This drawing was created in summer 2016 with the participants of ArtSeed San Francisco’s children’s art intensive program. The students in this group were very diverse and their various ages and skill levels contributed to achieve a highly interesting and beautiful artwork. We worked on this piece for 2 days in 2 consecutive weeks. The resulting drawing was shown in an exhibition at the Thoreau Center for Sustainability in San Francisco’s Presidio Park. The show featured teachers’ and student work side by side. We were able to hang this large drawing from a beam on the ceiling, which allowed it to sway freely off the wall, lightly touching the floor. It was a great pleasure to work with this group of talented young artists.
These drawings base on very simple guidelines – a circular pen gesture and a focus on texture and abstract patterns, rather than form and object. This ensures coherence for the overall drawing, while the individual hand adds to the diversity of patterns and contributes to liveliness and success of the drawing. Participants are encouraged to play with density and openness – concentrated dark areas versus loose brighter areas. It is suggested that they move across the canvas in their drawing effort, rather than restricting themselves to a certain area of the paper. The idea is to create a rounded piece rather than a sketchbook-like accumulation of individual drawings.
The drawings take place on very large sheets of paper (cut from wide rolls), which are taped to a wall or to the ground. We work with fine tip artist pens filled with black Indian ink.
The drawing process is meant to be relaxing and meditative. The drawings can be performed in silence, or with music.
