Monday, November 9, 2009

I Have Nothing to Hide



Humming to myself and strolling among the blogs, I found the post of a frustrated art teacher, Suzanne Cabrera, of an open [sketch]book.

Why was she frustrated? She tried to show her students how to draw the interior of a restaurant and they couldn't do it. What she wanted was to have them look at the interior as a whole and simply draw the main parts of all they see without regard to person or object. What her students were doing instead was concentrating on drawing a single individual, and all of his or her details. They would get so involved in that, that they would not draw the scene. You can see her post here.

Wow, I thought, maybe I'm doing that!

So within a day or two, I found myself at Einstein Bagels. And I told myself as I drew, you are drawing the interior - you are drawing the interior - and found that I swept far more into my drawing than usual, and the above scene is the result.

It's amazing that how you think about a thing so influences the result. When a weightlifter feels strong that day he can lift the pounds; if he thinks he is weak, he can't. It's that simple.

The Jim Roan quote: "You can't change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight." It was that thought that created this blog and artistic voyage. A profound idea, and it still guides me today.

So that is all.
That is the end of this post.

You're still here.

oh.
You noticed the paper bag. You are wondering why that guy has a paper bag on his head.

[sigh.]

Well, okay. I have nothing to hide.

Sitting in that very spot was a young woman. The body was drawn quite well, and the face was not bad, really, but was, well, a little off. Passable, but off.

She was an integral part of the scene when it was painted, and it all looked pretty good. And I should have scanned the picture then. But I did not.

I wanted to fix her. I wanted her to be perfect. So I began making changes. Soon she looked like a battered spouse. She wouldn't go in public like that - she'd put on some foundation or something! So I played some more and then she had a five o'clock shadow.

Poor woman.

What could I do?

I stared at her for a little while, and then decided to give her a sex change operation. I drew a beard, and managed to draw the body you see here.

Then I showed it to a few people and their reaction was visceral - they hated him. Despised him.

They loathed him.

It wasn't that he looked bad; he looked okay. Only a bit out of place. The phrase "So Easy a Caveman Can Do It" comes to mind.

Hence the paper bag over the head. I cut a paper bag and pasted it over his head (cutting the eye holes, of course, so he can see). My first collage. And I must admit that he looks much better like that.

See? I have nothing to hide. I've told you everything. And if someday this guy removes the bag, then he will have nothing to hide either!

30 comments:

  1. Love your story. I am still laughing. The directions for how to paint a room is instructive. Thank you for that and the laugh.

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  2. I really enjoyed this post! The entire "bag" episode brought out the chuckles. This WC really shows how far you've come w/wc and in you abilities to capture what you see. Great job!

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  3. Dramatic as always Dan :) very interesting, and almost like watching a scene in a movie or something. I am really happy that you're back drawing people again, because you tend to capture people really well. The colors are exceptional here too ^^

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  4. Going to check out an open sketchbook site, but want to comment here that your results are just wonderful... Tony came in to ask why I was laughing out loud.
    But I like your portrait of an "Ain't" - remember when N.O. Saints were so bad their fans wore bags on their heads? LOL

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  5. It is indeed "an open sketchbook" where the assignment is to be found. Artist Suzanne Cabrera.

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  6. I really enjoyed this post - and the drawing - believe it or not, I hadn't even noticed the bag at first glance, so I guess your overall design was strong enough to overcome a minor problem. I've had that happen - sometimes you just can't rescue a figure in a drawing!

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  7. As always, your sketch is just great and your story really made me laugh. I had noticed the paper bag and couldn't wait for you to explain !

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  8. A brilliant post - made me laugh while I learned from you! Thanks.

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  9. Perfect solution, Don! I'll have to remember the "paper bag fix" next time I'm trying to rescue a bad painting!

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  10. Okay, I looked at your sketch and of course the first thing I thought, besides how good it was, was why is this guy wearing a bag over his head and why aren't the rest of the people looking at him! Then I began to think, if this guy can where a bag and no one notice, then I could probably wear anything I want in public and no one would care! Of course, then you burst my bubble!

    I love your solution! To me, you've just added that great sense of humor you have, to your painting. This is a wonderful sketch. And, you've made it look like a bustling restaurant. I can almost hear the dishes clanking!

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  11. Dan, I love the commentary that usually accompanies your images. This is a fantastic image and I was wondering what that bag person was all about.

    Hilarious and inspiring post. I particularly like the Jim Roan quote.

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  12. Thanks for starating my day with a good laugh! You're perspective on life is so welcome.

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  13. Once again, a literary joy and a wonderful drawing! You did both the interior and the patrons proud! And yourself, of course. I love the variations in yur watercolors too. Very loose and cool looking. And maybe the reason your friends hated the guy in the paper bag is that you had seen right into his evil soul and painted it! :o)

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  14. I've been there! I once turned a little girl into Curious George. As always, your creative writing pulled me in, laughing along the way. Love your creative response to a problem. And may I say, bag or not, your post is very strikingly sketched with lovely coloring.

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  15. Dan...

    I always told you that you should be either an artist or a writer...looks liks you've accomplished both.

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  16. Wonderful sketch, funny story re the bag... and advise of how to do this... I'm one of those that can't ... I have tried before, but none have been fit for publication on the internet.

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  17. Thank you Anon. and Phyllis - this great thought did indeed come from Suzanne Cabrera and her blog, an open [sketch]book. So I have changed the post to give her credit. I am so glad you all enjoyed this post - I had great fun doing it! Thanks for all of the wonderful feedback! And lest you not see the amazing significance of the paper bag in this piece, this has precedent in art history with the artist Philip Guston. So this is serious art. Yes, serious. Seriously. And I am always serious, aren't I? ;) Someday I'll tell you the interesting story of where my idea of the bag really came from.

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  18. Funny and interesting post! Great picture...the bag is perfect!

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  19. Great drawing Dan - that brown paper bag cracked me up - I thought of this old TV show where they had an "unknown" comic...

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  20. Ok, I agree with the rest. Love the post, love the story, enjoyed catching up on the rest of your blog. Looking forward to more! thanks for sharing.

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  21. I AM laughing out loud! This is great, I love it. Only thing is that if I had thought about this fix myself last Thursday, I might be happier with the portrait that started out as a quick ink sketch and quickly became too dark, was painted over with acrylic, and finally "pastel-ed" over. And I'm still not happy with it! Now I know that "paperbag" is the next and final step. Thanks!

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  22. Hi Dan -- This is EXACTLY the issue I was raising in the Pieter Bruegel post you responded to.

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  23. Wonder post, Dan! Great drawing, charming story and I love the bag.I may have to use that technique...

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  24. You are hilarious! I hope you left a link to this post for the poor frazzled teacher. You might even tell her that her students ought to see your post. Maybe they'll get the picture!

    First collage? You just have to try more! What a fun solution to a problem.

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  25. LOL! What a hilarious post. But the painting is as usual fantastic! The way you explain is very different and clear...:)

    Water Color Pencil: Prince George of Persia

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  26. hehe...the Unknown Comic stops for lunch...
    This is a great piece! Good job!

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