to draw observationally and directly more frequently, without regards to a making a “completed” artwork. On the downside, I had really wanted to complete more complex and polished work this year. Still not sure whether doing #the100dayproject is going to result in something concrete that is compatible with my other desires for this year.