Drawing/painting and photography

[Steve Mack]

I've read of more than one professional photographer who got a good start in the art of photography with courses in drawing, painting and composition. I was wondering how many of us who started right out in photography have added drawing, painting or some other graphic art discipline to their photography?

I've been wanting for a long time to learn how to draw, and I have found that pastels are perfect for my tastes as a painting medium. So I've gone out and spent a decent chunk of change on supplies and I'm getting down to business. I expect to continue with drawing, etc., for many years to come (God willing and the creeks don't rise). I'm looking forward to enjoying it since I'm retired and have the free time to explore, and I also expect that it will only help my photographic eye as I proceed.

Anyone else doing graphic arts on a fairly serious level, and what have you found as a spin-off for your photography?

With best regards to all, from very snowy Virginia!

Stephen

[bowzart]

Hello Stephen,

I started in photography in 1963 because I got turned on through an art history course. Not having - or not having developed - much that would produce a lot of confidence in other media, I thought, as so many do, that since photography was such a universally accessible medium it might be a way in. Specifically, the images that really had got to me were Chinese landscape paintings on silk, but also, there were examples in many other media, not all strictly 2d, that had inspired me.

Having worked in photography only a few months, really, I felt the need for experience in other media. It was not just photo that attracted me. I applied for admission to the Portland Museum Art School (Oregon) which had a highly structured foundation program, with the first years being mainly tons of drawing and design. They also hosted workshops with Minor White in the summer, so I took those prior to the start of the regular school year and again the next summer. After one year there, I went on to San Francisco State, because the art school, besides the seasonal workshops with MW, offered no photography. At SF State, I majored in photo but took courses in other media. Because the art school, despite its excellence, was not accredited in a system that SF State recognized, I needed to take all of the requirements. This amounted to one full year of mostly duplication. The following year, they recognized my prior credit. I don't regard that year as a loss at all; it was a net gain.

Subsequently, more school, more work in other media. I spent a number of years working in application of photographic imagery to metal (in making jewelry and small sculpture) and intaglio printmaking, as well as silkscreen printmaking with photo imagery. I still draw some, and, like you, now retired, I'm becoming again a lot more interested in drawing. I've been making my own charcoal in the BBQ while cooking, and have acquired a portable french easel rig for travel. I've done some painting (love it) in the past few years, but haven't done a lot of anything - even photography. Now that I've quit the art education racket, I have some more time and hope that I'm capable of shifting my focus back into artwork.

I've never been just a photographer, although that has consumed most of my working life as freelance editorial photographer and college photo teacher.

Your exploring drawing/painting can be nothing but really good, as far as I'm concerned. Nowhere near enough photographers have the spirit to do that, and I think they don't know what they are missing. There is an added dimension that comes of working with the hands in service to the eye. Photographers can become rather parochial; it often does not serve them well. Experience in other media tends to open the mind; the world gets bigger.

If I can suggest one thing, it would be drawing from the figure in a managed drawing group using models and varied timed poses. Short poses (you use a lot of newsprint fast) help train the eye to discern the important formal/gestural elements quickly. The longer ones enable one to develop a vision that perceives how forms work together and acquire a more subtle understanding of the relationship of surface and form, as well as detail. Working from still life is important too, especially if you have someone available who really knows how to set them up. I'd strongly recommend that you take some courses, because in doing so, you can learn from other students' work and the guidance of an instructor. Of course, you'll be dependent upon what's available in your area. I know that around here, we "seniors" can take courses for the fees and maybe $5/course. I'm thinking about doing that myself. I can take courses from my former colleagues!

I wish you great success with it. I know it will enrich your life, both in itself and in how it helps your vision grow, which is really useful for a photographer.

Larry

[jpberger]

I second Larry's recommendation-- life drawing really teaches you not only to see, but to see it fast and get it on paper which is really helpful for shooting people. Painting, or colour theory is good too if you like colour.

[arigram]

I actually stopped drawing and sculpting when I picked up photography.
One of the attractions of black and white photography was its relationship to drawing, but color photography gave me an appreciation of color that I couldn't get with my painting.
Its about time I get back to them.

[rphenning]

I've always liked drawing. Photography is a lot more recent in my life. Started taking photos seriously when I was 18 whereas I started taking drawing seriously when I was 12 or 13.

[rthomas]

I grew up around visual arts of all sorts, including photography... in the 70s my parents processed their own E6; I was not allowed near any of that, nor was I allowed to handle the "serious" cameras until I was about 16. I was always interested in photography but my main artistic outlets as a child were a Kodak Instamatic 100, and pencil and paper. I'm not a great artist by any means but from the age of 8 I had courses in drawing, drafting, print-making, and ceramics, as well as exposure to art museums and literally hundreds of art books. I played musical instruments too, trumpet and drums in middle school and high school, then piano and guitar when I was first in college (the first three years of my college career were in music performance). I didn't really consider photography seriously until I was 21 and had decided not to become a professional musician. My actual completed college education consists of a Bachelor's in Photography and a Master's in Graphic Arts (in my case this included more desktop publishing, digital imaging, color management, and a little flexography). I would not say that my art experiences prepared me for my college studies, except that (I'm told) I have an eye for composition and my work is very "graphic" whether it is photography, a screen print, a flexo label, or a web page, etc.

[nick mulder]

Did a paper in life drawing at university in the third year of an architecture degree.

Model was side lit by a simple incandescent bulb in a parabolic reflector in an otherwise black room - the light we had to see our drawings was literally reflected off the model ...

Certainly learned a lot about 1 point side lighting on nudes that way

[Rick A]

I've always made drawings, and painted, but am not very good(IMHO) at either. Recieved my first camera at age eleven, and never loked back(as the saying goes).So here I am at nearing fifty years behind the lens, I continue to look foreward(and all other directions as the view attracts my eye).

Rick

[SuzanneR]

In art school (long time ago) I did the classic foundation. Every Monday was six hours of drawing, Tuesday, IIRC, was six hours of light color and design, and Wednesday or Thursday, you guessed it... six hours of form in space. (hated that last one, and was a source of deep frustration.) And a few other shorter classes thrown in... art history, some English 101, etc. The photography classes weren't available to me until sophomore year even though I was a photo major. That was difficult, but looking back it was an invaluable year of fine tuning my observational skills... especially the drawing class.

There are few things that can improve your eye for photographs better than drawing.

[Nancy Gutrich]

I started out in drawing (though it wasn't classically taught) and painting, BFA. My first work was architectural interior design work including drafting. Photography wasn't offered as course work. I always drew, and still do, but turned to photography 35 years ago and never left. At that time I felt frustrated with the pace of drawing as I had so much I wanted to do and say...photography more suited me, and I'm a "techy" at heart. A few years ago I took a drawing course locally at the Chicago Botanic Gardens...I surprised even myself that I could do that type of formal work. I think, anything that enhances your observational powers is helpful...and will come back to you.

Personally I feel that people educated (even self educated) without a knowledge of the vast imagery, techniques and subject matter of the other arts are depriving themselves...photography is a baby-art in the time line of imgaery.