neighbour cats - green - 2023 10 17

 

Green cat is done for now. Tonight I added another layer of warm brown and white ink to the drawing. 

It takes courage to go back to a drawing that has been very satisfying in it's unfinished state, knowing there are more layers to go on, and, also knowing that additional layers will enhance and enrich the previous layers or override them with a new sensibility.

If the early layers become to precious, it can become impossible to do anything more on a drawing. I have a few on my desk that are in that stage. I love the initial drawing so much I don't want to add layers. But the initial drawing feels unfinished, like there is more that is needed to build the image and bring the drawing to life. 

It is true that I could ruin a perfectly satisfactory drawing by adding layers. It is also true that I could get stuck in cowardice, of not finding out the story the picture wants to tell, because I was satisfied with the start of the story but I couldn't bear to stay for the end. 

This reminds me of all the unfinished tv shows I have sitting in my streaming account. I am fine watching the opening storylines to establish the setting and the various characteristics, flaws and tensions in each of the characters. But once the story gets to be to intense, too fraught with danger and intrigue, I have to take a break from the series until I can go back. I just don't want anything bad to happen to the characters and I can't bear the suspense waiting for the story to work out how the bad behaviours are going to be punished and the good behaviours will be rewarded.

It's like that with these drawings. And that is why it is important to push through my own resistance to practicing at least once a day. If I let it go for too long, I lose my courage and I won't make another mark.

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