a creative journey | drawing the figure Sp'20

A sketchbook can be a daily diary, an intimate space, a creative journey when we're locked in, keeping our distance. Here you can thumb through some sample pages that informed Rulan's imagination, as our class neared its end.

An earlier Creative Sketching assignment

Self-portrait

Final Project

a dancing line | drawing the figure S'20

Clothes move with the body. Students brought that understanding into their sketches, in an exhibit, at the FIT Museum, entitled, Ballerina: Fashion's Modern Muse.

Nicole

Emily

Dawn 

Chris

Lucy

Juneau

Yiping

your hand | drawing the figure S'20

A few examples of the first assignment, from a talented group of first-year students. 

Dawn

Emily

Lucy

Nicole 

perspective sketching at First Presbyterian Church | drawing f'19

When the sanctuary was empty, students added values to maintain a focus in their perspective drawings. Later in the week, the focus changed. The same sanctuary lent an impressive backdrop, to a packed house, for a talk by the former acting director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe. After a followup interview, by investigative reporter, Carl Bernstein, I left with a sense of optimism, befitting this reverential space. 

Renee

Ethan

Wendy

sketching clothes | SIS II '19

With a visit to the Minimalism/Maximalism show, at the FIT museum, my students practice hatching. Using parallel lines to create tones and shadows, the technique lends itself well to sketching with either a pen, or a graphite pencil. 

Kathy

Nikol

Angelina 

Catherine

Kristina

start of the semester quote

"You can't do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh."

-John Singer Sargent

Student sketch

Student sketch

Student sketch

Student sketch

perspective | drawing S'19

There are always formidable distractions outside the classroom. A medley of 750,000 commuters, whizzing through New York's Grand Central Terminal, offers up just such a challenge, especially when drawing perspective. While its rules are best described as dry, and its stringent lines less than obvious, its endgame can be exciting to witness. 

Sara

Clare

Mira

Grand Central Terminal | drawing f'18

Each student begins in much the same way, by drawing lines of perspective. Most often they use a ruler. The similarity ends there, as differing personalities are at work, when interpreting this stunning landmark.

Jess

Michael

Rich

Each student begins a drawing using lines of perspective. With their own interpretation of this great landmark, that is where the similarity ends.

Jess

Michael

Rich

creative sketching assignment | SIS II '18

With no preconceived idea, students flung ink onto pages of their sketchbook, and later worked a drawing that utilized the splatters. 

Elias

Chloe

Amanda

Emily

Catie

Jaci