Be Still and Know

I feel like I have so much to write about, which is a good feeling.  And, I am sure that what I want to write about is more interesting than what I am actually going to write in this post, but I guess that just means that I have more interesting things for my brain to plow through when the time comes.  For now, I want to mention that I am currently working with a mentor from conceptart.org, and I am thrilled to have lessons.  Of course, I am already bored with the first lesson, but I have learned something new, and I feel a whole new level of confidence.    It is amazing how empowering knowledge (and the application of knowledge) can be.  So, as long as this guy sticks with his online class and as long as I actually do the work, I think this will give me a little more of a foundation to build upon.

I also want to warn you now, but this will be the only warning, there may be some nudity in my sketchbook, and if you slip away from my sketchbook to view other pages on conceptart.org, you are more than likey going to see nakedness.  So, just be aware that boobs and butts may show up from time to time in my sketchbook thread.  It is nothing gross, of course.  I am just trying to learn how to draw the body.  Heck, I haven't even shaded my drawings yet, so it is just linework and not detailed.  But still, I want to put that warning out there.

I would be lying if I said I was perfectly comfortable drawing a nude body.  Actually, I have no problems drawing the body, but I feel kind of shy about posting the drawing for others to see.  I even made sure to cover a few up with bikinis. lol  Nudity is one of those really gray areas for me.  I am not offended by it, but I also know how easy it is for people to exploit it.  And even though I am not offended by viewing a photo of a nude model for the sake of learning to draw anatomy, when I suddenly try to imagine myself as a nude model, or my sisters or my daughter (if I had one), then the feeling is very different.  Nudity is not wrong, it is how we were created, but I also think it is something special; something that makes us vulnerable, which makes it special when we actually share it with someone, in real life or in a drawing.  It is so important to respect the beauty of it, which is why I think I sometimes feel uncomfortable including it in my art.  I have to ask if I am actually being respectful, and will others be respectful of what I create.  Obviously I can't always control how others will perceive what I draw, but I can at least attempt to draw in a way that is not soley for the sake of exploiting, but to give it meaning and to show the beauty of the moment.  I could probably go on and on, but some guy is here trying to fix our water pressure tank (we have not had water for 2 days now), so my attention is needed elsewhere.  I will finish this later.