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Drawing of my mother 2020
Drawing of my mother 2020
2020
Henriette Kets de Vries
Dutch

Never too Old

Although I’ve been working with art for many years now, it is still a magical experience for me to hold an original work of art in my hands. At the Cunningham Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings and Photographs, which I manage, I work every day with original art. I feel blessed because art has always been therapeutic for me. When days get hectic or I feel stressed, I can walk into our storage and look at some works I particularly love and always come away feeling much better.

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My Hand

Drawing my hand

I can’t go into storage now during this time of self-isolation, so I’m feeling the withdrawal symptoms of going without my daily art fix. While virtual art acts as a great substitute, it is not the same as contact with the physical object. The smell, the texture of the paper, and the feelings they evoke by being in their mere presence are just some of many things we lose in the limited experience of virtual art.

One thing has acted as an outlet for me during these cooped-up times, okay more than one thing, but one thing related to art. About half a year ago I decided to start drawing. Always being surrounded by great artists and great art made the idea of creating art myself quite intimidating. However, with age comes wisdom, or perhaps, folly? Because of this inspiration, I decided to dive off the deep end and start drawing. Talent or no, I was going to try. 

I have always loved portraits and the idea of capturing the essence of a person; however, this is no easy task. So I decided to learn how to draw portraits, starting with the faces of the people I care about.

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Unfinished drawing of my mother

Starting to draw my mother

To learn how to draw I could have taken a class; however my days are full and classes take a lot of time, commitment and planning. So I did what many do these days: I learned by watching other people draw on the internet. Obviously my art history background came in handy when it came to following the old Renaissance teaching methods. I wanted to learn from the best so I started by copying the artists I loved and admired. Copying art gets a bad rap these days for obvious proprietary reasons but many artists we admire honed their talents by looking at, and copying, the work of other artists. They often traveled far and wide to do this in person. Nowadays, we have the art world at our fingertips; even if it is not the real thing, it will do when we are stuck at home. Looking at other artists’ processes helped me understand the different styles and techniques. It enabled me to look beyond the surface and let go of my own idea of what a good drawing should look like or how to achieve a certain effect.  

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Mondrian Copy

Charcoal drawing after Mondrian’s Chrysanthemum, one of his wonderful flower drawings in our Smith collection.

Amazingly, in all my years as an art historian, thinking I had a good eye for details and technique, nothing could have prepared me for the new ways I would be tasked with looking at a drawing. I started seeing things I had never seen before. All the different choices that went into an artist’s composition started to make sense to me. It is a wondrous new world of exploration, frustration, and elation. I still have so much to learn and am still struggling with the basics, but it is all about the process and not the end result for me. Seeing the process that it takes to create a good drawing brought me a new appreciation for the art I work with every day in the museum.

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Drawing of an eye

Drawing an eye, one of the first things I tried.

And now, stuck at home, drawing has become the perfect outlet and therapy. I can recommend drawing to anyone knowing full well how much comfort it can bring. Do not tell yourself you cannot draw. Who cares! There can never be enough art, good or bad, and who knows, you might surprise yourself and others with your work. Today is the perfect day to start!

Henriette Kets de Vries is the Manager of the Cunningham Center for Prints, Drawings and Photographs and Assistant Curator of works on paper at SCMA. 

Comments

Submitted by Rosetta on August 4, 2020

I loved this, Henriette! Both the essay and the drawings are so lovely! You have inspired me to take out my sketch pad.

Submitted by Marie-Laure on August 5, 2020

What a beautiful, inspiring recount of the emergence of an obviously very talented artist!
Extraordinary portrait of your mother!

Submitted by Susan Lampman … on August 17, 2020

Dear Henriette,

Tina Barsby sent me your article. Yes, drawing is the perfect activity!

(I collect drawings—including not only charcoal and pencil but pastels, watercolors and even oil sketches on paper.)

About fifteen years ago, I decided to take drawing lessons out here in San Francisco, through the city college system. I wanted to see how the artists were getting the (sometimes otherworldly) effects I was seeing. I took drawing lessons off and on for about six years, and it was a wonderful experience. I took a small notebook and drawing materials everywhere I went, and when I had time—on the subway, walking, or rest stops when I travelled, etc.—I drew.

Now, during the pandemic, I have taken out my sketchbook and materials again, and when I am out and have time, I am sketching again.

Thanks for reminding me how great drawing is again! Cheers, Susan

Submitted by Trish on August 18, 2020

Henriette,

I love your drawings; you are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing this.

Submitted by jvanpee@smith.edu on August 18, 2020

Lovely, Henriette. You are inspiring me to think about this once I retire in the spring.

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