So how do you measure progress with art?   This is a question that Ph.D. theses can be written, in fact I can imagine some prospective don beavering away into the small hours high in a dreaming spire some where doing just this.   This digression doesn’t help but it amused me.  Anyway back to the question.  I suppose the first thing to say is progress assumes that the  previous work was worse than the later or vice versa.  In short some measurable, quantifiable change.  But is this enough?

Well for me at the moment it is.  I suppose I started this whole ‘art’ project with one goal in mind – to improve my drawing skills to such an extent that I can produce a reasonable likeness.   I have no illusions about becoming a professional artist but rather some potterer happy to make pictures that please me.  I have no great message for the world, no deep down feelings I want to express through my art.  I just what to be able to draw to a standard I won’t feel embarrassed about.  Against this limited objective I am clearly measuring progress showing progress – I think.

The three drawings demonstrate this.  The first is a digital painting I created using Photoshop.  It was created in August and is rather lifeless.  The last two were produced over this weekend and to my eye are starting to develop a style and character that gives me pleasure.  I feel I am making progress and this is what is driving me forward.
 

Simon Marchini LRPS

Web: http://WWW.simonmarchini.co.uk

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