For this exercise I created lines and marks on folded sheets of A2 paper. The aim was to create these marks while associating them with a particular feeling or emotion. From this I hoped to see what impression is left on the paper including things like the pressure of the medium, the strokes I have used, the number of marks left on the paper and so on.
I have enlarged and enhanced some of the more difficult to see images. You can still click on any of the images to enlarge them further
JOY
Top Left: Willow stick / Top Right: Charcoal Stick, medium weight / Bottom Left: 6B Graphite Stick / Bottom Right: Woodless Charcoal Pencil, soft
For this collection I generally used broader strokes. I found myself wanted to repeat continuously the sensation that I felt when creating lines across the surface. I found this particularly satisfying with the willow stick as you can see from the repeated marks made over and over in the same place. I found a sense of relief as well when the willow stick did not break from the shorter wisps I created toward the top of the drawing. Another occurrence I found myself doing was bowed shapes, curves and circles. Again I think this was just the wanted to repeat smooth lines over and over which I found to be quite joyous.
ANGER
Top Left: Charcoal Stick, medium / Top Right: 3B Pencil / Bottom Left: 4B Pencil / Bottom Right: Willow stick
A common theme with anger was making large erratic strokes across each page often over and over in the same area. I found that I applied more pressure when using pencil as I was aware I could do so without worrying about breaking the lead. As you can see on the top left segment with the charcoal stick, I attempted to see whether or not using it on it’s side would create a sufficient mark and stopped once I realised that anger for me is depicted with harsher more defined lines that appear anywhere on the paper.
CALM
Top Left: 2H Graphite Stick / Top Right: Willow Stick / Bottom Left: 2H Pencil / Bottom Right: Woodless Charcoal Pencil, medium
Calm was done with more simplicity than some of the other mark making I had done in this exercise. The bottom left image has been enhanced below so it is easier to see. The willow stick on the top right is just such a relaxing medium in the way it feels to draw lines across the page as the feedback is smooth and almost silken. I found myself making wave-like lines across the page and generally, being a lot slower when making any of the lines.
I did the same with the pencil here, using long slow curves to leave marks. Feeling calm meant I was in no rush to make these drawings and so this one took me significantly longer to do as each line had it’s own time given to it.
EXCITEMENT
Top Left: Woodless Charcoal Pencil / Top Right: Willow Stick / Bottom Left: Charcoal Stick, soft / Bottom Right: HB Pencil
The last one was the self chosen emotion, where I decided upon excitement as an emotion. With excitement comes a mixture of positive feelings but mostly, a wanting to leave an impression. The line marks are similar to what was left by anger however the pressure given when doing them was much less in this one. I did not feel as though I had to be quite so hard with any of the mediums here yet I wanted to make sure that my feelings were felt long after. The two images on the left felt like an explosion of marks, as though I had been looking forward to doing it for a long time. I must admit I did have to build myself up for this piece as I was curious whether it would be much different to the other pictures I had drawn and I am glad to say that I think it does the emotion I was feeling justice.
This is an enhanced image of the drawing on the bottom right of the paper.Similarly to the left images I had drawn circles with explosions of lines and marks to make the paper stand out more. The bottom right of this particular image does not feel as vibrant and perhaps I felt I had ran out of excitement by this point as it was the last image I drew and I wasn’t feeling it as much with the HB pencil as I was with the other mediums.
Overall I think the exercise was a success. One thing that may have affected a truly communicative drawing on each page was my thought into the medium I was using at the time. I was more curious by choosing a random one from my selection and seeing if I could truly relay that emotion to paper regardless of what medium I was using. Although if I pre-planned the medium that may affect the authenticity of the results afterward. In the future I would perhaps consider as well a different surface for each emotion for example one which a specific medium is difficult to apply and therefore it would frustrate me further giving a more genuine feel of anger on the page.