Sunday, January 31, 2010

My First Drawing Exercise

My first drawing assignment involves getting out into nature and observing. What catches my eye? What do I find particularly pleasing? How would I frame my subject for a drawing? It's suggested that I use a viewfinder to frame my subject.

It's been darned cold around here and unless I'm in the infrequent frame of mind of loving the cold, I'll look around quickly and grab a few twigs and pods and cones and run for the warm house. That's how the English Ivy has made its popular stand here.



This drawing encompasses many points of this week's assignment:
  • Composition.
  • Attention to negative space.
  • Perspective; foreshortening.
  • Signing work. I've never done this and scrambled to come up with a logo.
  • Showing dimension by lightening background objects. (I only did this slightly and it shows better on the actual drawing that the foreshortened leaf recedes.)
I didn't get any shadows here but I do like the simplicity of so few lines. I did try to thicken a few lines for a shadowy effect. This style is really a whole new thing for me and I'm excited over it. I'd love to try more drawings like this one.



4 comments:

  1. Hi - directed here by Val at pencil and leaf. I am doing a botanical drawing course and post my efforts on my blog www.patientgardener.wordpress.com from time to time. Will be following you to see how you get on
    Hele

    ReplyDelete
  2. Val is such an wonderful inspiration.

    Nice to have you following along. Our class is just now getting underway and we'll be at it for the next six weeks.

    -- John

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think it is wonderful that not only your "hand" is being taught, but your "eye" as well. Understanding the "why" of how you yourself are creating a piece lends a subtle depth to what at first looks deceptively simple. I really like everything about this drawing.
    Funny about having to sign your work- that is something I struggle with continually; even my initials bother me, as 2 Gs (whether upper or lower case) look like googley eyes!
    ~gretchen

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used a grid to aid in layout. Funny how I struggled against it; my hand did not want to accept what my eye saw. It seemed incomprehensible that the point I clearly could see belonged in a certain spot should really be placed there.

    ReplyDelete