Week 3 Assignment: Focus on Shapes

This week's assignment is to focus on shapes. I enjoyed the challenge of using a more complex, still- life setup. I began with a preliminary drawing to help me locate the objects on the page. I usually do a thumb nail or preliminary sketch to get me into the eye-hand coordination mode. Doing this made me feel more comfortable with the assignment. Focusing on shapes really did help to organize the sketch and kept me from narrowing in on the fussy details.

This assignment was a very good review of the basics in visual thinking that sometimes get pushed to the side over time. I opted to make a preliminary sketch which helps me to organize a composition.
I was satisfied with the #2 sketch because it is a fairly good representation of the shapes. The #3 sketch is definitely wonky/wobbly. The Canson drawing paper is not a good choice for watercolor, but I chose the best of the 3 trials to complete this phase of the assignment.

Assignment Week 3:
#1 Preliminary sketch in colored pencil
showing revisions of point-to-point line

Assignment Week 3:
#2 Shapes in 2 colors using Inktense pencils
on Canson drawing paper 

Assignment Week 3:
#3 Negative shapes in 2 colors
Daniel Smith watercolors on Canson drawing paper

Image #4: I tried to use some local color in the shadows to make the composition more colorful. The grey (ultramarine blue and burnt sienna) that I mixed for the cup turned out too black for me and I would use more blue next time. The paper created buckling on the shadow area of the cup--too wet?

Assignment Week 3:
#4 Connecting shapes and shadows
D. Smith watercolors on Aquabee Super Deluxe sketch paper

Image #5: It's been raining for the past 2 days, so I opted for an indoor adventure to complete the last part of the assignment .  I found these unusual, 4-5 feet tall, pottery urns in the Palo Alto Art Center's courtyard. Unfortunately the light was dim and watery with minimal contrast, so I enhanced the shadows to compensate.

Assignment Week 3:
#5 Outdoor objects and shadows
Inktense colored pencils on Aquabee Super Deluxe sketch paper

Week 2 Assignment: Feeling Edges

First Exercise: Blind Contour Drawing
Media: Pen on Canson drawing paper

Setting up a still life to draw is the easy part! Blind contour drawing has always been difficult for me. But I managed to produce something recognizable--the edge of the top persimmon is better than I expected. The Inner critic (IC) spoke in a loud voice for this exercise and I had to keep reminding myself that this was a learning exercise. I felt like I was swatting away a pesky fly! I've become so used to quick gesture drawing that slowing down to see the edges take mental effort. But I know from experience that my drawing will improve as a result over time.

The second part of the assignment was to use the 'point-to-point with check back' method of drawing. This was a bit easier for me, but slowing down to see the edges required repeated reminders to myself.

The last part of the assignment was to draw the edge of a building with some foliage to break the straight lines. The house that I can see from my patio was a perfect subject. The lemon tree is very overgrown and in need of a good pruning! I felt more comfortable doing this drawing.

Rumination on line: No matter how crude or inept a line drawing may appear, it always seems to suggest the object. Our brains tend to fill in the details to conjure up the actual object.

Week 2 Assignment: Blind contour drawing
Gel pen on Canson drawing paper

Week 2 Assignment: Point-to-point with check back
Gel pen on Canson drawing paper

Week 2 Assignment: Draw building edge with foliage
Gel pen on Canson drawing paper

Week 1 Assignment: Focus on strong line

First Exercise: Focus on strong line
I did not feel up to going out today, so I set up these items on my kitchen table. The Bennington Pottery soup bowl on the left is a lovely blue and a personal favorite of mine from waaay back. I also included a family heirloom honey jar and my mother's china tea mug. The Hachiya persimmon is a seasonal favorite. So there is a lot of nostalgia at work in my selection of items and I felt connected with the drawing in a way that I had not expected.

I decided to use the Lamy Vista EF pen today. This is the first time in several years that I've used it and I learned that the angle of my wrist needed to create a good line is too difficult for me (result of a a wrist injury). My pen line felt insecure and it shows. I'm used to adjusting my line in pencil, so I felt that I was working against myself and it felt awkward. I used Sennelier WC for the color spot. I think that the overall composition is good. But I definitely need to work on drawing circles in perspective. This was a good exercise that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Second Exercise: Use pencil to create strong line & add a single color
I decided to simplify the setup for this exercise and I'm glad that I did. It took longer than I expected to add the color. But I'm pleased with the overall effect and composition. I used the Derwent Sketching Wash HB to do the initial sketch. Then added Rexel Derwent WC pencil in Blue Grey with an additional wash of Sennelier WC in Payne's Grey to darken shadows. Need to work on values to create rounded shapes.

Exercise 1: Line using pen with spot of color
on Canson drawing paper

Exercise 2: Line using pencil with addition of single color
on Canson drawing paper using Daniel Smith watercolors

Assignment Week 1: Color Charts

 Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils

Sennelier Extra-fine Watercolors

Assignment Week 1: Sketching Materials

The first Assignment included sketching the art supplies that I use.

My usual supplies are listed below, but I may substitute or add according to whim.

12 x 9" Aquabee Super Deluxe sketch book
9 x 6"   Aquabee Super Deluxe sketch book
8 x 6" Stillman & Birn Extra heavy weight, rough surface (new to try this class)
Specialty papers as needed

Sketching carryall and pencil case contents
Pens: Pigma micron 05 black and Pigma Brush black
Berol Verithin silver colored pencil for watercolor sketching
Berol Turquoise pencils: H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B
Pencil sharpener
Water-dropper
Kuretaki waterbrushes 2
Daniel Smith sable watercolor brush #8
Isabey sable watercolor brush #8
Water jar
Sponge
Tin box with 24 Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils + color chart
Sennelier Extra-fine Watercolors in traveling palette + color chart
Lyra Watercolor crayons (optional and not shown)
Water bottle
Local map if needed

Sketching Materials

 Sketching Tools