Guatemala Art Post
May. 6th, 2010 01:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arrowwhiskersSo I feel like I didn't really keep a representative written journal when I was in Guatemala, but I did keep a decently maintained sketchbook. The two are related, in a way, but I think art has the potential to express a different sort of ambiance or emotion than words might and I think that in this case, that different perspective is worth sharing.
Art held a special importance for me in Guate, for numerous reasons. The country and the landscape and the *people* are simply stunning, and I felt inspired to examine their artistic qualities, and to try to replicate them...all the time, wherever I went. It was like consta-inspiration, of a type I've honestly never had. But drawing was also linked to a sort of a social phenomenon--having a sketchbook and sitting on a bench somewhere and drawing gave me an excuse to spend some time relaxing, passing a lot of time in one spot without necessarily participating in a particular activity, but rather taking in details at my own pace, and enjoying my surroundings. Alex, a friend of mine, also inspired me: she told me that when you draw plants, you pay more attention to the details of how they are constructed, and you begin to see the relationships between species. With that in mind, I began drawing plants. But I also believe that what she said applies to anything--when you try to draw something, you start to consciously pick up on details that would otherwise be subconscious and tenuous. I think when I started to draw Guatemalan scenes, I became more observant to what they entailed. Not to mention that some of the most interesting conversations I had with people started because people approached me while I was sketching, but those might be stories better saved for later.
Everything started when I borrowed a Guatemala guide book from my roommate, and felt this random urge to try to draw one of the photographs. This was how it came out:
It was really fun and rewarding, and I was surprised by the result. After that, I began to draw from life. I'm really unaccustomed to drawing in this sort of style, and I think it shows (especially in pictures of plants and buildings and cars, which I've *really* never drawn before), but I think that you can mostly get the idea anyway. In any case, the following are a selection of my favorites/the most complete. I hope that they in some sense convey Guatemala, or even if they don't, that you like them anyway!
Family in the Park in Antigua
Ice Cream Vendor (Central Park, Antigua)
More Central Park, facing north
Fuente de las Sirenas (Antigua)
Man Sitting (Parque el Calvario, Xela)
Ivy Column, CIRMA Casa 5
Plant, CIRMA Casa 10
Man on Bench (Antigua)
Women Talking
Child Running
Volcano Overlooking the Dock (Santiago Atitlán)--I wasn't sure whether to post this one, I got interrupted while drawing it by the ferry captain, so it's really ephemeral and unfinished...but I like it >>;
Central Park, Antigua: facing west
Cathedral Dome (Ciudad Vieja)
Church Tower (Ciudad Vieja)
Pickup Truck (Jocotenango)
Art held a special importance for me in Guate, for numerous reasons. The country and the landscape and the *people* are simply stunning, and I felt inspired to examine their artistic qualities, and to try to replicate them...all the time, wherever I went. It was like consta-inspiration, of a type I've honestly never had. But drawing was also linked to a sort of a social phenomenon--having a sketchbook and sitting on a bench somewhere and drawing gave me an excuse to spend some time relaxing, passing a lot of time in one spot without necessarily participating in a particular activity, but rather taking in details at my own pace, and enjoying my surroundings. Alex, a friend of mine, also inspired me: she told me that when you draw plants, you pay more attention to the details of how they are constructed, and you begin to see the relationships between species. With that in mind, I began drawing plants. But I also believe that what she said applies to anything--when you try to draw something, you start to consciously pick up on details that would otherwise be subconscious and tenuous. I think when I started to draw Guatemalan scenes, I became more observant to what they entailed. Not to mention that some of the most interesting conversations I had with people started because people approached me while I was sketching, but those might be stories better saved for later.
Everything started when I borrowed a Guatemala guide book from my roommate, and felt this random urge to try to draw one of the photographs. This was how it came out:
It was really fun and rewarding, and I was surprised by the result. After that, I began to draw from life. I'm really unaccustomed to drawing in this sort of style, and I think it shows (especially in pictures of plants and buildings and cars, which I've *really* never drawn before), but I think that you can mostly get the idea anyway. In any case, the following are a selection of my favorites/the most complete. I hope that they in some sense convey Guatemala, or even if they don't, that you like them anyway!
Family in the Park in Antigua
Ice Cream Vendor (Central Park, Antigua)
More Central Park, facing north
Fuente de las Sirenas (Antigua)
Man Sitting (Parque el Calvario, Xela)
Ivy Column, CIRMA Casa 5
Plant, CIRMA Casa 10
Man on Bench (Antigua)
Women Talking
Child Running
Volcano Overlooking the Dock (Santiago Atitlán)--I wasn't sure whether to post this one, I got interrupted while drawing it by the ferry captain, so it's really ephemeral and unfinished...but I like it >>;
Central Park, Antigua: facing west
Cathedral Dome (Ciudad Vieja)
Church Tower (Ciudad Vieja)
Pickup Truck (Jocotenango)
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no subject
Date: 2010-05-06 05:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-06 07:40 am (UTC)You've never drawn before?? Either that's lies, or you're a , a... , well you're defo talented! :D
They are really great, and they really tell a story about Guatemala. Great job, hope you had a great time there.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:06 am (UTC)But thanks so much, I'm glad you liked them. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-05-06 03:08 pm (UTC)I always want to keep a sketchbook while traveling, but end up rushing around too much. Also, I tend to travel with others and I don't want them to have to wait for me to finish drawing something. It's decided! I'm traveling alone this summer and I -will- make sketches! Thank you for the inspiration. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:11 am (UTC)And I definitely think it's worth it; traveling is such an inspiring activity that it's definitely worth capturing certain parts if you have the time and desire. I also believe that being in new places has the ability to change your default ways of expressing the scenes that you're seeing, so art in a particular place, at least potentially, is a very personal and special thing. It can be tough with other people, but you never know, some of your friends might want to join you in sketching :) Some of mine did.
If you do keep a travel sketchbook, you should definitely post some of the results up to LJ--I bet they'd be fantastic :D
no subject
Date: 2010-05-06 03:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-07 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-09 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:14 am (UTC)I also think that I give sort of a biased view, however, because the things I was inclined to draw tended to be tranquil scenes or people just hanging around...because they were the ones that weren't going anywhere or were easier to capture. :P In particular, the park scenes are kind of empty and non-representative because people move through the park so constantly and with such frequency that it's tough to draw the individual interactions over time.
I'm glad you like them, though. Hey btw, when do you graduate? Are you coming home for the summer? Hit me up, if so. :)