composition, perspective and values | drawing F'20

Think Film Noir, and these shoes transform into the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and James Cagney. Now with students working from home, some scenes look more sinister, and the lighting more dramatic than I could ever set up in class. Online learning shows its advantage.  

Mariana

 

Talia

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

movement | drawing & life drawing S'19

Lines dance in every body type. 

David

Mira

Mira

Xuan

Xuan

process | SIS II '17

I encourage students to take photos at all stages of their drawing. Beginning with a light gesture, to plan her composition, Emma follows with a contour line, to carve out the flesh, and then maps out the shapes of shadows, to later fill in with values. (Luckily, I had my camera ready.)

Some humor for the New Year | drawing f'16

Self-portrait by Emily

Nicolas Sarkozy by Maria

figure drawing intensive | SIS II '16

Plenty was covered during the first week of class. By the third day, this is just a sampling of the drawings produced by my high school students. 

Richard

Tallulah

Leyla

life drawing | drawing S'16

The figure was the focus for four classes. Gestures led to contours, combined with values, and then to portraiture. While there was plenty to learn in a short period of time, what emerged was each student's own expressive potential. 

Elley

Kaitlyn

Jaqui

Maria

helpful hint | drawing f'15

To show depth, remember a basic rule of perspective: What is closest to you appears larger. So, in figure drawing, begin your drawing from the body part closest to you. If it is a leg, or a foot, start from the bottom of the paper. Do not start from the top! If you do, what will likely ensue is a massive head - more caricature than reality. 

Cristina

Sana

values in a pencil drawing | drawing f'15

When setting up the composition, start lightly, using both the tip and the side of the pencil. Then go back, and darken where needed. Constantly comparing values maintains the unity of the drawing. The following examples show some steps in the process. 

The beginning of Michelle's drawing, shows her gentle touch,
with some dramatic perspective.

Sana is able to keep the background shoe
in the background, by only darkening the reclining shoe.
The values on the rope still need to be developed,
and the front of the shoe could be wider.

Beatriz is able to get the texture of the black velvet shoe,
 by changing over to a 6B pencil. 

Beatriz will finish by giving the egg more dimension, 

and bringing less attention to the outline 

of the jumprope's handle. 

lines | drawing: figure & meaning SIS II '15

In Lexie's first drawing, she only uses a heavy contour, and then in a one-minute drawing, she does not know what to do. So the first lesson is to experiment, and become familiar with the charcoal. 

The side and the tip are addressed, and with enough practice her line variations become standard. 

By the last week of class, Lexie eases up on the pressure, and shows her sensitive touch. Here values are emphasized, and contour lines play a decidedly minor role. Even the model's hand, drawn at the bottom of the paper, is so light as to not distract from the focus. 

adding character | drawing: figure & meaning SIS II '15

When Rivala plays with marks on the paper, not only do her figures show her energy, by the second week, she imbues them with personality. 

First ten minute drawing

First one minute drawing

  

The first week of gesture drawing

The second week after lessons on clothing, portraiture, and composition

                                

the first week | drawing: figure & meaning SIS II '15

Intensives are just that - intense! On Monday afternoon, Rama did a 10 minute drawing and then a one minute gesture. As you can see, she never had any life drawing. Instruction started on Tuesday morning, and by Thursday afternoon a figure study was going into her portfolio.

Rama's first gesture drawing

Rama's first drawing

A gesture drawing in ink

After a class on contour and then values

the first week | SIS I Painting '15

The class begins with drawing. After a lesson on perspective, composition, and values, notice the difference in Jimin's drawing, from the morning to the afternoon session. Her composition fills the page, and by toning the paper she is better able to understand values.  

Jimin

Oil painting starts with a similar process. A wash of color tones the canvas, and a rag, dipped in Gamsol, brings out the light, while paint straight from the tube is the darkest value.

Marisa

Learning to mix colors, keeping them clean, not overworking the brush, and slathering on the paint - like butter - is a challenge for everyone. 

Melanie

values | life drawing s'15

"The light comes forward and the shadows recede." It's a mantra to repeat, when applying pressure to the shadows. Float the charcoal lightly over the page - later darkening in as needed. The pallid beauty of Mariel's self-portrait is graced with the intensity of a single eye. Thrust upward, Lu's self-portrait, drawn in pencil, captures the nuances of light on a mountainous landscape. I am in awe of their remarkable growth from the first to the last class. 

Mariel

Mariel's first life drawing

Lu

Lu's first drawing