A good book and a recent drawing

After the frenzy of sewing for the past couple months, I am focusing on drawing and painting a bit more.  For inspiration, I’ve picked up this book from the library:

 

 Show and Tell

Exploring the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration

by Dilys Evans

The author examines the work of 15 illustrators.  She gives some brief biographical info and artistic influences for each artist before dissecting individual images from their books.  So far I’ve only read a few chapters, but it is a really interesting look at the factors that contribute to an effective illustration, i.e. rounded lines in an interior motif suggest coziness and warmth.  I haven’t read the Eloise books yet, but I love how the author’s use of a few dark lines creates an interesting and expressive gesture.  I’ve noticed that I tend to overwork my own drawings, never quite knowing when to stop.  Even when I get a good line, I will go over it again and again as if that first gesture was a fluke–thereby, losing any energy the original drawing may have had.  It is easy for me to get discouraged when I get to the point where the image that I’ve worked on for a couple hours just doesn’t work.  This quote from Art & Fear is very comforting at those moments:

The lessons you are meant to learn are in your work.  To see them, you need only look at the work clearly–without judgement, without need or fear, without wishes or hopes.  Without emotional expectations.  Ask your work what it needs, not what you need.  Then set aside your fears and listen, the way a good parent listens to a child.