Tugboats fast and slow; Papa Legba

Dear Nikki/Dear Sarah--Day 397 of our daily drawing exchange

Hi Nikki,

Today’s JH assignment was to choose a photograph of an object, set a timer for ten minutes, and draw the object over and over on a single page, in three different ways: slowly and “correctly,” then fast, and finally with my non-dom hand (or blind contour). Why did I choose a tugboat, rather than say, a leaf? Or a banana? I also couldn’t figure out if I was supposed to do all the drawings in ten minutes, or if each set of drawings was supposed to take ten minutes. I will ask Jane for clarification. When you’ve finished drawing your object, you’re supposed to decide which drawing feels most “like you.” I’d say the non-dom hand drawing, which seems to capture the essence of a working boat. Interesting that the “slow” drawing was the least successful. I may try this again with a simpler object. I do love a good tugboat, though. Always dreamed of getting one and converting it into a live-aboard.

Started watching a movie on CBC called The White Mountain. Have you seen it? I blame you and Fabio for making me interested in watching people do insane things on mountains.

XO S

Hi Sarah -

have not watched The White Mountain - let me know how you like it!

Papa Legba is the guardian of the crossroads, hovering at the veil between the living and the dead. He is able to translate the language of people to the language of the gods. He is said to appear with a cane, straw hat, and pipe - but beware. He has absolute control over your destiny.

This version is a bit young, I think - but again, collage (inept though it may be) does prove to be a useful medium.

(for those not reading along, the character appears in The Kingdom of This World, by Alejo Carpentier, the novel we are reading for our magic realism class this week).

That’s it for now -
Until tomorrow -
Nikki