Drawing LESSONS...
A quick synopsis of the past 8 weeks of drawing lessons. Each week I included a packet of worksheets available on my website by clicking here.Simple Shapes
Along with measuring and proportions of length,
shape seeking helps with accuracy in your drawings.
A study of the basic shapes is so important.
Mass vs Contour
We are conditioned from childhood to draw an outline
and then color inside the lines.
Learning to see in mass, using the side of the pencil or brush
is an important step in thinking more in terms
of volume and dimension.
page from Andrew Loomis book "Creative Illustration"
Patterns in Nature
Thank you Juliette Aristides for introducing me to this valuable tool!
At Alan Lequire's studio, she had us draw a slice of cucumber being mindful of the design.
I have been so focused on creating what I see in front of me
that I forget the design element.
Nature provides SUCH inspiration and ideas!
Image from Mrs. Brown's art class
Siting Angles
I am not 'math minded' so when it comes to degree of tilt
I find it easier to think of the hands on a clock as I compare angles.
This is so important in drawing. We often misjudge angles entirely and are not even aware.
We used tracing paper to note how many times
the angles changed even in just the right edge of the face.
Drawing by Carl Von Marr
Line Weight & Aerial Perspective
Juliette Aristides covers this her wonderful book which also comes with a DVD.
Using the thick or thin line to project an image closer or make one recede.
Image is from Juliette Aristides book "Lessons in Classical Drawing' page 83
Negative Space
An exhausting exercise in Shirley Pharris class in 1990's
helped me begin to look in a very different way.
We also took a look at how spaces and shadows around your subject
can play an important role in the whole composition.
Composition
Thank you Robert Genn for spurring me on with your experience
in being a juror and the common compositional boo boo's you wrote about.
If a viewer stands in front of your painting for 10 seconds or more,
you have most likely been successful with your composition.
Drawing the viewer in to visit, to stay a while!
Image taken from about.com article on composition
Value
Recalling Dan Gerhartz method in our lunch and video series…
for recording the lightest light and darkest dark
at the very beginning and then comparing all values to that.
He also recorded & made note of the sharpest edge in the beginning.
Wonderful exercises to help us stay on track!
VALUE! VALUE!! VALUE!!!
