ART FOCUS
Why Do You Draw The Nude?

By Joseph Anthony Pearson

As an artist, I have been asked this question many times over the years; and the question comes from both artists and laymen. My answer is first, I appreciate the beauty of the human form, male, female, tall, small, lean, round, muscular, soft, pregnant, young, elderly, wrinkled, smooth, white, black and everything in between. They are all beautiful, all creations of God. Secondly, as a visual artist, I know that there is a wealth of knowledge to be gained from studying the nude form.

The underlying motive I am given for the question is that the nude is seen as vulgar and offensive. My appreciation of the human form encompasses the concept that the human figure is the most complex of all forms in nature; and because we are human, it has served as a major inspiration for artists throughout history as a way of communicating that which is human in all of us—the human condition. The ancient Greeks saw the nude as the sum total of human beauty. Whatever God made was good and, therefore, knowledge of it was good. I appreciate the beauty of the human form because we are all God’s creation and all that He made is good and worthy of appreciation.

There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained through the study of the nude form. Life drawings are immediate and true, not air brushed media creations meant to sell a product through sexual suggestions. Throughout the history of art, modern and ancient, the study of the nude has been an integral part of the rigorous training of visual artists, painters and sculptors in particular. There is no eye-hand coordination exercise as effective as life drawing. It hones an artist’s skill in all areas, whether a sculptor or painter. When I draw, my mind physically shifts gears. It is like putting together a puzzle and seeing how every part fits together. It involves assessing proportions, values, perspective, quality of line and light. There is nothing erotic about life drawing. A good model knows how to hold a pose that offers varying perspectives, shifting of weight, fore- hortening and drama.

Did you know the following? The human body is roughly seven times the height of its head. The face can be divided into thirds with the bottom of the nose resting on the top of the lower third and most ears set on a line level with the eyes. The arm span is the same as the height of the model. Most fingertips reach mid-thigh when relaxed along the standing body. The foot is the same length as the inside of the arm between wrist and the bend at the elbow. There are a host of fascinating facts relating to the human form.

Many artists begin study of the nude with gesture drawings. These are quickly drawn sketches that attempt to capture movement and proportion rather than representational correctness. They are designed to help you learn to “see” what the subject is telling about positions of limbs, shapes of body parts, connections of limbs on torso and general “construction” of the human form. They are done in around 30 seconds and are usually not finished works, although many are strikingly beautiful in both economy of detail and the emotional energy they convey. Artists study the human form and human anatomy in order to learn how to draw it and represent it realistically. If you do not understand specifically how the muscles and bones work in coordination with each other and the body’s alignment then you will not be able to draw it (with or without clothes with the correct proportions). Clothing also brings additional details that can add distraction to a figure and also dates the image.

What is it about drawing nudes that make people raise their eyebrows, snicker or gasp and take offense? As mentioned, the ancient Greeks saw the nude as the sum total of human beauty. However, with the passing of the pagan world, there began the Christian concept of man, son of Adam, who was conceived and born in sin. This was reflected in the artistic representation of the human figure by a new degree of shame and self-consciousness. Today this attitude is aggravated by the onslaught of sexually suggestive images in popular culture and the media. We have only to look at what society accepts in daytime soap operas, music videos, the language and on the big screen. All of this is taken in by the public without a balanced perspective from the artist’s point of view. My intent here is was to offer that perspective.

Drawing is the handmaiden of the arts, the basis of all eventual understanding of every form of painting, including abstract, figure, landscape, et cetera. I draw the nude because I appreciate the beauty of the human form and to gain valuable knowledge that allows me to draw everything else accurately, and to encourage an appreciation of the human form artistically interpreted.

About the Author: Joseph Anthony Pearson is a New Orleans artist and resident at River Oaks Arts Center. Visit him on the web at www.thepeoplepainter.com.

Postcards from Rome

Two bodies of work will be on exhibit from Leesville artist Tony McDonald during the month of July at Gallery One E111even in Leesville. Coming off the very successful “New Member’s Exhibit” in June, Gallery One E111even will present “Postcards from Rome” and “Deconstructions” opening Saturday July 5th and running until July 31st.

“Postcards” presents loose and airy large scale charcoal and pastel drawings and traditional watercolor of the architecture and landscape in and around Rome. The work comes from McDonald’s several visits to Rome in the past few years. “Deconstructions” takes a very different tilt on two dimensional work. McDonald builds a palette from color reproductions of his own watercolor and acrylic paintings, drawings and photographs, mixes them with commercial magazine covers and photography to create paper collages of interesting and introspective overlaying images.

Gallery One E111even is located in the Historic District of Downtown Leesville and will present an opening reception for this exhibit on Saturday, July 5th at 7:00pm. The reception is open to the public. Gallery One E111even is open Wednesday – Saturday from 11:00am until 4:00pm. Information concerning the gallery, schedules, and all represented artist’s work can be seen at galleryoneellleven.org.

By Maggie Jarrett

The Arts Council of Central Louisiana will host Dimensions in Blue, the jazz ensemble from the United States Air Force Band of the West, in concert on Saturday, August 9th at 7:00pm at the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center. The performance is free of charge and open to the public.

This group performs a wide variety of music ranging from the classics of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Woody Herman, to the more contemporary sounds of Rob McConnell, Bob Mintzer and Frank Mantooth. The band can also recreate the look and sound of the 1940s Glenn Miller Army Air Corps Jazz Band in a faithful reproduction of the World War II era.

Dimensions in Blue performs in communities throughout Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Louisiana and has been featured at the Texas Jazz Festival, the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention, the Corpus Christi Jazz Festival, the Galveston Jazz Festival, and San Antonio’s “Fiesta in Blue” activities.

Tickets are free and may be obtained at the box office one hour before the performance and in advance by calling (318) 484-4474.

The Queen of Roads

By Professor Roy de Ville

The other day, I read that Pope Benedict XVI was visiting in Brindisi, Italy. He had gone there to celebrate an outdoor Mass in that ancient city on the heel of the Italian "boot," at the port of Brindisi. In his message to the people of the city, he reiterated his plea for cooperation and peace among the people of the world, especially in the Middle East. Later that afternoon, Pope Benedict visited the new Brindisi-Ostuni Seminary, officially named for him on that day in his honor. It intrigued me that this new seminary represented many years of work toward its establishment and not a small struggle to raise funds for its construction. I also found it interesting that Brindisi had been chosen as the site for this new seat of learning.

Brindisi is an ancient city made famous largely by its port, a major gateway to the East. Perhaps even more than Venice, Brindisi was the "jumping-off point" for many voyages, some more successful than others. Vergilius (Virgil) died in Brindisi. Legend has it that both Peter and Paul left from the port of Brindisi on their missionary journeys to Rome.

Ever see the movie, ‘Spartacus’? In that film, Kirk Douglas tells his troops that they would head to the Roman city of Brundisium, where ships would be waiting to take them safely home to Greece. Both history and Hollywood prove that Spartacus was on the losing end of this trek. No ships were waiting and Spartacus was killed. His route from Rome to Brindisi however, took him along the Via Appia, the Appian Way, that, in that day, wound a path from Rome to the Brindisi port. And what he found at the end of that route was a road lined with the crucified bodies of those who tangled with the Romans.

Brindisi is steeped in Roman history. The Appian Way winds along from Rome, through Southern Italy, ending at the port of this ancient city. Many are familiar with the catacombs that line this road just outside Rome as well as the spot where Peter made his decisive return to Rome and eventual martyrdom. Along with the history and Scriptural reference, the Appian Way at its beginning also boasts some excellent restaurants!

A segment of the end of this road still exists today. About two miles of it is now paved and has become the main thoroughfare of Brindisi. Two Roman columns, one complete and one with only a portion remaining, mark its end at the harbor on the Adriatic. There is an archeological site nearby at Ignazia that also exhibits a portion of the Appian Way.

It is interesting to imagine the bustling activity along the Appian Way and the city of Brindisi during ancient times. The road was witness to both the glory and the gore of the Roman Empire. But ancient Rome isn't the only society whose achievement and at times, disgrace took place along this route. There is a legend of a medieval bishop who, on his deathbed, laments his role in one of that civilization's greatest atrocities. The composer, Gian-Carlo Menotti, retells the legend in his cantata, The Bishop of Brindisi. This was the same bishop who instigated the Children's Crusade, in which thousands of children embarked from the port of Brindisi to meet their cruel fate on crusade to restore Christianity to the East.

So many stories to tell, if only the Appian Way could recount them for us today. And on lazy summer days, we can let our imaginations run with the information that history (and Hollywood!) has left us. Contemplating Brindisi and the Appian Way led me to think of Alexandria. We too have become a port city, a crossroads in this place we call Louisiana. The Port of Alexandria provides for the bringing of coal and other natural resources into our region. Heavy equipment, needed both for construction and the use of our military, finds its way here through our port. We now have an international airport from which one can embark to many distant places. We have expanded our highway connecting Alexandria with Leesville and Fort Polk. We too are a seat of learning with three academic institutions located nearby. All of these achievements serve to designate Alexandria as a progressive and growing city. How we use our growth and progress will determine how we are viewed by those who will follow us. In many ways, we also could be an Appian Way, connecting us to the activities of our society and providing a port to the distant points of our world. A look at history provides us the opportunity to use what is good and discard what is not. Even in our small part of the world, we can see ourselves in the unfolding tapestry of civilization, learn from it, and seek to better it.

Photography Travel Tips

By Greg Mayo

So you're going on a trip this summer, eh? Well first off, congratulations for having enough money to buy gas! You'll obviously want to take pictures, so let's help you get ready.

Give your camera a checkup. Make sure it's in good working order. Wipe it down and look it over for damage that looks menacing. Clean the lens with a soft cloth or brush. Take a few test shots and check them on you computer. If all is well, the camera should be ready to go.

Make sure you have all your stuff like lenses, batteries, filters and such. Pack a couple of soft rags to wipe down your camera if you get caught in the rain or plan to ride Space Mountain. Pack a couple of sealing plastic sandwich bags. On the day you go to Sea World or rent a catamaran, put your camera and your cards in one and put the bag in your case. Cases are supposed to be waterproof, but…

Clean off your storage cards. Transfer everything to your computer and format the cards. You might even go buy another one or two. You want to have as much storage as you possibly can. The last thing you want to do is run out of space just when Little Billy sees his first crab on the beach.

Consider purchasing rechargeable batteries. And get extra…lots extra. Recharging is much cheaper and better for the environment. Charge them at night and you'll always be ready to go. But, keep one pack of the regular batteries in your bag, just in case you forget to charge. Speaking of forgetting, don't forget to pack the charger.

Go to the dollar store and buy a small notebook, preferably not spiral so it doesn't scratch your gear. Why? You can jot down notes, so when you get back you don't have to wonder where you shot that cute picture of Little Susie with the snow cone in her lap.

Most importantly, have a good trip! And if you want to read past Photography Focus articles, visit www.gregmayo.com.