I think this business of etymology is a bit of a red herring. Drawing as to
pull, extract, attract etc is from Old Norse, Old Fresian whereas drawing as
in making marks is from the Latin trahere. Which have all come together in
English to confuse. I think this is all spiralling out of control. As the
lady said "a rose is a rose is a rose" and as the gentleman said "a rose by
any other name would smell as sweet".
For me the language of art/drawing is the strength, depth, density of the
marks, lines, textures and the space used to create an image. The quality,
success or otherwise of any drawing is in the artists' ability to combine
these.
Children draw stick figures of their mothers (generally) because she is the
most important 'thing' in their lives. The fact that they are awkward stick
like creations is because their motor ability is very unsure, their brains
are being overwhelmed and bombarded with new images so they take the
simplest route and draw the absolute essence of what they see: the most
important being a large head with a big smile.
Rachel
On 28/7/05 11:53 am, "Tom McGuirk" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I find this aspect of the discussion (regarding the etymology of the word
> "drawing") of some interest. For those of us who struggle with
> our drawings, the notion of drawing imagery out of the chaos of our visual
> environment onto, or up to, the surface of our page, seems
> appropriate. It is important not to get too parochial about language though,
> Heidegger casts some light on the idea of struggle in making
> imagery in his discussion of the German word "riß" which I understand, as a
> noun includes among its many meanings - a drawing, but
> also refers to a rift or a breach. Referring to that consummate German
> drawer; Durer, Heidegger uses this link to talk about the strife-
> ridden aspects of making in art/drawing as in wresting, pulling (as in the
> English "drawing") and even (in terms of Gestalt), tearing and
> breaking open a space. In this I think of Frank Auerbach's drawings.
>
> With regard to the debate around the idea of drawing as language I am somewhat
> suspicious, as in my career as a lecturer in fine art the
> assertion of drawing as a language was mostly used in political terms to
> counter the dominance in higher education of exclusively
> linguistically bases models of knowledge, (in the context of the phenomenon of
> academic drift in art education) . Drawing is for me
> simply that; drawing, a practice older than language and every bit as valid.
> The whole current debate around the validity of practice
> based research degrees and PhD.'s in higher education in fine art is
> depressingly mired in such apologetic language and stance. -
>
> Dr. Tom McGuirk ANCAD BA. Fine Art, PhD.
> Vulkangade 7 st. th.
> 2200 Copenhagen N. Denmark
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Katherine Beck Whittemore" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Drawing as Language.
> Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 19:55:22 -0400
>
>>
>> I find it difficult to abstract from these words my personal association
>> of 'well' as likened to a depth of knowledge. That's what hits me first.
>> So I consider 'drawing from' as extracting from a depth beneath the
>> surface in order (in my case) to reach and expose the surface of the
>> work -- like swimming up from a depth -- because my paintings and
>> drawings are about surface and the audience's reaction to it. The result
>> of the depth is brought to the surface, and actually becomes the
>> surface.
>>
>> -Kate Beck
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: The UK drawing research network mailing list
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Haley
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 6:22 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Drawing as Language.
>>
>> Getting warm ... look at the Old English - draught and a myriad of
>> possibilties and metaphors open up.
>>
>> David
>>
>> On 27 Jul 2005, at 00:48, Mike Metcalfe wrote:
>>
>>> I like this one! (drawing from a well) because it makes you ask why
>> the
>>> same word is used, what is drawing. The dictionary lists numerous
>> types
>>> of drawing. As in, PICTURE, MOVE, ATTRACT, PULL, CHOOSE, EQUAL, MAKE,
>>> TAKE OUT, USE, INTO, CAUSE, MONEY...
>>>
>>> I assume they all about 'taking out' so picturing would be taking out of
>>> a scene enough lines and shapes to recognise whatever. With water you
>>> are taking out the drink from the hole.
>>>
>>> mike
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: The UK drawing research network mailing list
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rachel Pearcey
>>> Sent: Wednesday, 27 July 2005 4:57 AM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: Drawing as Language.
>>>
>>> What about drawing water from a well?
>>>
>> David Haley BA(Hons) MA FRSA
>>
>> Research Fellow
>> MA Art As Environment Programme Leader
>> SEA: Social & Environmental Arts Research Centre (MIRIAD)
>> Manchester Metropolitan University
>> Postgraduate Research Centre
>> Cavendish North Building, Cavendish Street,
>> Manchester M15 6 BY
>>
>> Tel: +44 (0)161 247 1093
>> Fax: +44 (0)161 2476870
>>
>> "Before acting on this email or opening any attachments you
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>
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