Image of the Week: Sphinx Candlestick (and other drawings)
© D. Yael Bernhard
Continuing with works in black and white, here are a few pencil drawings from my sketchbook. Sketching is the oil that lubricates an artist's work. For dabblers in both commercial and fine art like myself, it's essential. I need to limber up and shake off professional obligations in order to keep my work fresh.
I have some dear friends in Woodstock who've traveled the world and collected all kinds of interesting objects along the way. The unusual candlestick shown above belongs to them. I always bring my sketchbook when I visit their home.
Likewise, this elegant cat belongs to my neighbors. Like a living sculpture, he held still just long enough for me to do this drawing. What a beautiful creature!
And here is some lovely winter squash. Evidently this was my New Year's Day drawing two years ago.
What all these drawings have in common is that they're drawn from above, looking down at a 3/4 angle. It's important to draw things from different perspectives. I love a flat, straight-on view – it's what characterizes so much of the ancient, primitive, decorative, and tribal art that I love – not to mention the paintings of Matisse and Picasso (who changed perspective in many ways, but also worked flat) . . . but a 3/4 angle, especially from above, relates the subject to the viewer in a different way. The still-life paintings of Paul Cézanne come to mind. You might not notice the downward angle at first, but if you look carefully, it's there.
A good week to all!
D Yael Bernhard