Conventional Wisdom would have it that no artist should be wasting her time watching TV. TV can be a terrible time-waster for anybody, not just for artists. Not watching TV has become, however, an article of faith for those artists who are into preaching to other artists. Most of the articles of faith are true enough, and it’s good to be reminded from time to time to find your own style, treat your collectors well, and always be working on improving your art. But I can’t give up TV (or the movies that I use a TV set to view). I just don’t understand those people who complain there is nothing worth watching on TV. (For those people, not watching TV is no sacrifice on the altar of Art anyway, so they have no business preaching to people like me who enjoy the dramas and documentaries available on television.) I enjoy a whole host of programs, mostly dramas and documentaries. I even get into some of the “reality” shows -for example, “Too Cute” on Animal Planet is not to be missed! I also believe an artist should not cloister herself from what is going on the the Real World but has a duty to keep informed on current events. The Daily Show and Stephen Colbert are “must” viewing for me.
As much as I disagree with those sermons about demon TV, I do feel guilt over my addiction, and I confess as often as possible, hoping to purge the guilt. One, maybe even two, earlier blogs make the same confession, and I still have not repented.
Thanks to my DVR, however, I have found a better method to assuage my guilt. I keep a sketchpad, pencils and eraser nearby. It adds about an hour to my viewing time, but on a good night I will have two well-developed drawings at the end. I wait until something on the screen catches my artist’s eye, pause the program, work on my drawing as long as necessary, and then resume the program or go to bed, depending on the hour. (Obviously, I watch TV alone. Couldn’t do this otherwise.) None of these drawings will end up in a museum, but it’s great practice that I would not be getting if I were reading a book. (Books are apparently approved time-wasters, regardless of the subject matter.)
Here are 52 images, some containing more than one drawing, dating from about mid March to last night. I hope they demonstrate progressively better drawing. I have numbered them in roughly chronological order, and intend this slide show to set them before your eyes in that same order, but who knows?
I think –I hope–you might notice that I am getting more nuance into facial muscles, and am developing the drawings to a finer conclusion. I am also getting more stubborn about the likeness, not giving up until it looks right.
Now when I sit down to watch TV, I am looking forward more to the drawing activity than to the TV watching non activity. I notice a dearth of children’s faces, so I will be concentrating on them in the future. And more animals. Love animals, but it’s hard to demonstrate rigorous likenesses with animals, so not so much of a challenge. I hope you responded to the eyes of the lion, though.
Aline Lotter is currently exhibiting:
at the Hatfield Gallery in Manchester; at the Bartlett Inn in Bartlett; at the Epsom Public Library in Epsom; at the Bedford Public Library, in Bedford; and at her studio by appointment.
Paintings by Aline 
Likenesses are getting better, although many I might not guess if the name wasn’t there. But I’m also not too familiar with many of the faces – I watch different shows!
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You support my point, well, one of my points–so much good stuff on TV that you can’t expect to see it all. Something for every taste, even those who art holier than thou (and me).
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I am very impressed, Aline. I don’t have a cable connection or directtv so I don’t see many of these shows but your drawing is very expressive of the emotions on their faces. How big are these drawings? M.
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Most of these drawings are small enough to fit on a quarter page in my sketchbook, and the sketchbook is 8.5 by 11. If you pause an image in the slide show, and then click on it, I think you will get an enlarged version where you can judge by the thickness of the line how really small the original was.
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My favourite (about half-way through) is the scientist in Wormhole (?). The drama of the composition is what grabs me. the face is part of the composition as a whole. some of these are absolute rippers Aline!
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“Wormhole” is short for the series on the Science Channel (yes, there IS a Science channel–I find these things out by reading the TV reviews in the local newspaper) hosted by Morgan Freeman and titled “. . . Through the Wormhole”. Can’t recall the complete title. REally good stuff!
The one you like is also my favorite–I assume you are talking about the guy in profile wearing glasses. His “colleague” Jurgen was awfully good looking to be a scientist, but there you are. Wonders to behold in unexpected places.
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Aline, yes I could see the nuances in the facial expressions and although I do not watch much TV I was able to recognize some of the more popular actors. I also watch the science channel and Through the Wormhole.
I do enjoy your blog.
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I’m so glad to hear all that. I discovered yesterday that drawing large from life is much harder than drawing small from a TV screen. Especially if you don’t have room to back up away from your easel. More about that next week, I guess.
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Hello Aline, just a brief message to say I have nominated you for the Awesome Blog Content Award! congratulations! I am about to publish the news.
And, I think it is a different Mary MacGowan (spelling is different from the one I was following and now can’t find). best wishes, Philippa
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Wow! Thank you so much for the nomination. You keep me going.
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Hello again Aline. I forgot to tell you about your responsibilities as an Awesome Blogger! You need to write 26 things about yourself using the letters of the alphabet (I used my blogname instead to cut it down a bit) and then you need to nominate 6 other bloggers with awesome content! It takes a little while to do but is quite fun. best wishes, Philippa
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Uh oh. Wasn’t I only nominated? That doesn’t mean I won! How long would I get, as an actual Awesome Blogger, to complete my duties? I wouldn’t want to undertake anything that took away much of my TV viewing time, you know.
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