10/18/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we continued our study of value with charcoal, but added the challenge of not only dealing with the value created by light and shadow, but also the values related to the local colors of objects in the still life.  Again, drawings were done with both vine and compressed charcoal.  The class was reminded that next week is the first half portfolio collection, the requirements of which are shown below.

How to make this up-  You will need to set up a still life in the style of those done in this class- box on a table, and drape with cloth, but this time both white and a colored cloth.  Select four simple objects of similar size, two white or light colored, two dark colored, and shine light on it to create patterns of light and shadow.  You'll do one drawing with vine and one with compressed, each on a sheet of your 18" x 24" pad, paying attention to shape, size, spacing, perspective, and value, as in the above student image from a previous semester.  An additional example and the specific requirements of the assignment can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must my completed by next week's portfolio collection to receive full credit, but even besides that I recommend doing it before then for the practice, as next week you'll be doing an individually graded charcoal drawing.

Homework-  Place a box on a tabletop and drape with a cloth that has some kind or printed pattern (stripes, checked, etc).  Select four objects of similar size, two white, two colored, and arrange on and around the box. Light with a direct light source to create patterns of light and shadow.  Draw the still life in your sketchbook using a soft pencil (such as a 4B or 6B), paying attention to the usual concerns. Rearrange the objects and draw the still life again, for a total of two drawings.

1st Half Portfolio Collection

During next week's class I'll be grading the 1st half portfolio, all the work done in class that was not individually graded.  If you've never missed a class, you're all ready to go.  If you have missed some time and aren't sure if you made up the work yet, the list of what I expect to see is below, along with the dates you'll find the assignment on this blog.

Contour line (shoes) Sep 13
Reductive/gesture (bamboo) Sep 20
Negative space (chair) Sep 20
Perspective (boxes) Sep 27
Perspective (boxes and cans) Sep 27
Value w/ white objects (vine) Oct 11
Value w/ white objects (compressed) Oct 11
Value w/ mixed objects (vine) Oct 18
Value w/ mixed objects (compressed) Oct 18

For next class 10/25/13- We'll be doing the final charcoal drawing of the semester for an individual grade.  I will also grade the 1st half portfolios; the portfolios will be returned during class, and I'll be collecting the final charcoal.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, all the work from this semester (which you can leave in the pad), your charcoal of choice, and spray fixative.