Learning to See

Developing our ability to "see" artistically is a lifetime effort that's never completely achieved.

Many laypersons and armature artists put way too much stock in technique and style. Nether of the two is even a fraction as important as seeing correctly and artistically. 

By artistically I mean seeing with a highly developed sense of aesthetic appreciation for what is being perceived. 

This sense in not just visual it taps into all the other senses as well and enfolds with feeling within us to create enhanced perception.

"Benjamin Disraeli" by M Francis McCarthy

So, how can we better develop our ability to see?

The best way is to draw a lot, paint a lot, look at other artists work and also be open within yourself to seeing better. 

This last bit is absolutely critical. If you think you see everything already, how can you see anything that you're not seeing?

You cannot see what you cannot see, it's impossible, but there is a way around this apparent contradiction.

The solution to this Catch 22 is that we must remain open to visual truth while working as hard as possible at our craft. If you do this, one day you will look at something you did only a few months before that you thought was masterful and defects will begin to present themselves to you.

I know, bummer eh? 

But, far better to know, far better to see, and having seen create anew in a better fashion until a new plateau of vision is accomplished and another and so on.

A bit about "Benjamin Disraeli"  I did this as a portfolio piece back in 1994, I think. Not sure as to the date but it was in the nineties. 

This illustration is inked with a Sable watercolor brush. Actually it was inked with a Winsor Newton Series Seven number two. I've been using that style of brush for thirty years. They are quite popular with many inkers because they hold their shape well and provide a nice snappy line quality.

I don't believe I've posted very much of my brush inking here so far. I use brush mostly for more comic book looking or graphic type work but it can be used in a more classical way as Benjamin shows. 

For sure you'll be seeing more brush type illustrations on this blog as time moves us forward.

Cheers,