Drawn to Life - Volume 2

5 Plus or Minus

Years ago I got into developing color film. I do not know how it is done now but I used to have to keep the developing chemicals plus or minus one-half degree. In sketching, if you keep within plus or minus one-half degree of the pose, you will end up with an uninteresting tracing. To do the pose any justice at all, you have got to go at least 10 or 15 degrees on the plus side. Drawing is unique in that sense. We are so used to being herded into that one-half degree plus or minus syndrome: set your carburetor mixture just so or you will waste gas, use the right amount of baking powder or your cake will either fall or blow up, adjust your radio to the station or you will get static, etc. Realism for the cartoonist is not copying ...