2/28/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we started our study of value, the use of light and dark in two dimensional art, which will be a part of all our drawing for the rest of the semester.  Value helps to imply form and space in a still life.  Patterns of value can provide a type of rhythm to drawings, as well as focus attention on specific areas of the composition.  I set up a still life of all white objects and drapery, so that we would just be studying the effect of light and shadow, and not concerning ourselves with local color values.  Drawings were done with both vine and compressed charcoal.  Last week's line drawings were returned graded.

How to make this up- You will need to set up your own still life.  Place a medium size box or stack two small boxes on a table.  Drape with a white or very light colored sheet or towel.  Find three white or very light colored simple objects of roughly similar size to use in the still life, and the set up should be lit with a directional light that will result in patterns of light and shadow.  Specific instruction as to how to set it up and to use the charcoal can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up before the 1st Half Portfolio collection and grading at the beginning of class on March 14, 2013.

Homework-  Set up a still life in the nature of the one mentioned above, three white or light colored objects, white drape, box, single light source.  Sketch the still life in your sketchbook, using a full page, and using your softest pencil (6B or 8B if you have one).  Pay attention to our usual concerns of shape, proportion, spacing, and perspective, but now also pay attention to value- try to match the values as closely as possible for the objects and drapery, and choose background value(s) that best contrast with the value in the objects.  Leaving the objects in place, move yourself to a new viewing position and draw the still life again in full value.  Total of two pages of drawings.

For next class 3/7/13-  We will continue studying value with charcoal, adding in the challenge of drawing from mixed value objects.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.