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.
