In Bob Dylan's "Highlands", the narrator (presumably Dylan himself) wanders into a restaurant in Boston. He is the only customer; the only other person there is the waitress.
She says, "I know you're an artist, draw a picture of me."
He responds: "I would if I could, but I don't do sketches from memory."
Then she chides him, "I'm right here in front of you," but he continues to hedge.
Some would argue that all drawing (and writing and other creative and re-creative work) is done from memory. After all, any thought, feeling or other experience becomes past--i.e., memory--the moment it happens.
I, too, have been asked to draw from memory and "in the moment". I, too, find ways to hem, haw, hedge and politely decline. Long ago, I realized that I am not that sort of artist: When I displayed my sketches and paintings, I got a ticket for littering.
OK, so I made up that last story. But, even with the meager talent I have for such things, I might have continued to paint and draw--from memory--had I known what has been confirmed in many studies: Most people don't do any better than I did. In fact, most do worse.
That point was illustrated (pardon the pun) once again when, a few years ago, an Italian designer Gianluca Gemini asked people to draw men's (diamond-frame) bikes from memory. Most of their renditions bore, at best, only a passing (pun alert!) resemblance to anything anybody rode down the strada or through the piazza. Recently, he decided to render some of those drawings into lifelike 3D pictures.
The participants in Gemini's study ranged in age from three to 88 and lived in seven different countries. Across those generational and cultural divides, Gemini found some patterns, especially among genders. For example, men tended to overcomplicate the frame when they realize they are not drawing it properly.
I want to meet the dude who came up with that. What I find ironic is that for all of its sharp geometric lines--as if it were designed by Mondrian on crack cocaine--it actually looks good with "moustache" bars. Also, the brown leather seat and handlebar tape lend it a certain elegance.
Speaking of elegant, here is a bike that reflects a female pattern
Interestingly, most of the front wheel-drive bikes (the ones with the chains and gears attached the front wheel) were drawn by women. Gemini can't (or doesn't) offer an explanation.
I very much like that bike--at least, its looks. Had I more space and money, I'd have it made and use it for a wall hanging. Heck, I might even ride it. Put a Brooks brown saddle on it, and very few bikes would be lovelier.
Here's another bike from Gemini's study that caught my eye:
I mean, how can you not love a bike with track gearing, two fork assemblies, a wheelbase longer than the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge--and that yellow flag!
All right, I'll admit: I really like the color: a sort of periwinkle/lavender blue. If you've been reading this blog, surely, you're not surprised.
Gemini's participants also came from a wide variety of occupations, including students and retirees. Professional or employment status--or lack thereof--seemed to have little or no bearing on how realistic or whimisical participants' drawings came out. The most "unintelligible" drawing, according to Gemini, was made by a doctor. I wonder whether he or she is a surgeon!
She says, "I know you're an artist, draw a picture of me."
He responds: "I would if I could, but I don't do sketches from memory."
Then she chides him, "I'm right here in front of you," but he continues to hedge.
Some would argue that all drawing (and writing and other creative and re-creative work) is done from memory. After all, any thought, feeling or other experience becomes past--i.e., memory--the moment it happens.
I, too, have been asked to draw from memory and "in the moment". I, too, find ways to hem, haw, hedge and politely decline. Long ago, I realized that I am not that sort of artist: When I displayed my sketches and paintings, I got a ticket for littering.
OK, so I made up that last story. But, even with the meager talent I have for such things, I might have continued to paint and draw--from memory--had I known what has been confirmed in many studies: Most people don't do any better than I did. In fact, most do worse.
That point was illustrated (pardon the pun) once again when, a few years ago, an Italian designer Gianluca Gemini asked people to draw men's (diamond-frame) bikes from memory. Most of their renditions bore, at best, only a passing (pun alert!) resemblance to anything anybody rode down the strada or through the piazza. Recently, he decided to render some of those drawings into lifelike 3D pictures.
The participants in Gemini's study ranged in age from three to 88 and lived in seven different countries. Across those generational and cultural divides, Gemini found some patterns, especially among genders. For example, men tended to overcomplicate the frame when they realize they are not drawing it properly.
I want to meet the dude who came up with that. What I find ironic is that for all of its sharp geometric lines--as if it were designed by Mondrian on crack cocaine--it actually looks good with "moustache" bars. Also, the brown leather seat and handlebar tape lend it a certain elegance.
Speaking of elegant, here is a bike that reflects a female pattern
Interestingly, most of the front wheel-drive bikes (the ones with the chains and gears attached the front wheel) were drawn by women. Gemini can't (or doesn't) offer an explanation.
I very much like that bike--at least, its looks. Had I more space and money, I'd have it made and use it for a wall hanging. Heck, I might even ride it. Put a Brooks brown saddle on it, and very few bikes would be lovelier.
Here's another bike from Gemini's study that caught my eye:
I mean, how can you not love a bike with track gearing, two fork assemblies, a wheelbase longer than the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge--and that yellow flag!
All right, I'll admit: I really like the color: a sort of periwinkle/lavender blue. If you've been reading this blog, surely, you're not surprised.
Gemini's participants also came from a wide variety of occupations, including students and retirees. Professional or employment status--or lack thereof--seemed to have little or no bearing on how realistic or whimisical participants' drawings came out. The most "unintelligible" drawing, according to Gemini, was made by a doctor. I wonder whether he or she is a surgeon!
