Monday, May 14, 2007

Mind Trip


A5 W&N heavyweight sketchbook, HB pencil

On a lazy Saturday morning when you're lying in bed, drifting in and out of sleep, there is a space where fantasy and reality become one. Are you awake, or are you dreaming? You see people and things; some are familiar; some are strange. You talk, you feel, but you move without walking; you fly without wings. Your mind and your body exist, but on separate planes. Time stands still. For me, this is the feeling I have when ideas come. - Lynn Johnston - Canadian cartoonist.


I was feeling pretty lethargic this weekend, probably catching up from my Paris trip, and the thought of facing a task or challenge was just a little too much for me to comprehend. Instead, I wanted to drift in the semi-conscious state, with which I had woken, and take advantage of it's warm embrace.


A5 W&N heavyweight sketchbook, pigment liner & watercolour wash

Between the laundry, preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner I fell willing hostage to my sofa, sketchbook and pen in hand, I travelled without moving, creating places in my mind and imagining the lives of the characters who dwelled there.


A5 W&N heavyweight sketchbook, pigment liner & watercolour wash

Snippets of faraway farms and colourless streetlamps came to me and I transferred them onto my page until their mental image faded before moving onto the next. No rules, barriers, references or dictated palette, I simply drifted into the depths of my mind and allowed myself to enjoy every moment of the trip!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Far out! Are you sure you were only on coffee that day? ;)

Nina Johansson said...

Cool! I wish I was better at drawing from my imagination... actually, it´s one of the goals in my 2007 Art plan. I used to do it a lot when I was younger, but the habit kind of disappeared over the years. I´m working on it, though.
Very nice drawings!

Kunya said...

These are realy great and inspiring. Wow..how good are you on drawing from your imagination. Wonderful.

Anita Davies said...

LOL!...You see what caffeine addiction can do to you Dave!

Anita Davies said...

Thanx Nina.
I've never classed myself as much of an imaginary sketcher, I always used references before I started my sketchbooks last year. However, imagination sessions reveal to me how much I have observed, learned, mentally filed while on my little art trips sketching from life and can often be a real eye opener!

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou so much Kunya!

juj said...

These are absolutely amazing! Your imaginary world is so lush and real. Thanks for letting us visit!

Lynn said...

That's pretty awesome! I find it hard to draw from imagination so I really admire you for this.

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

Lovely job..better write down who lives there so you can illustrate your book with these:>

Anonymous said...

Disneyland plays with the imagination. Hearing those songs over and over again will do something similar. Glad that you had an enjoyable trip. Fun to see your drawing on both blogs. Not sure the difference in the two, but I ended up here. Keep dancing your pen across the paper Anita

caseytoussaint said...

This is impressive - I have a terrible time drawing anything I can't see.

Serena Lewis said...

These are amazing, Anita! Maybe I should take up drinking coffee again... ;)

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou juj...you're welcome anytime! :)

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Lynn!

Anita Davies said...

LOL...Thanx Margaret! ;)

Anita Davies said...

Hi Robin, thanks for popping in and leaving your mark!
This blog is mostly studio works and my other one is for locations: holidays/trips with my sketchbooks in tow! ;)

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Casey.
I used to be exactly the same but since working regularly with my sketchbooks I seem to be able to draw from a memory bank when sketching from imagination now. Another plus I have noticed from this constant sketch frenzy...It is proving more useful than I ever imagined it would.

Anita Davies said...

LOL..Serena I highly recommend it, would probably stop dead and fall into a coma without it! ;)

Anonymous said...

You know, looking at these sketches gives me a whole new admiration for your work. To be able to look into your mind and find these little views is the sign of a wonderfully detailed imagination that I wish I possessed. I just love looking at your blog and the beautiful work that you post. And the fact that you can get so mnay pieces done in a day or a week makes me think I need to manage my time better!

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou so much Phthaloblu. I've been quite surprised by my recent mind trips too, they have been great fun and I think they have shown me how much I have opened my mind since I started my passion with my sketchbooks.