Second year at Art School (ACSA) promotes a healthy dose of experimentation, by copying our chosen mentors style, hopefully and eventually our own will shine through. Rather than fine tune the exacting and precise art of figure sketching as we see and know it, measured, precise, but BORING, our initial sketches are fed through another artist ‘filter’. As if we are literally channelling that person in a spiritual sense. (I will be the first to admit that there will never be another artist as brilliant as Brett Whiteley from Australia)
To initiate this process I have copied one of Brett’s sketches as closely as I can (middle drawing). Then I used that technique to transpose my sketch into his style. I love the result, and how it all flowed, easily, effortlessly…but more importantly I can feel my voice shining through. It’s not a Whiteley, it’s me.
Note: I acknowledge that this was created during the life drawing second year class, with tutor Chris Orchard from Adelaide Central School of Art.
barbaraharkness.com 