Flow of Life – 18-07-24

Born from Pure Intuition

This pastel drawing ‘Flow of Life – 18-07-24’ is a piece born from pure intuition. Inspired by a beautiful 1930s picture taken by Walter Bird. You see, I had it in me to kickstart sketching again after a tedious job I had to complete. Last month I was busy changing my permalinks on my website. That was a lot of work and I hope it’ll work for the better. Such a drag and I realize these kind of tasks weren’t bestowed upon artists in the past. So much for Van Gogh who only had to throw a couple of paintings on a train to Theo. Then he could get his leg over with some public ladies in Arles. Enough complaints! I have the internet, a daylight lamp, toilet paper, cold and hot water and a ton of reference pictures.

On a Whim

After the last one I wanted take up my pastels. Upon my word, what a wonderful medium it is and remains! Actually, on a whim I decided to make something out of Walter’s photo. That was yesterday around 5 PM, two hours before I am about to teach at Brugman Art in Voorburg. Last pastel drawings I began there on a Wednesday. However, this time I thought it would be more comfortable to start the pastel in my own studio. No need to transport it by car back home. Didn’t mind measuring out things too much. Instead I trusted the flow. The beginning was quite easy because I was heavily attracted by the gesture of the hands. Somehow I suspect Walter Bird had his model pose as if the hands flow like hair flows.

Without any effort

Or could it be that it’s just my own interpretation? We’ll never know since he passed away in 1969, my year of birth. Anyway, that’s my interpretation of it all. Delving further into the matter I let this idea of flow marinate a bit more. Letting go of all cumbersome website activities I got into a flow state really. Many artists know these state of mind. Athletes know it as the zone. Hence, the title ‘Flow of Life’.  To conclude this art statement, in the past I faced many difficulties in the creational process. Often artists have to come up with solutions in a dead-lock situation or anxiously looking for a ‘hook’. Not this time. The pastel almost seemed to arrive in one go without any effort.

Pastel drawing on Canson Mi-Teintes (50 x 65 x 0.1 cm)

Artist: Corné Akkers