Interesting that Da Vinci should mention that it is better to do figure drawing in groups rather than all by yourself. I find his method of argument very ambitious and at times uncomfortable but nevertheless it needs to stand by itself so that you can evaluate for yourself.
Say there are ten people wanting to do figure drawing. Obviously financially it is better if they can all put together some money and pay for a good model and arrange for a time and place. Ok here is maybe the greatest benefit because if you do it all by yourself it is more costly. This however is not where I am uncomfortable.
The second argument goes something like this - you can learn from others while drawing and comparing yourself constantly with others as they draw. Here already I am starting to feel uneasy because comparing like that will have the affect that all the drawings of all those artists that draw together will slowly over time get closer and closer to one another. That is obviously if that little club continues.
The third argument that Da Vinci himself proposes is if you happen to be the best draughtsman or artist among all those present, you have something to maintain; that being remaining the best artist. That will be your challenge. I feel very uncomfortable with this view because it makes it competitive and almost showmanship like and that defeats the purpose that I just want to learn to draw better or develop a certain style of drawing.
Ok so I take it that in his time there were no photographers and maybe the competition between artists were very real since the patrons of the arts were few and commissions were in order of the day.
So what can I learn from it as an application for my day?
1. Certainly draw with others if you cannot afford your own models.
2. Certainly learn from other artists but choose then those who really regard as being different and more advanced in their art as yourself. However strife deliberately not to copy but to develop your own individualistic style. If you should copy then do it only as an exercise but my personal opinion is avoid it as the plague.
3. Don't think ever that your art is better than all those around you. It may just be that others don't think so and that you might be outdated in style and trend of trend of the time. It is better that you rather challenge yourself in the process of on-going improvement and in refining and developing your style further.
I say that it is better to challenge yourself with regards to the size of the drawing, the mediums used, your own traditional approach in drawing and seeking to be fresh and innovative. Be true to yourself and try to stay within your own recognizable work so that your whole portfolio is like continuous story.
Maybe Da Vinci was a great artist and I do admire his work; I mean we are very insignificant in criticizing his work; but to me some of his art notes (please note art notes) makes one wonder...just my personal opinion. I wrote this so that you can have your own opinion of drawing together in clubs etc. etc. and whatever you take or reject from the great master Da Vinci.
On Painting and Drawing by William Morris Hunt
