Analyze instead of copy

[kikindaface]

Well, when i start drawing a still life, or another, i set up my workspace and start to draw, but I always find that my drawing were not alive, there is something missing. A friend said me that instead of copy my model, i have to analyse it ( think vilppu said the same thing), but i don't really understand what it means, and when I asked my friend, he was unable to answer me, he said that he do it naturally ! So I ask you what really mean " analyse what i draw instead of copy"

[Carl Dobsky]

It is a bit tricky, isn't it? The terms are a bit esoteric and people repeat them as if they were magical incantations in hopes that something will just happen.

Saying that the work lacks "life" is a bit vague as well. Not that I think it doesn't mean anything, because I do think it means something. The problem is that no matter how good you get, it still seems to be a very elusive thing. Not to mention, a bit subjective as well. It's what keeps this art thing interesting, really.

I think, at least for myself, that something that is done with confidence retains some of the emotion or thought that engendered the work. Brush strokes (or pencil strokes or whatever) retain a certain quality when directly applied and then left to stand as they are. I think this is a major part of what makes a work look "alive".

Studying or analyzing a subject will help you understand it better and therefore allow you to approach it with more confidence- with enough practice of course( but then again is that really different from studying??). I think it would also be a good thing to constantly try to state something exactly how you meant it from the very first mark. This is of course EXTREMELY difficult. So difficult it verges on the impossible. But the pursuit of an ideal thing is never a waste of time, even when we fail.

[Samurai_em]

Too many people just copy and think that is what art is all about. That's part of it, but not all of it. Analyzing is just learning, instead of trying to copy, to mimic what you see, you try to understand the shapes and forms that make up what you are drawing, so that later when drawing from memory you can use what you learned instead of needing to be "inspired" all the time.

[whitepython]

this is a very interesting topic, im myself hanging in the same spot, i been trying to copy and to copy pictures, places outside of my window, pretty much everything that i find inspiring to draw

sometimes i get decent looking copies and other times they are just plainly awful, therefore i do wonder myself where is the balance between "copying" and "analizing"

[Mirana]

Loosen up and practice.

[kev ferrara]

Think of your picture as a graphic design. Emphasize the graphic elements that are most dynamic to you... the dark and light patterns, the complexity, the most interesting shapes, some play of light you find intriguing... and, conversely, diminish those aspects of the graphic design that are boring to you (Like straight verticals, straight horizontals, or obvious symmetry).

In your rendering of the picture, bring life to the process of drawing every line. Give your lines personality. Make some dance lightly, make some angry, make some sure, make some weak or questioning. Make a picture that you enjoy looking at just for the way the lines are laid down on the paper. Lines are like a seismograph needle that chart earthquake activity... they record every little tremor.

Look at the difference between the lines laid down in drawings by Alphonse Mucha, Ralph Steadman, Ingres, Joseph Clement Coll, Sigmund Abeles, Nicolai Fechin, Kathe Kollwitz, Giacometti, Jean Dubuffet, Egon Schiele (Yes, look them all up through Google: Images) Look at all the different "line qualities" you see in these drawings. Try to duplicate all these different styles of line on test paper. Then make pictures using as many different types of line as you can find.

Good luck
kev

[Kielbasa]

I like to think analyzing is just that, analyzing to simplify and understand visually what's happening in front of you, to help you know where to put things on your paper. Copying is more brute force reproduction of your model without a lot of understanding of it(I think Richard Schmid describes his painting method this way, that you don't need to understand what your drawing if you can see well enough). Gestural, emotional drawing vs meticulous measuring/calculated drawing.

Sometimes I find myself sitting down to do some studies and analyze what's happening, trying to learn something new. So I start with that in mind but I get caught up in details, making it accurate, etc, and I end up just copying, rather than analyzing. Then I finish and I didn't learn what I intended, so I have to remind myself what my goal is keep on track. I think good analyzation needs a clarity of mind. I guess analyzing informs your copying.

But you want more life in your work? I think like Carl said, getting it right the first time, and with as few strokes as possible, really adds lifeliness. But as he said, it's hard to do this, so you analyze and look to make sure you get it right the first time!

[2100]

Analyze:

technical context: Break down into simple geometric forms, perspective, light, shadows, reflections. Determine how colours translate to tones, how texture diffuses to light, minor surface details, etc.

art context: subjective rationalization of your experience translated onto drawing surface.

[Jazz]

I always find myself tempted to copy something, especially its "outline". I don't always feel the forms within. The different directions or slopes that the subject could be made up of. Tones and hues and how they "change" depending on the light's direction on them. And yeah, that emotion--when someone frowns and scrunches their face in a certain way. Sometimes I just copy that face because it looks good.

Since the advice has been given and given well (emotional lines...the idea is awesome), I'd say you want to "touch" and feel the form somehow, not just look at it--with your eyes, your mind, and bring it to your art. Bring out the atmosphere around the subject, show how it makes you feel.

I won't lie...the word "analyze" still freaks me out. Good success. :D

[Black Spot]

I probably do things the wrong way round, but I tend to darken the recesses by thinking my pen is digging into places unknown and I have to dig into the darkness. Also I caress round objects like they are actually there, giving gentler touches to the parts that are closer to me.

[J Wilson]

I think it's a matter of looking past surface details and instead looking at the over all relationships, shapes, and movement. Reduce the form to it's most elegant and simple essence. Choose which details to bring back in, and which are ok to leave out, based on where you want the focus to be and where the most interesting activity is based.

Copying is merely copying (and it's great to learn), but when you have that down well then it's time to start making decisions and choosing what and how to represent something.

[Samurai_em]

I think everyone is making it too complicated, thinking about it too much. Copying is just trying to get the drawing to look like what you are looking at, without understanding what you are looking at (I'm not saying you can't combine the two though). Analyzing is drawing what you are looking at, while asking yourself "why does it look that way?" and trying to find the answers in your drawing. One results in a nice drawing, the other results in learning.

[kikindaface]

Thanks all for your help ! Now I have a better understanding of what is it, and hope it will help me to improve :)

[Chris Bennett]

I think everyone is making it too complicated, thinking about it too much. Copying is just trying to get the drawing to look like what you are looking at, without understanding what you are looking at.

I hate to say this but:
Your second sentence betrays the complacence of the first.
A camera does precisely and par excellence what you describe in the second sentence and Walid D is asking advice about getting magic into their drawings.
You need to think some more......

[Saturns Gate]

Its all down to understanding your subject.

Instead of just copying whats in front of you and trying to get each line correct begin asking yourself questions as you draw. Why does that line go the way it does, which muscle is it vaguely following. Where are the points the bones poke up against the skin. obviously ask yourself these questions in your head and not out loud, people might think your a bit cuckoo.

Anyone with enough thought can get a certain shape to look the way it does from referencing. Its trying to understand why the shape is the way it is that can help you better understand and hopefully improve your drawing from imagination. its what im trying to do now, and its tough as hell, but I can feel it paying off already. :)