3/13/15 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we continued value drawing with charcoal.  Unlike our last meeting where the set up was all white objects and drapery and the value variation was from light and shadow, I introduced the idea of local value to the process.  The white objects were supplemented with items of medium and dark value, so students would be dealing with those values in addition to the effects of light and shadow on the whole set up.  One drawing was done each with vine and compressed charcoal.  We also reviewed what will be expected at our next meeting- the final charcoal drawing and the 1st half portfolio review.

How to make this up- Set up a still life.  Put a box on a table and drape side by side with a white/light color cloth and one that is darker.  Arrange on and around the box four objects of similar size, a mix of white or light colored and dark colored.  Set lights to create patterns of light and shadow.  Draw the set up on a page in your 18" x 24" pad with the vine charcoal (draw directly on the white page, not the reductive style we started with last time).  Rearrange the objects and draw with the compressed charcoal.  Total of two drawings, as in the student example above.  An additional example and more detailed instructions can be found here.  

These are portfolio exercises, but the first half portfolio is due at our next class meeting, so you need to make it up by then to get full credit.

Homework- Set up a simple still life like last week's homework, but this time drape with a colored cloth and have two white objects and two dark colored objects.  Set light to create light and shadow.  Do a full value rendering using a soft pencil, dealing with shape, scale, perspective, as well as matching the values as closely as possible.  Include shadows on the objects and those cast by the objects.  Rearrange the objects and draw a second time, for a total of two sketches.

****Spring Break March 16 to March 20****
         ****No Class Next Week****

First Half Portfolio
At our next meeting, while everyone is working on the final charcoal drawing of the semester, I'll grade the 1st half portfolio, everything you've done to this point except the individually graded line drawing still life.  If you've missed no classes, you're all caught up.  If you have missed some time, or just want a check list to make sure you bring it all with you, here's what I expect to see and when you can find it on this blog:

1/30  Contour Lines (shoes)
2/6   Reductive Lines (bamboo)
        Negative Space (chair)
        Negative/Positive (bottles)
2/13  Perspective (boxes, boxes and cans)
2/27  Value Drawing of white objects 
         (vine and compressed)
3/13  Value Drawing of mixed value objects
         (vine and compressed)

For next class 3/27/15-  We will do the final charcoal drawing of the semester, an individually graded drawing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, your choice of vine or compressed charcoal (or both), kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.  Have you first half portfolio so it can be graded during class.