Picasso Museum: drawing as freedom of expression

Barcelona (ACN).- “To draw you must close your eyes and sing”, said the great painter Pablo Picasso. The Pablo Picasso Museum of Barcelona organised a workshop last Sunday dedicated to drawing. The workshop is part of an international initiative called ‘Big Draw’ that began in London in 2000. ‘Big Draw’ aims to promote drawing in new and enjoyable ways for all ages, whether they think they can draw or not. “We shouldn’t be afraid of getting paper dirty”, said Phillip Stanton, one of the project’s participating artists.

The workshop included various classes both inside and outside of the museum’s walls. Artist Phillip Stanton held classes on the Rambla del Born next to the famous Santa Maria del Mar church, portrayed in the best-seller The Sea Cathedral. He invited workshop attendees to create a collective mural. “All together, we created a portrait of the Born”, said the American artist.

“We thought it was important to bring this event to the Picasso Museum because Picasso learned to be an artist from drawing”, explained the head of public programmes at the museum, Anna Guarro. ‘Big Draw’ aims to take drawing “beyond” an artistic discipline and stress its importance in “communication, learning and recreation”.

Those who had the most fun were the kids. The day workshop had several classes and events dedicated to kids, including one by the popular Catalan cartoonist Pilarin Bayés. Using unmistakable characters, she taught the children about the life of the young Pablo Picasso in Barcelona. But some still preferred to draw their favourite characters. “I am drawing Darth Vader because I really like Star Wars”, said Ferran while getting his drawing signed by Pilarín.

As far as wall drawings, murals had to be changed due to lack of space. The objective of this class, according to illustrator Pau Estrada, was to “redeem” the scribble. Thus the “graffiti artists” painted the walls in the “most free and relaxed” way possible. As Swiss painter Paul Klee stated, “a drawing is simply a line that goes for a stroll”.