Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Scribble drawings

...Or at least that's what people who see them call them. I don't really call them anything except maybe "super-fast sketches" or "blind sketches" or "semi-blind sketches" (or "super-fast semi-blind sketches"). They are each about 6" x 6" and the way I do these is literally as fast as humanly possible, as fast as the pen can move. I only allow myself to look at my paper a couple of times, so there are plenty of failures, but the ones that turn out have some ineffable, transcendent quality that I love. Each one probably takes about a minute or two. (I also do some that I do totally "blind," i.e., I don't look at the paper at all, only the subject: contour drawing.) I'll try to find some of those too. These are all of The Husband.

These are pretty old but I need something to show you all...I have so many large abstract oils in progress, but none getting done. I worked for two hours last night and started two more...but haven't finished a single one yet. Eventually, I'll have quite a few to show. In the meantime, I'll keep digging up stuff I haven't posted before.






Meanwhile, at the Pfaff-Rajan Museum of Contemporary Art, in the Rothko Forgers Wing...


(Looking at paintings on the opposite wall while the bloody annoying tourist cuts off his line of vision.)



Museum fatigue.


More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

9 comments:

SamArtDog said...

Some people have no pride in blatant plagiarism. Scott McInnis, Republican candidate for Colorado governor, could learn a thing or two from you.

Sonya Johnson said...

"Rothko Forgers Wing" - heh. The kitties are always our #1 fans!

What a fun set of photos. Even the older stuff is fun to look at :).

Karen Bruson said...

Love them.

india flint said...

if only they provided such cushions [for fatigue] at other museums..

Cynthia Schelzig said...

Love the Rothko Forgers Wing and the viewer....great fotos! The scribbles ain´t ooo bad either :)
Cynthia Schelzig a.k.a. Cynnie

Sheila Vaughan said...

Love the spidery quick sketches Jala. I love working with pen and ink as well. Must try the approach of "blind" drawing.

loriann signori said...

love love love the scribble sketches! (and the Rothkos)

Gwen Bell said...

Jala, these sketches are wonderful! Love all of the energy you've captured in this quick work.

h.edwardbrooks said...

Great stuff, love the quick sketches, put them in a book.