This week at Great Ayton Art Club, we decided to loosen up a little and let go of the idea that drawing is about copying every tiny detail.
We began by drawing the same scene three times. The aim wasn't to produce three finished drawings but to really look at the image and think about composition. By repeating the process, everyone started to see the scene differently. We thought carefully about what we wanted to leave out, what we found interesting, and what deserved more attention.
Once we had settled on a composition, we introduced watercolour to add some initial colour and atmosphere. Next week, we'll continue developing these pieces, using either fine liners or coloured pencils to add definition and draw attention to the parts of the scene that matter most to us.
One of the most interesting discussions of the evening was about what happens when we don't draw everything.
Our brains are remarkably good at filling in missing information. As artists, we don't need to be human photocopiers or computers trying to reproduce an image perfectly. In fact, if art was simply about accuracy, there would only be right and wrong answers, and that would be rather boring.
Instead, we explored how we can suggest parts of a scene without fully describing them. How can we leave out less interesting areas while still giving the viewer a sense of what is there? How can we draw attention to the parts that matter most? Do we use colour only in certain places? Do we add fine liner to selected areas? Should the most interesting parts have stronger colours or greater contrast?
These are the questions artists constantly ask themselves.
The evening was a reminder that drawing isn't just about recording what we see. It's about making decisions, experimenting, and finding ways to communicate what we find interesting. Sometimes the most effective marks are the ones we choose not to make.
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