When I was a kid, I enjoyed doodling on
my scratch paper while I was supposed to be working on my math homework. Most
times, I only drew stick figures and people with weird proportions, wishing however,
that I could draw real people, or anything that was realistic and
detail-oriented. That is why I decided on taking this drawing course at Duke,
and so far, it has been one of the best courses I have ever taken.
After a single semester of learning, we
have learned how to use pencil, charcoal, eraser, and even hand and tissue techniques
to draw. We have also learned how to draw contours, shadows, and space using
all the techniques of negative drawing and contrasts. Throughout the year, I
would draw on my sketchbook as a way to express myself, and also as a way to
relieve the pressures from studying. Drawing is a healthy way to relax, and it
made weekends productive, a time that I would have otherwise squandered away.
Besides learned the various techniques,
another invaluable lesson that I gained through this course is the lesson:
going through experiences, trails, and redrawings truly improves my technique
and makes me a better artist. In the past, I attributed the drawing skills of
others to their ‘talent’ in drawing. Though this is true to some extent, I have
now realized that it is the continuous practice and effort that leads to satisfactory
artwork. An example is my experience with charcoal. I had never learned
how to sketch in an official art class before, and charcoal was an unfamiliar
tool for me. The first time that I tried to draw trees with charcoal, I used
several pages on my sketch book in figuring out how to use the different edges
of a charcoal bar to obtain the correct shadings on the tree. After smearing charcoal
all over my hands and clothes after the first trail, I was disappointed as I
saw that the tree was nothing more than a dark mess when compared to my
pencil-shaded one work. Changing strategy, I then tried drawing branches with
charcoal pencil, which looked much better. Now I love drawing the Duke Chapel
with charcoal pencil on my landscape drawings. It is not only gained technique,
but also gained confidence in my ability to do a charcoal drawing. After
extensive practice in class this semester, I believe that most of us students
have a better control of charcoal.
Another invaluable lesson that I learned
is the art of patience. Sitting in front of the drawing board for six hours is
not an easy task in itself. Furthermore, moving back and forth to see the whole
work, erasing and adding a few strokes, and using your finger as a drawing tool
is a tiring task with slow results. With the music playing in the background,
drawing five or more hours continuously has become one of my Friday routines,
yet also one that I look forward to. It is true that we have to pay effort to
be able to draw like we have, but the satisfaction that I gain as I finish in
the middle of the night is an incredible joy. The fulfillment from finishing a drawing
that took patience and careful effort is much greater than how I feel when I
finish a mediocre project in haste.
Drawing is simultaneously a great
challenge for me, and yet also such a gratifying way of expressing myself. I am
fortunate that I was able to learn in this course, coupled with taking in on a
beautiful, scenic campus at Duke. Thanks you Professor Fick for this awesome semester!
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