The Decisive Moment
Posted: July 12, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 8 CommentsThe French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson was known for his ability to catch “the decisive moment” in his photography. That was the title of the workshop that I took this afternoon with Veronica Lawlor and Jonathon Schmidt. We sketched on Calle Conde – a really crowded pedestrian street. The first 45 minutes were spent observing and doing thumbnail sketches and basically just trying to capture the feeling of the street. Then we had to pick one of our thumbnails and do a drawing that had a story of the street. While I was drawing this group of men gathered around a chess game I noticed that the man on the left was distracted and kept turning around. It took a few minutes before I realized that the group of young female tourists looking in a shop window was far more interesting than the chess game.
Great commentary. Great grouping. Would love to learn how to do this.
That’s why I’m here. I really want to work on the people drawing. It’s an experience of a lifetime Valerie. To be able to draw with groups of people like this from around the world. The amount of talent here is beyond anything I imagined.
Whoa. What a challenge! You have certainly captured this group. Love the shadows under the chair — I know you like shadows — and composition really works well. Even without your commentary I think we could guess what was distracting this fellow. 😉
You figured it out faster than I did. It look me a while to see those girls.
Interesting quick sketching exercise and great opportunity to do your “blind” contours’
as you wouldn’t have a lot of time. Your sketch certainly perks a lot of curiosity as to what
those men are doing! I loved your group of men in Paris where you really captured the moment too. What an exciting experience for you 🙂
It truly is an incredible experience Mary. And I was thinking about the Paris drawing when I did this because the grouping was exactly the same. Some men seated, some standing.
I saw the May article in the Gazette and immediately wanted to take a course with you. I am hoping that can happen in the future. Your paintings are both inspiring and instructional to me but I especially love this section where I get to read your commentaries on what you are doing.
I love your work and I hope to learn more from you in person one day.
Thanks so much Mary. I am learning a lot at this symposium that I hope to take home to my students! I will put you on my mailing lists for workshops.