Developing Your Painting Memory

    " I have often thought of an art school where the model might hold the pose in one room and the work might be done in another. The pupils would have their places in both rooms, one for observation and the other for work. The pupil could return to the model room for information. In getting the information he could view the model from his place or could walk about and get an all-around concept; he could also make any sketches he might desire to make – for information ­– but these drawings are not to be carried into the work room. Into this room he only carries what he knows."

                                                                                                                                        Robert Henri    The Art Spirit

The first time I read this, it was frightening to me. So I went out and started trying to draw and paint from memory. If I was in a cafe, I would start drawing someone and immediately they would move so I would try and finish the drawing from memory. The more I did this, the better I got. When I am on location and I see a figure that I want to put into my painting, instead of taking my camera out, I put my brush down and just try to paint the figure in my head. I then quickly pick up my brush and put it into the painting.

I apply the Robert Henri principle in my figure class on Friday mornings. The drawing on the left was done from memory. I just looked at the model for about 5 minutes and then I turned around and sketched the figure from memory. The figure next to it on the bottom was done by looking at the model. The other figure drawings are quick 20 minutes demos.

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