Today is Memorial Day in the U.S. It's a day on which those who died in active military service are remembered. We are headed to our local town parade where, no doubt, there will be lots of American Flags being carried.
Over the years, I've created a number of artistic flags — aka, not totally accurate to what the flag actually looks like, but close enough that you get what it is. This one is from my art journal in 2014:
As you can see, it's a flag with some artistic license taken. Instead of stars, the white script ends up communicating the look of the stars. And instead of the crisp white and red stripes of the American flag, the book and gelatin printed papers communicate those stripes, without being accurate. The stripes are messy and uneven and I also didn't use the traditional 13 stripes on the flag, but like I said, it's an artistic interpretation. It's representational rather than realistic. (This is something we discussed at length in the most recent Design Boot Camp)
Here are some close-up pics of the flag in my art journal:
Like I said, while this flag doesn't look exactly like a real American flag, it's close enough that you recognize what it is and accept that there has been artistic interpretation.
Why do I keep repeating this notion?!
Well, with something as simple as a flag, it's easy enough to understand, but it can get trickier with more complicated objects. Many people shy away from creating their own images because they're not realistic. But if you can create a representational flag, the same should be true for a face:
Or a cow:
Or flowers:
Or a house:
Or anything that you want to draw!
You are an artist and not a camera. I hear from so many people who say that they can't draw. Even in my drawing classes, I tell my students: bring yourself to your artwork. Realistic painting/drawing is simply a matter of practice. Having a point-of-view is so much more important! Go for it!
Thanks for stopping by!
Love your interpretation and words of wisdom. Thank you. Enjoy the parade.
Love your interpretation and words of wisdom. Thank you. Enjoy the parade.
Love your interpretation and words of wisdom. Thank you. Enjoy the parade.
Love your interpretation and words of wisdom. Thank you. Enjoy the parade.
Love your interpretation and words of wisdom. Thank you. Enjoy the parade.
Love your interpretation and words of wisdom. Thank you. Enjoy the parade.
Love your interpretation and words of wisdom. Thank you. Enjoy the parade.
This is a really useful distinction, Julie, thank you! I also like the term “evocative” – maybe one step further away from realistic or representational, but still raising a response in the viewer that this is akin to something they know. For instance, I would say that your last drawing is evocative of a woods in the autumn, because the background colors suggest fall.
This is a really useful distinction, Julie, thank you! I also like the term “evocative” – maybe one step further away from realistic or representational, but still raising a response in the viewer that this is akin to something they know. For instance, I would say that your last drawing is evocative of a woods in the autumn, because the background colors suggest fall.
This is a really useful distinction, Julie, thank you! I also like the term “evocative” – maybe one step further away from realistic or representational, but still raising a response in the viewer that this is akin to something they know. For instance, I would say that your last drawing is evocative of a woods in the autumn, because the background colors suggest fall.
This is a really useful distinction, Julie, thank you! I also like the term “evocative” – maybe one step further away from realistic or representational, but still raising a response in the viewer that this is akin to something they know. For instance, I would say that your last drawing is evocative of a woods in the autumn, because the background colors suggest fall.
This is a really useful distinction, Julie, thank you! I also like the term “evocative” – maybe one step further away from realistic or representational, but still raising a response in the viewer that this is akin to something they know. For instance, I would say that your last drawing is evocative of a woods in the autumn, because the background colors suggest fall.
This is a really useful distinction, Julie, thank you! I also like the term “evocative” – maybe one step further away from realistic or representational, but still raising a response in the viewer that this is akin to something they know. For instance, I would say that your last drawing is evocative of a woods in the autumn, because the background colors suggest fall.
This is a really useful distinction, Julie, thank you! I also like the term “evocative” – maybe one step further away from realistic or representational, but still raising a response in the viewer that this is akin to something they know. For instance, I would say that your last drawing is evocative of a woods in the autumn, because the background colors suggest fall.
I think evocative is great!
I think evocative is great!
I think evocative is great!
I think evocative is great!
I think evocative is great!
I think evocative is great!
I think evocative is great!
My flag is sobbing.
My flag is sobbing.
My flag is sobbing.
My flag is sobbing.
My flag is sobbing.
My flag is sobbing.
My flag is sobbing.
I have such a hard time letting go of ” it doesn’t look right.” I need to learn to give myself a break.
I have such a hard time letting go of ” it doesn’t look right.” I need to learn to give myself a break.
I have such a hard time letting go of ” it doesn’t look right.” I need to learn to give myself a break.
I have such a hard time letting go of ” it doesn’t look right.” I need to learn to give myself a break.
I have such a hard time letting go of ” it doesn’t look right.” I need to learn to give myself a break.
I have such a hard time letting go of ” it doesn’t look right.” I need to learn to give myself a break.
I have such a hard time letting go of ” it doesn’t look right.” I need to learn to give myself a break.