DARE TO BE WILD! / Issue #2
RHYTHM --- HOW IT MOVES YOU (IN YOUR ART AND LIFE)

PRACTICES

#1.  MAKING GESTURES INSPIRED BY THE BEAT AND RHYTHM OF MUSIC

Materials:  artist sketchbook, preferably 9 x 12", 9B graphite drawing pencil or black charcoal, paint or ink
Time:  10 a 15 minutes 

Great practice to loosen up by making marks or gestures arising from feelings inside the body in response to different beats, rhythms and music.  This practice is also good for strengthening intuitive expression.  

 Be in a comfortable place, relaxed and ready with sketchbook open and drawing implement in hand.    Click on one of the links below.  Listen for the beat, the rhythm and the melody as appropriate.  Close eyes and begin to move and draw to the beat or melody.  Feel the beat and the melody and express each spontaneously through sensing, movement and drawing.  Listen and draw for about one minute.   

Repeat the above but click on a different music link.   

Compare the experience of the first and second.  Describe the response to each and how it felt in the body and in the expression.  Which one resonated?   

Continue to repeat this practice 3 or 4 more times.   

Did the music stimulate, inhibit the drawing expression?  Describe what the drawing experience was in response to the rhythm.  Notice how music can affect an outcome naturally.  

Links for rhythm and music: 

 Bobby McFerrin 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Klct4PnfzDk 

African drum music  
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FOY9fLm3eYI 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqs3CevZjKs 

Marching band  
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0gcHZqGVk2A 

Bach  
 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0FdNlhZAYBE. Violin 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pEQ5B63aSXQ  
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-jZl8q2SihM. Flute 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tOc6I7rxAO8 oboe 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bqFD9KP9e68 chamber 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G7B-q8_aTA4 sonatas 

 Handel  
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cnn3TVBDtcA water music 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1NNy289k6Oc hallelujah 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8NNr8GR6VNU. Flute 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uIzgayrp7gE trumpet 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CThdM4Il0Xs 

Chopin 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I3rAZpXkKLg 

Two cellos 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XleaVcy4he8 . Vivaldi 

Flamenco guitar 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9c7JHsDyv2w 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h_SxWClCwcU 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pKoEh2W-rYM 

 James Galloway 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M8SWRRT_nq8 wind beneath my wings 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EDMp5xJh0s4 flight of the bumblebee 
 

#2 lines into movement 

Materials:  artist sketchbook, preferably 9 x 12", 9B graphite drawing pencil,  charcoal, paint or ink
Time:  10 a 15 minutes

This practice is good for creating personal rhythms.  A beat could be seen in drawing as the length, thickness or placement of lines in relation to each other or to the page. The best is a series of repeating markswhile a rhythm is a beat with variation.)

Be in a comfortable place, relaxed and ready with sketchbook open and drawing implement in hand.   With groups oflines create a beat with the lines on the paper.  With groups oflines create a rhythm. 

Now add lines and circle to create a beat.  Then using lines and circles create a rhythm.  Finally, take the beats and the rhythms and place them on the page in such a way as they move and flow across the page to express the beat/rhythm of the marks themselves. 

#3 Inspired rhythm

Materials:  artist sketchbook, preferably 9 x 12", 9B graphite drawing pencil, charcoal, oil pastels, paint, ink
Time:  45 - 60 minutes

This is an exercise to respond to something that inspires and integrate it anew. 

Find an artist whose work using rhythm is inspirational.  Study their rhythm, their marks and strokes, or the repeating varied pattern.  Let their work inspire you;  improvise and elaborate on their way of expression as a starting point for expressing an interpretation or response to their rhythm. 

#4 life's rhythms

Materials:  artist sketchbook, preferably 9 x 12", pen or pencil
Time:   10 a 15 minutes

This is an exercise to explore inwardly.

Jot down all the rhythms that are in your own life and how they impact you.  Especially note, the patterns you may have around going into the studio and being creative.