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‘Memory is Creation without End’ 1999, Kimio Tsuchiya Macquarie St, Sydney
Lecturers: Jim Croke and David Horton
Locations: Macquarie Street Sydney and NAS Sculpture Studios, Building 11
As the title implies, the drawings done for this project are to be exclusively about stone. The categories of stone drawing available are the following
1. Natural
2. Architectural
3. Fragments
WHERE? The location for us to begin this exploration is Macquarie Street in the Sydney CBD. The open space at the entrance to the Conservatorium of Music is our meeting point. The range of our wanderings is to be restricted to the stretch of Macquarie Street between the Conservatorium of Music and the Sydney Opera House, including the edge of the Botanical Gardens.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie Street
THE PLAN. We will spend Monday and Tuesday at Macquarie Street and then return to NAS Sculpture Studios on Wednesday and Thursday to develop our sketches into substantial drawings. On site at Macquarie Street we will work small and materials will be limited but at NAS we can work larger and make more ambitious drawings, or a suite of smaller, considered works. Either way the studio work should push the boundaries of what you know.
NATURAL. Drawing stone in nature can be approached in myriad ways. As can be seen in the examples above it can be shown as accurately as possible or as distorted and exaggerated as the artist wants. If the stone formations suggest drama or sensuality for example, emphasis can be used to enhance that response from the viewer.
ARCHITECTURAL. From these examples you can see various types of drawings and photographs of stone buildings. Many artists have exaggerated the tonal variations on structures to enhance the dramatic possibilities. Some of the ornate facades of the buildings in Macquarie Street lend themselves to this. Ink and wash is particularly suitable in this process. As ink is difficult to manipulate this might be best left until we return to NAS. It is possible to move your work towards an expressionistic approach.
John Ruskin sketchbook
Fragments
FRAGMENTS. Near our meeting point there are stone fragments left as an artwork in the park. You can be as inventive with approaching them as you wish. Getting up close will give you a different perspective and an opportunity to draw them from unique angles. Look at drawings and images of ruins from antiquity and try to capture the sense of age, permanence, weight, decay etc. If you respond to them differently then go with that. Remember to capture ideas that can be expanded on back at NAS.
PRACTICALITIES. You will need protection from the sun (blockout, a hat, appropriate clothing). Bring plenty of drinks and food as prices in the city are always at a premium.
Drawing equipment which is of a manageable size is recommended, but not so small as to be inhibiting. A4 minimum. Boards and paper should not be too large. Bring a small folding stool or chair if working on the ground is difficult.
All students must arrive on time at 9.30 am each day to be marked present. All students must sign out at the end of each day.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: In the event of poor weather on the Monday or Tuesday, we will assemble at CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION’S GRAND CONCOURSE. This is the large space with the hanging clock, from which the country platforms are reached.
Lecturers:
Jim Croke and David Horton are lecturers in Sculpture at NAS, with extensive exhibiting careers.
Jim Croke, Fringe of Steel
Dave Horton: Sculpture by the Sea
Margaret Olley Drawing Week 2018 at the National Art School 