Spiral

With the fern we’ve already approached the spiral. Now I’d like to discuss it in more detail. What can a spiral be?
The spiral is a primal symbol. From the observation of nature, it has found its way into science as a geometric shape and for calculating various phenomena. The spiral can move from the outside to the inside, or from the inside to the outside. We’re starting with a spiral that goes from the inside to the outside. The spiral line can move outward at the same distance until your drawing sheet ends. In theory, it could go on infinitely. On the other hand, when you make a spiral going from the outside to the inside, you start by making a circle first. That’s called a limited spiral.

There are other possibilities too: The spiral can start from a point and gradually move away from the center, so that the distance from the center becomes greater and greater. There are also spirals which develop from another geometrical body as a basis. For example, you can circumscribe a sphere by drawing a circle and spiraling a line around it from the outside, sometimes stronger, sometimes more delicate. You can do the same with a cone. You can also develop a spiral around a triangle. Or you could draw a square and look how a spiral would develop inside. There are many possibilities.

The artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser has worked intensively on the depiction of the spiral. He loved New Zealand and traveled there often. And since in New Zealand there are many ferns, he derived the spiral from the observation of ferns. In his work several spiral interact and thus flow into an ornament.
Now let’s play with the spiral. Just try it out. How softly does it flow when it makes only a few turns? Clockwise, counterclockwise, from the inside out, from the outside in, following a gesture. Take the other basic geometric shapes to experiment with the spiral. You got some suggestions from me. Develop your own ideas. The spiral is an expression of going within, of turning inwards. But it’s also like a thought developing from the inside out, until you eventually say it out loud. Or a feeling that sits deep inside you and slowly creates a path into the outside, into the expression.

The preoccupation with forms and shapes in drawing, no matter which ones, presupposes a deeper preoccupation with the thing itself. You can observe it in nature. And in doing so you can visualize your own experiences. The more experiences life has offered, the more this is visible in the drawing. Every life experience is subtly reflected in a drawing. That’s why drawings in mature age are more intense, because more experience, attention and awareness could develop.
In a drawing we strive for totality in the image. That is, we have a visual appearance, perhaps several elements, but they join in a totality of the emotional impression, in the totality of the image. Overall, it’s the reduction, the omission that we pursue. To achieve the greatest possible effect with the smallest possible effort. That’s the theme in the spiral.

Sit down and relax. Take the time to really approach the exercise calmly. For those who are especially eager, a little extra inspiration: you can draw the spiral as a line, but then define it in color. That is, leave the drawn line blank and design the rest in color. It’s a little time consuming, but it’s also very beautiful.

I wish you spirals which are very personal. They are deeply connected with our lives, with our own development, with our experiences. I wish you very much success!