Simplification : Micro lesson and Sketchbook Project.
A Micro lesson in abstraction by one of the last modern artist.
Helllooo! I’m Adam Ming,
Once a week I send you a FREE letter that has a Micro-lesson, and a Sketchbook project that you can work on for the whole week (10 minutes a day). Horay!
It’s 100% Free. And there’s an upgrade to get ALL the THINGS - For example, this week’s Drawing Live Workshop with
, more details at the end…Micro-lesson from Picasso
These series of Lithographs by Picasso tell their own story.
It is said that in making these works Picasso was searching for the idea of a bull. Starting from an academic interpretation of a bull, first exaggerated then simplified it to the famous final form.
I invite you to wonder with me at what Picasso was thinking about with each iteration.
I wonder if the progression was intuitive or thoughtfully calculated.
Sketchbook Project: Forced Simplification
Use any subject, or the seven provided below.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F605e557b-dafc-4254-bc21-18bc7682a8ed.avif)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8409af8-cb11-49ea-a6e4-72c5e6a29a66.avif)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6cecb1a3-781d-4fdf-9342-eee391f5f613.avif)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafae85dc-5b78-413f-870b-2fd88f6f580c.avif)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F31a1cb16-3af4-4711-be94-6629174bfa3f.avif)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fef83b6e6-8c92-4d3c-8da2-33e4425e1742.avif)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96cc1123-4930-4a59-9c71-0b8873ee782d.avif)
You will need your timer.
Each day pick a subject.
Set a timer for 4 minutes, draw the subject.
Then set it for 2 minutes, draw the subject again. (You can use a different page, or divide your spread into 4)
Now set the timer for 1 minute. Draw the subject.
Bonus: If you still have time, study the 3 images you made. Make a fourth that captures the essence of the subject using the other 3 drawing as inspiration.
Share your your drawing here:
Ps: On Wednesday I’ll be cohosting another live drawing workshop on Zoom with Katie Stack, if you’re a paid subscriber, you can register for that here.
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