May 21, 2007
Ever notice how things come in waves? This past week we’ve been dealing with titles, one of my least favorite aspects of creating an art instruction video. We are closing in on David Kitler’s beginning drawing workshop. In it he starts with the basics such as pencil types, shapes, values, perspective and goes all the way through the process to complete an incredible ground squirrel. Now the question is: How do we explain that, and so much more, in a title? We’ve been tossing around about 20 ideas but so far none have ’stuck’.
Also this week we have heard from a customer very interested in learning about design, but when we mention John Salminen’s DVD (A Designed Approach to Abstraction) he was not interested because it is ‘abstract art’. This has happened more than once. I think Salminen’s workshop is the best in the marketplace for learning about design. I continue to ask myself, how could we have better named the workshop to overcome the prejudice and consequently have provided this student of design access to an excellent leaning experience?! Abstract design is the underpinnings of all art.
On a different note, I spoke with Donna Zagotta, who is scheduled to film next year, and she said something really interesting I wanted to share. She said that when she draws, she personalizes her subjects by drawing them inaccurately. In other words, even though she draws very well, she intentionally distorts her subjects to make them ‘her own’. This has given me much to think about. She also said that because of her busy life style she has learned to work small so that she can complete a painting before her interest flags. For example, this painting is only 8″x10″, and yet it has a large feeling.
- Lynn