Motion sketching

pearlescent acrylic and watercolor inks on w/c paper, 15 X 11″

My husband Bob is an artist too and when he looks at my paintings/drawings, his favorite pronouncement (unsolicited, by the way) is “This is great!  It’s finished!”  Well, I suppose I should feel flattered – and I do – encouraged to keep going on this, at times, demoralizing path of attempting to paint what one sees in the mind’s eye.  But sometimes the piece is not finished, and shouldn’t I be the one to say so?  But when you’re married, your spouse’s words are like a bell that keeps ringing and will not be silenced.  So this time at least, I let these pieces be. . .well mostly. . .after his very sweetly meant pronouncement.

Anna Maria was dancing, moving very slowly to Andalucian music, which we played for her because she’d just returned from Spain, enthralled by the place.  Bob with his camera and me with my inks.  So every part of her kept moving and all i could do was keep sketching what I had just seen in an instant, or thought I saw.  I liked these so much better than my usual attempts at realism.  I mean I try not to simply record but to express the figure.  But something else always takes over and I go on automatic and get all involved in details.  When the subject is moving, that’s impossible!  And so I think the right hemisphere finally has a go of it.

drawn with the dropper in the ink bottle