Drawing and Painting in Combination

A workshop by Jon Rader Jarvis

This is a high content 3-hour workshop. Each class member will participate in the discussion and demonstration of ways to include more drawing in our painting and more painting in our drawings – to blur the lines between the two for the benefit of each. The demonstration handout material will be a fully packed reference work with sources, bibliography and links.

Chapter Contents:

Drawing and Painting – History, current day use, extrapolation
Medium Considerations – Oil, crayons and charcoal, Watercolor and Acrylic
Drawing – For autographic content, showing through
Painting – As a way to extend and enhance drawing, mass building
Bridging the Gap – Wash Drawings, hand-colored prints
Paper and canvas – What is available, practical and new
Classification – Which to assign
Presentations and longevity - Giclee Prints, proliferation,
Drawing&Painting future -- As the media changes
Synopsis -- Putting it all together

Most visual artists prefer one or the other. Painting cannot match the immediate autographic mark making of Drawing and Drawing cannot match the lushous painterly handling and luster of a loaded brush. All of us long for ways to bridge the gap - to put them together as equals, or at least be able to include the other when we want or need it for the work. There are simple ways to incorporate one into the other a little at a time and remain in our comfort zone. The fresh feel and freedom of adding 'the other', can revitalize our work and easily add another dimension.

If your medium is computer based, the same rules apply, with a few more in addition. Not only does the work have to be clear and bright, but it must load quickly and show all the depth and range you wish to present. As the computer becomes more an image generating tool for the artist, including both in the same image will be easier. Without a solid grounding in actual tactile production of materials, it will lack the immediacy and wonder of line and mass on paper, of brush stroke and texture on canvas. The techies find that making acceptable and interesting images means getting their hands dirty and playing with materials.

Artist Materials Optional: 2 or three small samples of your work. Small scale Drawing and Painting materials are optional. Testing materials will be provided.

Instructors Materials:
Painting and drawing samples. Sample Sheets of paper, drawing materials, painting materials. Oil and watercolor crayons. Drawing and Painting Illustration folder.

[Course Related Biography. I began a painting in 1976 that I did not finish until 1991 -- that took me 15 years to realize that I needed to combine Drawing and Painting to solve the composition and the problems in my painting. This course is the result of 30 years of research. I have information you need.]

Credits:
"Apple Squared" Watercolor crayon on paper, © 1992 Jon Rader Jarvis
"Stencil Variations" WC crayon & Acrylic on canvas, © 1976 Jon Rader Jarvis
"Untitled" Antoni Tapies 1968
"Rare Birds" Jim Dine 1969
"Berkeley #23" Richard Diebenkorn 1955