Week 2, Demystifying PERSPECTIVE and other helpful art tools

Today we looked at several things that help in observational drawing. The first was scaling, that is using a "unit of measure" to measure the bigger whole. An example would be to measure with your arm held straight out and a pencil, the height of a lamp shade, from top to bottom edge. That would be one unit of measure. Next determine how many units from the lamp shade to the floor. This concept, either vertically or measuring horizontally,that is, across the form, can help put things in proportion to each other. A classic example is the head considered to be 1/8 of the body, or the hand as measure for horses. It is similar to laying a grid across in front of your eyes.
The next thing we talked about is determining angles. We looked at vertical lines, being very consistent in an interior space. Then we started to examine horizontal lines. This introduced our main lesson on perspective. First we defined the 3 kinds of perspective: 1 point, 2 point, 3 point and saw examples of each kind. Even though a lot of this information is very traditional, I showed 2 situations where perspective is very useful for portrait and landscape artists. In viewing the head especially a 3/4 view, we see the head as a cube. the eye line, nose and mouth line will all relate to a vanishing point, as will the placement of the ear. I showed an example of 2 point perspective, that helps to create a flat surface, such as a field or water surface. Finally we learned that vanishing points do not have to be on the page. Sometimes they are way off the page. We looked at some paintings and determined what kind of perspective the artist was using. We saw situations where one painting could have multiple vanishing points, all helping to control the space.
Please enjoy our excellent perspective drawings today. Everyone did a great job looking a difficult angles, determining what was happening, and figured out how to put them down on paper. Sometimes it was hard to believe what our eyes were telling us. It helps to have a few tricks up our sleeves to double check where things are.

More Perspective Drawings from Week 2

Our homework project this week is to do a perspective drawing at home, either interior, or outside, or both.

Homework projects from Week One

Great job everyone, lively lines and good compositions. The idea was to pick 3 or 4 objects, either the same one, from different points of view or a group of related objects and overlay them, concentrating on line and contour as the primary descriptive elements.

Week One, Starting with the Figure

We had a wonderful model this week to start our 2009 Sunday drawing class. Shannon brought her costume from a play she just preformed in. We talked first about different figurative approaches during the last 100 years. We started drawing with quick poses, looking for the overall gesture. We saw how we can use measuring points, such as the shoulders, knees or elbows, to compare side to side what is happening. We talked about drawing inside of the figure, and drawing outside the figure, or the negative shapes. Everyone really saw negative shapes, especially in a pose where the hands were on the hips, and a "hole" was created under the arm. We talked about setting the figure in an environment, and how just one line could not only indicate an environment, but contribute to the liveliness of the lines. We saw how a linear line works next to a curved line. Finally, we talked about different kinds of tools that people like to draw with, each one having it's own special characteristics.

Week 1, Drawing the Figure, Part 2

Everyone caught on really quickly to basic figure drawing concept, blocking in, staying gestural, and everyone had a good sense of proportions.
The take-home project this week is to continue to work with line, pick 4 or 5 objects, or the same object, looking at it from different view points, and overlay each object onto one page. Artists could start by drawing a rectangle first, and placing their objects within the composition. We saw some examples of shoes, overlaid and looked at from different view points. We will see these next week.

Stay tuned as each week, we upload drawing from this class.

Drawing Class to Start this January, 18th

It's official, the winter drawing class will begin Jan 18th, and run for 6 sunday mornings. We will meet up at Nichols Street Suites, above Funk & Junk 10am to 12:30.
This session, I will be covering basic drawing concepts, easy to follow for beginners with challenges for more advanced artists.
Each week I'll introduce a topic and then we will work on that concept. Topics will include line, shape, texture in drawing, observational drawing, space,light, values, perspective, using edges,and creating a composition. If there is interest, we may draw from a model.

Week One, Lucky for us, we have a model this week! I will demonstrate blocking in the envelope of the figure, the gesture, how to easily move toward a lively line drawing. We will discuss checking the tilt of several structural points down the figure, shoulders, waist, knees..... Throughout the class, we will be more interested in the process of observation and drawing, than in polished end results. Everyone will do numerous quick sketches from the model, and have a take home project working with line. Stay tuned!
Cost $65. Call me for any questions. 378 2638.
Materials: sketchbook and pencil.