Today was the beginning! The first day of art classes. Classes don’t begin until 10:00 each day. I have private lessons in the morning until 1:00. I break for lunch for 30 minutes and then resume classes with a group of students at 1:00. Class continues until 5:00 or I burnout…which ever comes first. The flu symptoms are really starting to set in and I feel like I am in a fog.
I arrive at my school destination and finish my registration. They show me around and and introduce me to my instructor. The classes are on the 3rd floor of a large building. Not much of a view, but then, I won’t be distracted by the buildings that surround me. There are lots of windows and good overhead lighting which is really important to me. I had to recently have my husband install more lighting in my home studio. My home studio is fronted by windows that give me a lot of natural light. All the walls are painted white and I still needed more overhead light. It seems that as I age my eyes need brighter lights to focus.
My first day is crammed full of information on how to set up the drawing, what pencils to use and even how to hold them and make a purposeful stroke. Who knew there was so much to learn. And as soon as I start to copy a drawing they provide me, I quickly learn JUST how much I have to learn. There is a little voice in my head that keeps telling me I suck at drawing and I keep countering that little voice with I know that. The upside is that and I will be better when I leave than before I arrived.
I learn something really valuable today. How to properly sharpen a drawing pencil. It isn’t done with a pencil sharpener. Which boggles my mind because with every pencil set I have purchased that is specifically for drawing, it has always included a little small sharpener. But today I learn that a drawing pencil is sharpened with a box cutter (knife). I am dangerous with knives and the instructor quickly realized that after giving me a demonstration and having me attempt to sharpen my own pencil. I nearly sliced off my fingers. I don’t have a lot of experience with box cutters. I am not allowed to play with them at home. However, I learned that there is a specific way to hold the pencil in your left hand very tightly. Then with the box cutter in your right hand, using only your thumb for force to guide the blade, do you shave away at the wood to expose about a one inch length of lead. The lead must be that long because you use the sides of the lead in your drawing. And there you have it. The instructor had to show me multiple times the proper way until I sort of got it. Something new for me to master, which I am certain I will. I am thinking this technique might also come in hand for peeling fruits and vegetables.
I actually force myself to get to the end of the day. I am really starting to feel yucky. As soon as I get back to the apartment I take handfuls of ibuprofen and head directly to bed.
Cindy Mochel Livermore 