11/4/16 Basic Drawing

Today's Class- Today we moved on to the second value drawing medium of the semester, ink wash.  This involves using liquid black drawing ink (such as india ink), diluting it with water, and applying it to paper using a brush.  Varying layers of wash produces different overall values.  I showed a completed demonstration piece, then set up still life materials (all white objects to keep it simple) and had the class do two portfolio exercise drawings.  We also had a quick critique of last week's charcoal drawings.

How to make this up-

The demonstrated ink wash piece from today, showing how things typically look in stages.

Today's in class still life involved a wood easel, white sheets, and some of my white painted vessels that we've been drawing the past few weeks.

The class did two such drawings.  Hang a white or light colored sheet from something tall, so that its end rests on a lower surface.  Put two white or light colored objects on top of the part of the lower part of the sheet.  Light it so that patterns of light and shadow are created.  Use a pencil to lightly sketch the set up on a sheet of you 18" x 24" paper.  Add a few drops of ink to a cup of water, then test the resulting mix on a spare piece of paper.  Use the ink wash to add value to the parts of the drawing that match that value.  When all that is done and the drawing is dry, add a few more drops of ink to the water, test again, then add it to the appropriate parts of the drawing.  Continue the process until the values in the whole drawing match what you see in the still life, or until you've worked at it for about 90 minutes.  When one is complete, change your position, find a new object to place at the base of the sheet, and draw a second time.

Homework- Similar set up as done in class- drape a white or light colored sheet over something tall, or hang from a wall so that the end rests on a flat surface, and place a white or light colored object on top of the flat end of the sheet.  Draw on a page in your sketchbook, using pencil for contours, then using ink wash to match the value.  Then find a second object to replace the first and draw a second time.  Total of 2 drawings.

For next class 11/11/16-   We continue with ink, this time doing an individually graded drawing.  Bring your container of ink, brushes, pencil and eraser, and a cup for water.  I plan to bring heavyweight drawing paper for students to try, but it wouldn't hurt to have your large pad with you just in case.