ADV. Drawing-2 Assignments

Due to the extreme nature that this school year has presented, wrapping up the school year presents some interesting challenges.  As we approach the end of the year, each student will have the opportunity to bring their grade up to a level that they feel comfortable with by completing a CAPSTONE PROJECT.


Each course will have its own set of requirements for this project, but the deadline will ALL BE THE SAME.  It will be the student's responsibility to not only be familiar with each set of requirements but also the submission date and process.

For our next drawing, we are going to look at a color pencil technique referred to as "UNDERPAINTING"



While we won't be using any paint for this specific technique, we will be borrowing from some fairly simple concepts when it comes to working with paint, hence the name UNDERPAINTING.  We will be discussing the concepts of SHADES and TINTS and how we can better think about those as we pair them with color.


This lesson has two parts, so be sure to familiarize yourself with both exercises as you will be receiving a grade on both.


Part 1:


Working with the arrangement of values is crucial in understanding how better to use colored pencils.  For this exercise, you will shade a sphere using either a regular graphite pencil or a dark blue (navy) or dark brown (umber) colored pencil alone.  This is called UNDERPAINTING.  Once you have shaded the sphere in a monochromatic tone, you may go over with a HUE of your choice.


Part 2:


Working from reference, use the provided image of the three apples to try your hand at improving your underpainting skills.  Work from what you know, and utilize techniques that you have already practiced in past colored pencil drawings.

This week we will take a look at a unique colored pencil blending process known as "burnishing", which when done properly can create drawings that resemble paintings.


Burnishing is the process of layering colored pencils in order to create a SOLID area of pigment. 

We will study and discuss a variety of ways to using BURNISHING including:

Layering with white
Layering with a colorless blender
Layering with another color
Applying a liquid medium or thinning agent

Throughout this process, you will practice these techniques and then use them on a still life drawing.

Over the course of the next few class meetups, we will be discussing COLOR THEORY and how it relates to Colored Pencil techniques used in professional drawing.


The attached EBOOK has 3 exercises that you will work on throughout these classes, understanding the various terms as well as practicing Colored Pencil techniques (burnishing, layering and scrumbing) in an effort to become more familiar with them.  

You may down load the packet and work directly on them, or copy the information in your sketchbook, so as long as the work you are doing takes up about 75% of the paper surface.

Last week (before break) we looked at how incorporating a variety of different line qualities in a drawing, we can communicate the illusion of form and light.


This week we will look at the question that I get asked the most when it comes to freehand drawing, and that is..."How do you know how/where to add the value or shading?"


Instead of jumping right in with another lesson about VALUE and drawing pencils, we are going to look at the concept of CROSS CONTOURS.  
As artists, there are many different lines that we are constantly aware of, CROSS CONTOURS sometimes are visible on a subject, but often they are THEORETICAL, meaning we have to think about them a bit more.


Download the EBOOK below and follow through with the steps outlined for this week's drawing.  


This drawing should follow the same requirements from past drawings, so check below that you are on the right track before your final submission:


* Have your drawing take up at least 75% or three-quarters of your drawing surface. (NO TINY DRAWINGS)
* There should be evidence of LIGHT, LOOSE marks made. Please refrain from "erasing" your mistakes. If your drawing LIGHT enough and LOOSE enough, your "mistakes" should not show up.

For this week we will explore the concepty of line a bit further and discuss how line can be used to communicate form and light through VARIETY.

VARIETY is on the eight principles of art. A PRINCIPLE of art is actually the combination of ELEMENTS of art that you would've studied back in INTRO TO ART. The elements being the blueprint or foundation for art making.

We can create variety in a work by varying any of the elements. Varying the color for example, creates a variety of color. Variety often leads to added interest in a drawing, but if overused - it can make the work look "busy" and overwhelming.

ASSIGNMENT:

Revisiting the drawing from WK 6, we will applythe concept of line quality ot the drawing of the jack. We'll go back over the contour lines and ENHANCE them by making them thicking in areas. To maximize contrast, we'll use a PEN to develop the contours.

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

* This assignment is not simply a TRACE over my pencil lines and turn it in assignment. The goal here is to ENHANCE your original pencil drawing with a variety of thick and thin lines. Be sure to have a reason for making the marks that you did, and be able to defend your choices if asked.

* There is no need to consider SHADING or COLORING with this work, so don't make this assignment harder than it actually is. If for some reason you did not complete WK 6, you will need to go back and revisit the requirements in order to get full credit on this assignment.

So as you can see, I am presenting to you guys a new discussion question for today's class period, and all I am looking for you to do is answer the two (possibly three) questions from your own perspective. (Please don't try to find the answer to this on Google, this is your opinion, there is no wrong answer)

Try to make your answer as complete as possible. I know that this concept can be pretty broad and open, so stick to what your experiences. For some additional help, I've posted a link to a discussion video that actually dives into this pretty well....it can be a little "out there" but I'm only referring you guys to the 1:05 minute mark to about 4:20 (so around 3 minutes)

Take some time today, to reflect on this answer and what it means maybe to how you've been approaching this course, or this new virtual learning routine.

As we practiced last week, loosening up our drawing movements can drastically improve our accuracy in drawing. This idea is CRUCIAL to your success in drawing.

This week, we will explore another imporant concept to improving your drawing skill. Drawing using shapes.

Like LINE, shape is one of the seven elements or art (see INTRO TO ART). Shape can be defined as a closed CONTOUR LINE DRAWING, or in other words a line that shares the same start and end point.

DRAWING #1: Create a LOOSE, basic shape drawing of the photo reference included in the ebook. Finish your drawing by going back over and defining the contour lines.

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

Even though there is only one drawing that I am looking for you to complete for this week, I do have some very specific things that I am looking for in your final submissions. If you overlook these requirements, there is a good chance that you will loose credit on this assigment. PLEASE FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

* Have your drawing take up at least 75% or three-quarters of your drawing surface. (NO TINY DRAWINGS)
* There should be evidence of LIGHT, LOOSE marks made. Please refrain from "erasing" your mistakes. If your drawing LIGHT enough and LOOSE enough, your "mistakes" should not show up.
* When going back over and defining/darkening your contours (outline), be sure not to press too hard with your pencil. We will still be using this drawing next cardmarking, so DO NOT MAKE YOUR FINAL SUBMISSION TO DARK TO MAKE CHANGES ON!!!!

I'd like you to think about this question a bit before you answer.

This is part of a bigger conversation I'd like to have with you guys as the 2nd semester goes on, looking more in depth to why people believe that the concept of DRAWING is "born-with" talent rather than a specific skill set that anyone can achieve.

For this assignment, I'd simply like you to come up with a list of 7-10 concepts or ideas that you thought about at one point or experiences/thoughts that you've been exposed to as you mature that lend themselves to answering the question...."Why is drawing thought of as being TOO HARD?"

Last weeek, we began our look at using line in drawings. Today, we’ll take a slight deviation and instead discuss a foundational drawing concept that is incredibly important to our success. Before we can continue and explore all that line is capable of, we must explore this concept which will lay the groundwork for our future exercises.

What we’ll discuss today may seem simple. But simplicity doesn’t necessarily mean easy. The concept that we’ll discuss will require practice and an understanding that improvement will occur over time.
This week, we’ll draw circles and ellipses.

Drawing EX 1: Draw a circle in/with one simple line. Additionally, you can refer back to the warm-up activities from last semester and try using 4 points to create your circle.
Drawing EX 2: Looser Perfect Circle. The goal here is to "ghost" in some guide lines as we stay loose with our arm (not our fingers)
Drawing EX 3: Ellipses Practice (Coffee Mug). Using the photo reference, follow the same approach as you did earlier with loose, multople marks. The focus hereis on the range of movement your shoulders can make.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
Like last week's assignment (and those in the past), the purpose this week is the PROCESS. This means I'm less interested in what your FINAL DRAWINGS WILL LOOK LIKE, AND MORE INTERESTED IN THE MARKS YOU MADE TO GET THE FINAL DRAWINGS.

In other words, do not erase any lines or "mistakes". Try to eliminate "starting over" and simply work with what you have. You will lose points if too much emphasis has been place on perfection.

We'll start our second half of the year reviewing the most fundamental element of art, LINE.

In terms of art, line is a moving dot. If we take a dot, and move it - we create a line. It's quite simple.

Download the WK 3 ebook, and follow along with the 4 assigned drawing exercises that we will be doing this week. Your goal is to photograph your progress throughout the week, and submit your progress by the end of the week. Be sure to read each drawing exercise description CAREFULLY. Below is a brief summary of each:

EXERCISE #1: Hammer from memory, using contour lines (outlines) and NO SHADING.
EXERCISE #2: BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING, using the photo reference but not looking at your paper, (hint, it shouldn't look "good" at all)
EXERCISE #3: Drawing from observation 50% of the time
EXERCISE #4: CONTINOUS LINE DRAWING, not lifting the pencil, BUT being able to look at the sketch and photo reference.

For our first assignment this second semester, I'd like to follow the same path we took back in September and highlight something about ourselves.

This week, I'd like you to take a photograph of your workspace, and label and identify 10 objects or things that you enjoy about this area, or help you focus as you settle in for work. These could be your favorite pens or books, or simply an area in the room that you feel the most comfortable in. You may use any digital means to complete this task (Google Slides, PowerPoint, or mobile app).*

Once you've completed this task, I'd like you to explain 3 items in this area (using the COMMENTS area when you submit this work) that you personally identify with and mean the most to you you. You can talk about why they are so important and what they represent. You can even discuss their origin and how you came into possession of these objects.

When you've completed this task, you will have a digital photograph with labels to submit, as well as a short write-up in the COMMENTS section of your submission that I will be able to review.


*example photo attached