Draw quickly or else!!!

Timed in- class still life drawing, drawn by Dan Very

Sometimes breakthroughs come at unexpected moments. Dan is very detail oriented. There is a lot to see through Dan's eyes. The details become an obstruction to his expression. I began having my students do a 2 minute, 5 minute, etc... drawing of a still life. The confidence in Dan's Line is evident in this drawing. When put to the task with a deadline one can really force oneself to make the right decisions. Good Job Dan!!!

Drawing II: Dan Very Journal Sketches March 2010

Model Airplane by Dan Very 2010

Tobacco Can by Dan Very 2010

Penguin Gourd by Dan Very 2010

As my students begin to feel confident about drawing, they get an insatiable appetite to see what they can draw next; what interests them the most. Any object becomes a study to be analyzed to the "enth" degree. To draw it simply with all its complexity becomes the test of the beginner artist and shows a level of mastery in one's skill.

Journal Sketches: Lyn Tolar Feb. 2010

Bowl and Fruit, journal drawing by Lyn Tolar

Portrait of Husband, journal drawing by Lyn Tolar

Portrait of Recliner, journal drawing by Lyn Tolar

Drawing II: Sally Rogers In Class Portrait Drawing

"Portrait of Instructor", Drawing by Sally Rogers

So it's hard for me to look in the mirror sometimes because I have this big ole Buddah head never mind modeling for a portrait in class. But I thought I'd share this breakthrough of one of my students. She really enjoyed the session and her results. She is an already creative person but her drawings are getting more focused. In this instance she took my suggestion to change her "medium" from a softer pencil to a harder one. And she also created a medium toned ground to help her with tone. She did not sacrifice "structure" and her knowledge of the little bit of anatomy that she has learned through trial and error, but was able to pull it all together. It actually looks like me. Good job Sally!!!

Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper

This is a great example of one point perspective. It is easy to see the perspective grid simply by looking at the ceiling. By creating the tiled ceiling, Leonardo reinforced the perspective that he was trying to achieve.

Drawing II: Kersten Comtois In Class Drawing

In class drawing by Kersten Comtois.

In my second drawing class we learn to put amorphous shapes into boxes and cylinders. It is like taking nature and simplifying it into our grid or our system. It is only a trick to make it look real on a two dimensional surface. There is a fine line between learning the trick and self expression.

In class drawing by Lyn Tolar

Everyone has their own mark and vision of how they see objects. The important thing is to get the gestalt or "essence" of the things one is attracted to. We are all unique and see the world and it's uniqueness. When we draw we comment on nature's uniqueness.