29.11.23 | Thinking through drawing with Paul Coldwell
Professor Paul Coldwell’s talk was very inspiring in the sense of being reminded of different facets of drawing and how to approach this practice. He divided the talk in specific topics he wanted to highlight, and even though everything was significant and we received a lot of references, the topic of “drawing the everyday” impacted me the most - especially because it connected to my recent interests and research.
The professor said that even he thought he needed to draw something significant for it to be a good drawing. However, “as artists, we select something and we make it significant”, as he said. Having the ability to look at the world and create new meanings of it is a very beautiful act. “A good drawing is a drawing that you didn’t make yet; because it will be a surprise, it can surprise you". This made me feel like drawing is entirely connected to life itself. Life is full of surprises, such as the process of creating something new.
He also mentioned about how to focus on one aspect of the drawing, one that usually takes precedent in the work, is interesting. It showcases what seems to be more important to the artist, and makes it easier to try to see from a different point of view - or to share your own. “When drawing, you’re dealing with the whole sheet of paper, it is a universe; the edge of the paper is already a line”. Even when not working with paper, the line is present in the contour of every surface, even the air (there is the horizon line in every place). I am aware that I focus on the line, and now I have the space to explore what the line means to me, the line that opens space to a whole new universe.