Line First

Jean Kelly · 05-11-2005, 12:40 AM

No apologies necessary as far as I'm concerned Lon. I love the freshness of your drawings and this is a good reminder to me to keep doing my quicky sketch work. I'm glad to see you back, missed you lately.

Jean

Lon Haverly · 05-11-2005, 03:49 PM

Here is a drawing by Paul Kalle, renown artist for NASA, Ladies Home Journal, and much more.

Lon Haverly · 05-11-2005, 04:01 PM

another by Paul Kalle

Lon Haverly · 05-11-2005, 04:06 PM

On typing paper from life.

Lon Haverly · 05-12-2005, 10:40 PM

I am convinced that this drawing was done with the same line first mindset as I have experienced. This artist is the favorite of so many, and was referred to by Karen Wells in an earlier thread by the same title in this seeing forum. Each line is final, each line is correct. No second chance.

Lon Haverly · 05-12-2005, 10:44 PM

He was considered a master unsurpassed. This sketch is very bold in the coat, and very timid and sensitive in the face.

This style of drawing at one time was considered traditional. Paul Calle mentions in his writings that he started out in the more "traditional" method of drawing, with the shade lines all parallel from the upper right with less regard to the contour of the form. Then he gradually changed to the contoured lines which follow the contours of the form, changing in direction.

His reference to more "traditional drawing" perked my attention. It seems that the traditional methods that I learned have vanished. They have slipped off into oblivion it seems, lost to this generation.

Ronald Morgan · 01-05-2010, 04:48 AM

I agree with you completely! For the first 2~3 years of my drawing and painting lessons, I was taught to copy from photographs exactly. And I did it exceedingly well, but it took so much time and effort. And yes, my personality/air failed to show through any of those works.

Now, I have a new art teacher who teaches me exactly what you have just said. Well actually he puts the order of importance like this: point > line > plane. So getting the right, precise point is more important than line, which is more important than plane (sorry if plane is not the right word... what I mean is like, the shaded bits). And his way (also yours) IS a lot faster.

Thanks for sharing this with us all! And I love Paul Kalle's works.