When you design your own book, it is hard to know when to stop messing around with the design.
While in Wilsonia last week, I spent time at a cabin that I have already drawn. I wasn’t sure the angle was the best one, but at the time it seemed to be the only one.
I was wrong. Now, I have to decide if it needs to be redrawn. Perhaps I should have left my camera at home for this trip. Decisions, decisions. . . where is the big boss to tell me what to do?? Oh – in the mirror? Hmmm, she doesn’t look adequate for the job. . .
May I have your opinions on this?
Thanks. You can comment by hitting “Leave a Reply” or email me at cabinart at cabinart dot net. (I wrote it out that way because someone somewhere sometime said you shouldn’t put your eddress in your blog or all the robots and spiders and trolls will bother you. Better safe than sorry!)
Hi, Jana – have you looked at the cabin from the other angle? I like the photo better than the drawing, however I’d want to know how it would look the other way as well. Have I explained myself to thoroughly confuse you? How does the cabin look if you took a photo from the front only looking at it from the other direction? Keep up the good work; see you Saturday !
Hugs,
Sophie
Sophie, I understand exactly what you are saying! For some reason, that wasn’t a nice angle. Can’t remember why, but I do know that I photograph almost every cabin from straight on, from sort of left-ish and from sort of right-ish. There might have been a tree problem (or maybe a car was parked in the way!) I will probably have to redraw the cabin – it was bound to happen sooner or later. Thanks for your valuable input.
Maybe leave out the tree on the right front in the original. It might balance it better.
Mary Ann, that is a tricky call. Many times I’ve wanted to leave off trees or other things that seem extraneous or superfluous to me as the artist, but if the cabin owner thinks I’ve changed the appearance too radically, then he may not want to buy the drawing. So, I will study the drawing with your good idea in mind and see where it leads. Thank you!
Hi, Jana,
I like the angle from the photo better. In addition, I want you to know how much I enjoyed your meadow drawing. It captures the look but also the feel of the damp flowers and grasses as well as the complex fragrance. There is a wonderful earthy, sweet smell to a meadow, especially when the suns shines on it. In addition the aroma that arises when you walk through it with bare feet lingers even after ones feet have been rinsed in the icy water from the hand pump and have dried. I speak from long experience.
Love, Pat
Thank you for sharing your opinion, Pat. I feel fairly confident that now I have to complete 231 drawings instead of 230. Sigh. But, I’m only doing this once, so I want to do it the best possible.
Love hearing about the meadow. Thank you for your kind words about my drawing and for sharing your experiences. I’d be a little nervous to walk barefoot through – have done that in Mineral King and encountered a (harmless) snake, stepped on something sharp, and encountered the remnants of someone’s roaming dog. You’d think I’d learn!
I like the drawing better than the picture, it shows the cabin the way it was intended, simple.
The picture shows too much detail and the business side of the cabin, too busy.
But that’s just me.
Jeff
Pine Hut, Wilsonia
Hi Jeff, thanks for sharing your opinion. I’m trying to remember where the Pine Hut is – on Laurel, maybe?
You are right about drawings being simpler than photos. If I do redraw this cabin from the new angle, the drawing will be simpler than the photo. Real life is messy and as an artist, I get to clean it up with my pencil.
So, the verdict isn’t in yet. . . I’ll keep plowing ahead, and when all the drawings are finished, I’ll evaluate everything to see if any drawings don’t really fit in or could be done better.
I agree with Jeff, I like your drawing better than the photo. Your drawing looks so serene. Makes me wish I was there!
Shannon, I believe drawings are almost always superior to photos. I spoke to the woman who is going to buy the drawing, and she said she prefers the angle of the drawing. YEA! I don’t have to redraw it!! Maybe. . .
Hi,
Enjoyed our visit. Personally I like the drawing better than the picture. I guess I kinda’ like the rustic kind of look. Anyone can take a picture, but to capture the feel of the cabin in a drawing is an art! I think your drawings are great!
Corky, you are sweet! I think I expected readers to be able to look at the newer photo and simply compare the cabin angles, not compare a drawing to a photo. I probably should have showed both as photos (Obviously I can’t show both as drawings since I haven’t drawn the new one!) Thanks for stopping by my blog and for commenting.
It was a pleasure to meet both you and Larry, and I’m looking forward to drawing your very interesting cabin!