Scribble Dog by Sally Muir
See
So many of our first experiences with mark-making are backed with the soundtrack “Don’t scribble”, “Stay inside the lines”, and “Make it neat!”. The artists we are looking at show us that those are not always the wisest mantras. You cannot deny the energy and power of scribbled lines on a page. I encourage my students to scribble occasionally and notice the unplanned beauty of the colors as they interact unintentionally on the page and the undeniable energy they leave behind! Why would we want to squelch that?! Check out these artworks and look for the surprising qualities revealed in the scribbles!
The Lady by Sally Muir
Dog by Sally Muir
Birds by Sally Muir
Self Portrait by Liz Ahmet
Liz Ahmet (lizyahmet) considers her style to be experimental - each line, dot, mark, pattern, and texture expresses her current mood and is created with passion. Liz considers her self-portraits to be works of self-expression.
Scribble No.7, Rainbow Scribble by Lori Carlson
Say
Study the scribbled images above. Which of the scribbled artworks do you feel is most expressive and why?
Do you think some could have been done by a child? If so, does that make the captured energy less valid?
I wondered if I should include Muir’s painting The Lady in this curation but somehow couldn’t pass it up as it was a powerful image for me. Why do you think it belongs or doesn't belong in this collection?
Do
Set your expectations aside and try adding Scribble Art to your day! For guidance on getting started, Sarah Ransome has some great tips and activities!
Why Try Scribble Drawing? (from Sarah Ransome)
Here are some key reasons to incorporate scribble drawing into your art practice:
It loosens you up. When you scribble draw, you break free from stiff, careful mark-making. Your hand moves more freely.
It develops observation skills. Trying to capture the gesture and form of a subject in loose scribbles makes you observe keenly.
It's fun and low-pressure. No need to stress about rendering something perfectly. Just have fun!
It's portable. You can scribble draw anywhere using any drawing tool - no need for an easel.
It builds muscle memory and control. The more you scribble, the more comfortable you get making marks. Your scribbles get more accurate over time.
It boosts confidence. Seeing that you can capture the essence of a form in scribbles makes drawing feel less intimidating.
Read ‘They Save Us’: Sally Muir on the art of drawing rescue dogs in The Guardian which explains her fascination and background in dog portraiture.
Watch the talented Sally Muir sketch a Scottie dog!
About Sally Muir
Muir(b. 1954) is based in Bath, England, and is a painter of dogs and people and sometimes landscapes, rodents, and birds.
She graduated from Bath Spa School of Art and Design in 2003 with a First Class Honours Degree and has been showing her work ever since.
Artist Sally Muir is a prodigious portrait painter of dogs. Other subjects include human portraits and landscapes, as well as the occasional rodent and bird. For years Muir focused on her knitwear business Muir & Osborne as both a designer and author. With her partner Joanna Osborne, they have published seven knitting pattern books that include Pet Heaven, The Animal Accessory Bible, Best in Show, Knit Your Own Dog, (also Cat, Pet, Zoo, Farm and Dinosaur), and the children’s book Patch’s Grand Dog Show. Ms. Muir returned to university as a mature student with a concentration on Fine Art. Children’s portraits gave way to dog portraits as is evidenced in her 365 Facebook dog-fest “A Dog A Day”. A Dog A Day book based on the series with 365 artworks of dogs — all shapes, sizes, breeds, and mixes — is available through Amazon. Anthropologie, the clothing and décor store has commissioned Muir to create dishes, pillows, wallpaper, and tea towels. A recipient of many awards, Muir's work appears regularly in galleries. She welcomes and enjoys commission work — dogs and humans alike. (Muir’s website)
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