The power went out here for a while last night. Its always so weird, isn't it? We've all become so completely dependent on our electricity. I was sitting at my drawing table when it happened, and just sat there in the total blackness for a minute before I realized I should get up and light a candle or something.
After stumbling about and finding the drawer with Christmas candle rejects ("these will be good for when the power goes out" candles, the too sparkly ones or broken Santa ones or 'I just don't like them' ones), and matches, and the flashlight, I had us lit up and in working order.
(And on a side note, why are people compelled to go to outside and make whooping noises when the light go out? The Beavis and Butthead guys across the street wasted no time at all. "Dude, are ALL the lights out? In the whole world? heh-heh heh-heh" Good lord.)
Anyway, it all got me thinking about working by candlelight. I ended up getting out some knitting, so I did OK. But if I really had to get some art done, I've have been up a crick. How did all the artists down through time do it? The light is dim (even if you have a whole bunch of candles going) and colors are harder to judge. I work with two art lamps over my board, and each of them have a flourescent and incandescent bulb in them to balance the light. If I only have the incandescent ones on the color is very warm and yellowy. So with only candles, can you imagine? I guess this is where all that gorgeous Old Master lighting comes from.
The other thing I was wondering about is all you people who work digitally. At least people like me who do it the old fashioned way could still conceivably put a piece of art together, but if the power goes out, you guys are in trouble! Has it every happened? Have you been on deadline and had the power go out and left you high and dry? I was feeling very thankful last night that I didn't have any deadlines looming because I would not have wanted to try to finish up my art with candles only!
I actually really love candlelight, and also, when the power is out, its so nice and quiet. No humming appliances or blaring music or anything like that. But its just so danged hard to see.
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By: Paula Pertile,
on 10/20/2008
Blog: Drawing a Fine Line (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Paula Pertile,
on 10/20/2008
Blog: Drawing a Fine Line (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: working in the dark, candlelight, power outage, Add a tag
5 Comments on working by candlelight, last added: 10/24/2008
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Hello! I'm new to your blog :)
Just thought I'd answer your question. I do my own 'traditional' art on the side, but I work from home as a graphic artist/animator. And YEP the power goes out once or twice a month here. And only if I'm on the tightest of deadlines! It usually also means that I haven't saved in a while so I end up even more behind (I'm terrible at saving!)
But, having said that, when it does happen, I'm all, "Well, if I CAN'T work, then I'll just have to go paint/draw something" and it really isn't so bad!!
I think my boss thinks I make up my power cuts though...
Love your work, by the way!!
Hi Paula,
Your post makes me think of the expression: "can't hold a candle to..." In case you didn't know, here is some trivia for the day: The expression comes from a time when apprentices used to hold candles to light the work that a master artist or craftsman was doing. Of course what is implicit in the saying is that the person is not even worthy to hold the light for a certain person.
And yes, candlelight is quite lovely and yes quite impossible to work by - how do you see the colours indeed?! Last spring during Earth hour we turned off our lights and lit candles. I thought I was going to torch myself or at least singe my hair as I tried to work with oodles of candles around me. Definitely had that old Master glow happening though! :-)
When my power goes out, I cannot work on my computer as usual. Instead I like to go outside and act like an idiot.
I've had the power cut out while on deadline more than once. I have several, bright, battery operated lanterns just for the studio. It isn't anywhere close to my normal lighting, but it makes at least some work possible. Especially if it's still light outside.
The more problematic part is that the power generally only goes off in cold weather so that my hands get chilly (and therefore non-facile) which makes it also quite hard to work.
I am new colored pencil artist and new to CPSA. I have has so much fun visiting members links. I love your work and your blog. I'll be back to visit again. I love your step by step illustration. I am soaking it all in.
Karol :0)
http://coloredpencilartbykarol.blogspot.com