The Drawing Page
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember but taking it seriously is something I have done only in spurts over the past six decades.
During grammar and high school I was constantly sketching, usually cross-sections of ships, submarines, and buildings. I drew plans for all kinds of goofy inventions, sort of in the style of Rube Goldberg, and, of course, lots of cars.
I don't recall my pictures being of high quality, being more or less self-taught. The high school I attended had art classes but they were designated "girls only," just like the cooking a nd sewing classes. So much for my art education.
During my time in the army, I had lots of free time, especially at the missile site where I was a guard. It was easy to take pencil and paper along so I did lots of sketching to pass the time and where all those drawings are now I haven't a clue. However, it was while I was working in the photofinishing business that a co-worker came over to look at some of my photography and saw my drawings. She had an art degree and told me that what I was doing was great but needed better materials than plain bond paper and a No. 2 pencil. She introduced me to good drawing paper, a Berol 314 Draughting pencil, and a kneaded eraser. My work improved quite a bit after that.
In 1977 I made the decision to train as a mechanical drafter and found that I had a talent for it, loved it, and ended up working as a drafter for quite a few years. That I could make a living by drawing with a pencil was too good to be true. Over the years I would get the urge to sketch and draw but it always competed with my other hobbies, interests, and passions. Retirement changed things and I now have the time to devote to drawing like I never did before.
I dug out my old copy of the Betty Edwards classic "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain," read it again, and worked on the exercises it assigned. Coincidentally, I had majored in Industrial Arts (Photography) at California State University Long Beach at the same time Dr. Edwards was teaching there. I knew of her but as a non-traditional student I didn't have much extra time for electives so I missed taking any of her classes. That said, I liked her book and it has helped me tremendously in developing my "eye."
Then, in 2015, I decided to get really serious and enrolled at Montana State University, Billings to take some drawing classes and ended up completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Drawing and Painting.)
Drawing has always been my preferred way of art making and can be found within other places on this site such as my BFA Exhibition, the Portals Series, and the Precisionist Series. Here, on these Drawing pages, I have some work that was made as part of a class or just for fun.