Art Lessons Online

Shape (continued lesson on blocking In)

Contour + Inking & Line Variation/Calligraphic Line Excercise

"Ink Le Baton".

Composition and Framing (Discussion/ {new}Video)

Recap Stages of Drawing, Emphasize LIGHTLY Drawn Preliminary Work
(No one ever goes light enough at the start! =P )

From Still life or Photo:

-Rough In Largest, Most Basic Shapes, with Whispy, Sketchy, Searching Lines (Pencil)

-Correct Mistakes (don't bother erasing - prevent redrawing in same spot)

-Inking (Follow pencil line with a pen/contour line or transfers and Ink le Baton)

-Try to Find Natural Posture/body radius to Draw Graceful, Calligraphic Lines

-Thicken Lines Strategically (Lines Closest to You) To Make Dynamic and Imply Depth or on bottom to imply shadow.

Composition

And more in depth:
https://youtu.be/O8i7OKbWmRM

Shapes and Blocking In

(Start at 4:10)

Draw a still life. Start with most basic shapes and draw very lightly!

Here's what blind Contour looks like with unlimited "cheating" (looking at paper).
I put it here because it is interesting to see how many times this lady turns her head (looking back and forth between object and drawing).

This is the kind of contour drawing we are going to try to do with the still life set-up in class:

Thicken Lines Strategically (Lines Closest to You) To Make Shadows, Make Dynamic and Imply Depth:
https://youtu.be/MldkhPOf10o

Day 3 Shape to Form (Developing Preliminaries)

With Still Life or photo preliminary:

Basic Shapes to Form:

Cross Contour

Mapping Light and Shadow

Shading Techniques:
Blending (Gradation) - Drawing with Side / End of Charcoal
Hatching, Cross Hatching, Stippling - Texture Patterns

With (Black and White) Photo Reference
Begin on Large Paper:

1. Carefully Block in Light Preliminary with Willow

2. Mapping Light, Shadow, Negative Space

(Probably Next Class)

3. Eraser Test and Base Values /w Compressed Charcoal

4. Refine

Part 2 Principals of Art

Balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, and variety; the means an artist uses to organize elements within a work of art.

Rhythm: A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.

Balance: A way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art. Major types are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Emphasis/Dominance/Focal Point: (contrast) A way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements.

Proportion/Scale: A principle of design that refers to the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other.

Gradation: A way of combining elements by using a series of gradual changes in those elements. (large shapes to small shapes, dark hue to light hue, etc)

Harmony/Unity: A way of combining similar elements in an artwork to accent their similarities (achieved through use of repetitions and subtle gradual changes)

Variety/Variation: A principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast. Variety is achieved by using different shapes, sizes, and/or colors in a work of art.

Movement: A principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.

Keeping the principals in mind, try out a few interesting techniques with Charcoal:

Eraser Drawing:

Drawing with the side of the charcoal, and stencil:

Cross Contour
Cross Contour 2

Shape Into Form

CROSS-CONTOUR

Just like how blind contour can be taken to new levels, a simple exercise like cross contour can be the foundation of someone's journey.

En Masse
Cross-Contourist, Jason Botkin

The beauty of line and calligraphy:
(Do an "ink and stick" drawing)

Line Drawing with a Calligraphy Pen

Dragon Calligraphy

Calligraphy Cheater

Map out the shapes of highlights and shadows.

For further steps on value drawing:

More comprehensive "Stages of Drawing" here:
CLICK HERE

Plasticine/Modelling Clay Character Construction

It's simple to make the most basic forms :

Here is an example of some development (but in fairness, with superior media {polymer clay}):

With polymer clay and an armature you can make a sturdy and detailed model:

I found lots of videos like these in the "related" links.

Hatch, Cross Hatch, Stippling, Scribble and Gradation

Texture: https://youtu.be/smAJFoedfvE

Illustration Example: CLICK HERE
Drawing With Charcoal:
https://youtu.be/6ycL4WQHTV0

The Importance of Sketchbooks and Drafts

It's important for idea development recording and practice.

Draw something that's interesting or meaningful to you. It will help you have the patience to follow through with iterations and a final piece. Here's an interesting time lapse to show how the final drawing could go. Notice the light contour drawing underneath, mapping out the drawing:

There are different ways to get that lightly drawn plan that you see in the drawing of the tiger. If you have a direct reference (real life observation or photo) you can draw out the contours of the shapes of similar values, like here:

For further steps on value drawing:

Here's an interesting look at another artist's steps in a progression (different purpose/technique):

Sketchbook studies of textures can help you work out a pattern before you draw the final:

https://youtu.be/RdmcMBWOP60
https://youtu.be/smAJFoedfvE

Perspective trick:
https://www.facebook.com/Decpohchang/videos/1253136111404357/

Effective Practice: https://www.facebook.com/TEDEducation/videos/1489398127740055/

Values and Colouring

After making a physical model we photographed it at several angles. We printed out those photos and drew a (pencil) contour line on that photo. Next, we flipped it over and transferred the outline to watercolour paper. Building up gradual layers of watercolour, we develop value an colour choices. Here's a fun way to pick colours: Adobe Colour Wheel

Here's an interesting example of someone building up subtle layers of watercolour:

Ink Basics:

I've seen people ink first or after the watercolours are applied, but here is an interesting example of 'inking':

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