Back to school

Summer has come and gone, and the first day of my “drawing for beginners” class is looming. I've signed up for a class through the City Arts Centre and had to settle for the beginner class when what I really wanted was “drawing for the absolutely terrified”.

My class supply list arrived by email today: lots of pencils and charcoal, sheets of different types of paper (Tiziano or Artagain?  Sounds more like the name for Aztec gods or a traditional Italian appetizer than paper stock) and for some reason a large number of cleaning supplies are required including rags, paper towels, soap and a scrub brush.  “Be prepared to get dirty”, it says.  I’m not.

Am I looking forward to the class?  Sort of.  Looking forward to it in the way that you look forward to your dentist appointment being over.  Perhaps that’s a bit extreme, but I’m just hoping to be able to draw a slightly better stick man, or a house that looks somewhat more advanced than a 5 year old which is the age at which I stalled in my artistic development.  I don’t necessarily feel the need to create masterpieces … just some basic rules on perspective would be fine, thank you.  Certainly not prepared for owning a set of Conte sticks, some vine charcoal and a few blending stumps.  Is there an aftermarket for slightly used blending stumps when this is all over?  Cheese cloth I have – I wonder if it matters that it’s been used and machine washed?  The selection of erasers will no doubt become my favourite tools.  And the last item on the list I actually own and can use quite well.  A ruler.  That gives me hope.