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

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

architecture around NY | drawing S'18

Tonni at Jefferson Market Library

Mary Jane at First Presbyterian Church

Carly at Grand Central Terminal

continuous line contours | life drawing S'18

I was sketching a man sitting across from me on the subway, when the woman to my left, pointed, and yelled for all to hear, "SHE'S DRAWING YOU!" I laugh, when retelling this scenario. I get their fear. Yes, the assignment can be embarrassing, and uncomfortable, but most often New Yorkers are too preoccupied to even notice. 

Matt

Cheng

Ayako

continuous line contours | life drawing S'18

I was sketching on the subway,

I was sketching on the subway, when the woman sitting to my left yelled out to the man across the way, "she's drawing you". I laugh now, yet the fear of being caught keeps people from sketching from life. Notice how these students draw New Yorkers too busy to notice them.

Matt

 

Cheng

Ayako

recommendation | drawing f'17

When sketching from life, a 5 x 8.25 inch Moleskine sketchbook is compact enough to fit into a pocket, and discreet enough, to avoid the unsolicited gaze and added pronouncement of any quintessential New Yorker. 

Hannah and Hiroko

Kajal

 Juliana and Kayla

Grand Central Terminal | drawing f'17

The scale is overwhelming: A football field of perpetual activity, with ornately crafted details, 75 foot windows, and a star-studded ceiling. The challenge is to stay focused. Find what attracts you. Begin with lines of perspective, and add details only where needed. 

Karina

Hiroko and Natalie

Thomas

the first class | drawing f'17

To learn how to draw fast is the desired outcome. As the artist/designer moves their hand, ideas tumble onto the paper. An invention, a building, a room, a graphic image, a garment, a painting, or a sculpture most often takes root very quickly. Drawing from life, improves the ability to sketch, to create this personal shorthand.

So, in my drawing course, the first day is a bit of a sink or swim. Pick a small object out of a bag, with only a minute to sketch, and then pass it on to the next person. After reviewing, the lesson is an eyeopener: How do you hold the pencil? How do you draw a straight line? What angle communicates the most information? After instruction, Lydia's second attempt, on the right, shows her new found confidence. 

the sketchbook | SIS II '17

A fashion exhibit @FIT, drawing caricatures, capturing people on the street, and playing with ideas, add to an exciting sketchbook.

Emma

Emma

Josselyn

Hae In