Nancy Baker Cahill Graphite Drawings /Sandra Vista Crosshatch pencil drawing

Virgil

 Nancy Baker Cahill had stayed away from making art for about ten years before her creation of these drawings made of purely graphite on paper. (Cahill married and had three children during her time away from her art/)  She claims that the "id" was primarily in charge.  These large scale graphite drawings labor by using the unconscious, gesture and the entire body which takes command of her work.  The physicality of these drawings has helped her to heal from a medical issue she dealt with in the past few years. She also describes her drawings as "erotic landscapes", "viscera at work"  and "searching ceremonially and experiencing a range of emotions".

ID, SUPEREGO, EGO: DESIGN BY SIGMUND FREUD AS A STRUCTURAL MODE OF THE PSYCHE

ID: HUMAN BASIC INSTINCTS, BODILY NEEDS, WANTS, DESIRES, AND IMPULSES, OUR SEXUAL AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVES.  THE ID CONTAINS THE LIBIDO WHICH IS PART OF INSTINCT VS. THE DEMANDS OF REALITY. (the pleasure principle, immediate gratification) 

NEWBORN BABIES ARE "ID-RIDDEN" they are masses of instinctual drives and impulses, no good or evil, no morality...

SUPEREGO; INTERNALIZATION OF CULTURAL RULES, TAUGHT BY PARENTS, SOMETIMES CALLED THE CONSCIENCE. ALSO TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, CHOSEN PEOPLE AND ROLE MODELS ARE INCLUDED IN THE FORMING OF THE SUPEREGO.

IT PUNISHES MISBEHAVIOR WITH FEELINGS OF GUILT AND PROHIBITS HIS OR HER DRIVES, FANTASIES, FEELINGS AND ACTIONS.  IT DOES INCLUDE THE EGO IDEALS, SPIRITUAL GOALS, AND IS NOT ENTIRELY UNCONSCIOUS. IT IS A BALANCE BETWEEN THE ID AND THE EGO.

EGO: IT SEEKS TO PLEASE THE ID'S DRIVE WITH REALISTIC WAYS SEEKING LONG TERM GOALS. IT IS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN THE ID AND REALITY.  IT HELPS TO FUNCTION IN THE REAL WORLD AND CALM DOWN THE ID'S DEMANDS FOR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. 

DESIGNED BY FREUD IN THE 1920'S, THE WORD EGO ORIGINALLY MEANT A SENSE OF SELF BUT LATER REVISED IT TO MEAN JUDGEMENT, TOLERANCE, REALITY TESTING, CONTROL, PLANNING, DEFENSE, INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING AND MEMORY.  

THE EGO IS PART OF THE ID BUT HAS INFLUENCE OF THE EXTERNAL WORLD.

Sandra Vista Crosshatch drawing #2 pencil on paper 2007

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Sandra Vista-Drawing deals with the basic drawing principles of crosshatching and making simple marks on paper.  The #2 pencil is used as a primary tool on paper to create an intriguing drawing.  The idea is to use simple materials like a #2 pencil to its full potential.

1. Cahill stated that the "id" was in charge during the creation of her drawings.  How can a person's basic instincts influence their need to create?

2. Cahill's drawings are large scale works, how does using her entire body, the physical energy that it takes to create these works help to heal her previous medical issues. 

3. Cahill describes her drawings as "erotic landscapes", this terms does not only have a sexual connotation but also has to do with emotional feelings.  A landscapes is something with a large field of vision.  How does having a larger focus help an artist with their work and increased creativity?

4. Compare Nancy Baker Cahill and Sandra Vista's drawings, how are they similar in execution (using materials, imagery, emotions) and how do they differ (scale, ideas for creation,...)