Do we need to know the outcome of the work we make before we start?

Louise Despont works intuitively, allowing her drawings to develop as she creates them. Using pencils, rulers, stencils and compasses she makes dense, colourful and meditative large scale pieces.

Use the below videos and questions to build up an understanding of Louise Despont’s drawings and see how you can bring her methods into making your own work.

Please Note:

This page includes links and videos from external sites, verified at publication but subject to change.

Teachers should review all content for classroom suitability.

Report any issues, and check school firewall settings if videos don’t play.

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Louise Despont

“[In drawing] the downshift in speed is what opened the door for information and inspiration to step through”

Louise Despont is an artist whose practice focuses on drawing. Her works comprise of detailed geometric drawings which evolve organically. The making of the artwork, and the outcomes, are powerful, meditative and mindful.

She lives in USA and Bali.

www.louisedespont.com/

Nicelle Beauchene Gallery

Apologies if you cannot watch the videos below if YouTube is blocked in your school. The videos do not appear on other platforms, but we thought they were worth including. Please ask your school IT to see if they can whitelist these videos.

In the videos below, Louise describes how art and life are intrinsically linked.

For younger children: As teacher we think you will enjoy all the videos. Please select sections to show your own class.

“Drawing has taught me to see, and it has taught me a quality of attention unparalleled to most other states of mind.”

In the TedTalk below, Louise Despont shares why she thinks drawing is so important both to herself and to us all as human beings.

How and where Louise finds inspiration…

Questions to Ask Children

Do you think Louise has a clear idea of the outcome before she starts each piece?

How long do you imagine she works on each piece? How does she know when a piece is finished? Is a piece ever finished?

How do the drawings make you feel?

How would it feel to make drawings like that?

Louise gives advice:

Look at your work upside down for a new perspective.
Reorganise your pages to see if there isn’t an entirely different story inside the one you had.

What do you think she means by this advice, and can you apply it to your own work?

Look around you. Could you begin to collect images or objects, using your instinct, that you are attracted to. Could you use them as a starting point to draw? What tools could you use to help you draw?

Talking Points: Louise Despont

Do we need to know the outcome of the work we make before we start?

Louise Despont works intuitively, allowing her drawings to develop as she creates them. Using pencils, rulers, stencils and compasses she makes dense, colourful and meditative large scale pieces.

Use the below videos and questions to build up an understanding of Louise Despont’s drawings and see how you can bring her methods into making your own work.

Please Note:

This page includes links and videos from external sites, verified at publication but subject to change.

Teachers should review all content for classroom suitability.

Report any issues, and check school firewall settings if videos don’t play.

Louise Despont

“[In drawing] the downshift in speed is what opened the door for information and inspiration to step through”

Louise Despont is an artist whose practice focuses on drawing. Her works comprise of detailed geometric drawings which evolve organically. The making of the artwork, and the outcomes, are powerful, meditative and mindful.

She lives in USA and Bali.

www.louisedespont.com/

Nicelle Beauchene Gallery

Apologies if you cannot watch the videos below if YouTube is blocked in your school. The videos do not appear on other platforms, but we thought they were worth including. Please ask your school IT to see if they can whitelist these videos.

In the videos below, Louise describes how art and life are intrinsically linked.

For younger children: As teacher we think you will enjoy all the videos. Please select sections to show your own class.

“Drawing has taught me to see, and it has taught me a quality of attention unparalleled to most other states of mind.”

In the TedTalk below, Louise Despont shares why she thinks drawing is so important both to herself and to us all as human beings.

How and where Louise finds inspiration…

Questions to Ask Children

Do you think Louise has a clear idea of the outcome before she starts each piece?

How long do you imagine she works on each piece? How does she know when a piece is finished? Is a piece ever finished?

How do the drawings make you feel?

How would it feel to make drawings like that?

Louise gives advice:

Look at your work upside down for a new perspective.

Reorganise your pages to see if there isn’t an entirely different story inside the one you had.

What do you think she means by this advice, and can you apply it to your own work?

Look around you. Could you begin to collect images or objects, using your instinct, that you are attracted to. Could you use them as a starting point to draw? What tools could you use to help you draw?

This Talking Points Is Used In…

Pathway: Exploring pattern

This is featured in the ‘Exploring Pattern’ pathway

using sketchbooks to make visual notes

Show me what you see