30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 6- Negative Complex Drawing

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 6-  Negative Complex Drawing 

I am a positive person, but I'm going to focus on being negative just a little bit longer.  You see, I think "practice makes permanent".  So  good stuff deserves a little repetition.  

Negative space: The space around and between things. It's the space between the chairs, or under the table and between the legs.  We are all aware of that space.  We are constantly managing to look for it and find it in order to navigate in this world.

Here we are on Day 6 of our 30 Day Drawing Challenge.  If you missed Day 5, then I encourage you to read the initial explanation of our topic in this previous lesson- "Negative Space"
 Click here for Link to Day 5- Negative Space Introduction .  

How did you do drawing negative shapes yesterday?  Was it really hard?  Do you have a negativity complex now?  I often think that I can relate a little better to dyslexia after trying to think and draw negatively.  It's like drawing while looking in a mirror...  I have to constantly stop and refocus on my intention to draw the negative space.  Since I'm assuming it may have been difficult for you as well, I want you to look for another group of shapes to put together and form a complex arrangement.  Today, since I am at the beach, I will be using shells.  Get your grouping of items together on a sheet of paper, or to speed things up, you can use my photo.

Let your shapes touch the edge and form defined negative spaces...see! You're already thinking about the shape of the negative spaces.  

Step 1- Gather pencil, paper, eraser (yes, I'm in a nice mood again ;-) and a few items which will form a grouping.  Arrange your objects on a piece paper which will become your "frame".  Otherwise, you could also take a photo and use that image as I have done here to create a frame around your items.  Let some of the them intersect the edge of your frame in a few places as pictured above.

Step 2-  Draw a similarly shaped frame in your sketchbook. 

Step 3-  Now look at the shapes around and between your items. 

Step 4-  Draw the arranged pattern, but rather than drawing your objects, draw the shapes around them. and let those shapes form the outer contours of the items in your drawing.  As you can see, the shapes around them will include the edge of your frame as well as the edges of your objects.  

It will look something like this:

Negative space drawing of shells from previous photo

If you're like me, this second attempt to draw the negative will be much easier and require less mental gymnastics.  I hope you feel the improvement from yesterday...if so, you're on your way to improved drawing!  Use this trick as a means of simplifying complex arrangements of shapes.

Step 5: Now take this drawing a bit further and fill in some detail.  Maybe extra lines or shadows.  Embellish it to the extent you'd like.  If you're out of time, then simply call it a day.  

When Finished:  Congratulate yourself on being 20% of the way to our goal of 30 Days!  Hang in there and meet me here again tomorrow.  I have a few more ideas that may continue to open your mind to new ways of drawing.

If you're enjoying these FREE LESSONs, I hope you'll do me the favor of leaving a comment.  They make me happy and let me know that somebody out there is benefitting from all the effort to send this information into cyberspace.

You could also like my Facebook page- Rebecca Zdybel- Artist.  I always feel like Sally Field at the Oscars when I get a new "like" on Facebook.

Happy Drawing!

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons in all media

Myrtle Beach, SC

rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

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30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 5-Negative Spaces

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 5- Negative Spaces

Let's Think Positive about Drawing the Negatives

I have always loved to draw, but not because it was easy.  Many famous artists struggled with learning how to draw as well.  Does that surprise you?  If you think you have to be a "natural" in order to draw, I would strongly disagree.  A little hard work can make up for a whole lot of inherent talent. One of my favorite artists, Vincent VanGogh happened to write to his brother Theo quite frequently while he was studying art and struggling along the way.  here are a few of his thoughts on drawing...maybe you will can relate to him. 

"As practice makes perfect, I cannot but make progress; each drawing one makes, each study one paints, is a step forward." Vincent van Gogh 

“I'm drawing a great deal and think it's getting better.”—Vincent van Gogh, Etten, November 3, 1881, to Theo van Gogh

“I cannot tell you how happy I am to have taken up drawing again. I've been thinking of it, but I always considered the thing impossible and beyond my reach."

Vincent Van Gogh

If you're struggling or if you have been intimidated by drawing, then you have a lot in common with Vincent Van Gogh.  But don't cut off any ears ok?!

When we learn to draw, there are many tricks and techniques to know.  There are a few tricks of the trade that have boosted my drawing skills over the years.  Learning to render negative spaces was a dramatic help.  I predict you'll also find it helpful.

What is Negative Space? 

How many faces do you see? I see 11, how about you?

Negative space is the space around and between things. It's the space between the chairs, or under  the table and between the legs.  We are all aware of that space.  We are constantly managing to look for it and find it in order to navigate in this world.  

Think about parking.  In order to park, we look for a "negative" space, or the space between the lines, and between other cars. ( God help us if we need to parallel park because then we have to factor in the negative space between us and that darn curb ;-)

Not only does negative space exist, but it forms shapes.  Normally we may not see theses spaces as shapes, but as artists we need to be sensitive to the shapes of things.  That's why the tree drawing above is so clever.

The point is, you already KNOW about negative space, you probably just haven't given it much thought. More than likely, you may not have ever thought about APPLYING it to your drawing.  What's interesting, is that once you know about negative space, it sometimes provides an easy way to draw complicated images.  Hmmmm, easier sounds better right?  Ok, let's get started...

Step 1- Gather pencil, paper, eraser (yes, I'm in a nice mood again ;-) and a few household kitchen items.  Arrange the kitchen items on a piece paper which will become your "frame".  Otherwise, you could also take a photo and use that image as I have done here to create a frame around your items.  Let some of the items intersect the edge of your frame in a few places as pictured above.

Step 2-  Draw a similarly shaped frame in your sketchbook.

Step 3-  Now look at the shapes around and between your items.

Step 4-  Draw the arranged pattern, but rather than drawing your kitchen items, draw the shapes around them. and let those shapes form the outer contours of the items in your drawing.  As you can see, the shapes around them will include the edge of your frame as well as the edges of your kitchen stuff.  
 It will look something like this:

Try to think positively about your efforts, but DRAW NEGATIVELY.  This is not easy.  And will take a little practice, but rather than strain your brain too much, we'll make this little drawing all we do for today.  That will leave you time to share your drawings with me or comment below about your experience.

Use any extra time you may have in the next few days to get a pen which will "bleed" with water.  There are lots of water-soluble pens out there, but my favorite is the Black Elegant Writer calligraphy pen in an extra fine nib size (available online and at most craft stores).  We will use a pen like this in a few days.  You can also think about gathering a good plastic eraser, and a kneaded eraser (I like the General brand best, but any will do).  We will also have a use for a tortillion soon (otherwise known as a drawing stump).  Otherwise, if you don't have a tortillion, your finger or a paper towel will be an ok substitute.

In the meantime, if you're enjoying this drawing challenge, I'd appreciate you subscribing to my blog and continuing the journey with me and my students.  Your comments on this blog are always appreciated.  See you tomorrow!

30 Day drawing challenge Day 3- Blind Contour Onion

The drawings that interest me most are made with closed eyes. With eyes closed, I feel my hand slide down on the paper. I have an image in mind, but the results always surprise me. 
Willem de Kooning

Day 3 of our journey will challenge us to draw without watching our paper.  What?!  I can hear you already..."you want me to draw without looking at my paper?!"  As it turns out, in order to truly see and improve our drawing, this technique has proven results.   For now, just trust me when I say that it is worth your time to try it.

What is Blind contour?  It's a way to sensitize the coordination of our brain, our eyes and our hand.  It's amazing how quickly we gloss over visual information. We short-circuit what we see in order to process and respond quickly.  Our brains are masterful at this, but as artists we need to reverse this tendency and take in the details.  We are essentially training our Brain to take in data that it would normally skip.  Training our eyes to work in coordination with our hand by way of our brain is the ticket to drawing.  No wonder modern science is showing that adults who engage in regular art groups have better cognitive functioning than non-artists.  Yay for us!

What will we be drawing?  The lowly onion will be our subject for today.  Blind Contour will be our approach.  Relax...you won't need a blindfold.

Materials:
An Onion, Sketch paper, a pencil,  and eraser (yes you can use one today!).  I'm drawing my images in my Aquabee Super Deluxe sketchbook and I'd suggest you do your series of drawings in a sketchbook.  It will provide a great record of this 30 day adventure once we are finished. =)

Step 1:
Take a look at your onion.  I'd like you to draw from life if possible, so try to find an onion and place it in front of you.

Turn your paper to landscape orientation.  We will begin along the left side of the paper.  Very important:  Turn your body away from your paper.  Look at the onion, but try not to see the paper you are drawing on.

Step 2:  Beginning on the left side of the paper: Find an edge on the left of the onion, and begin moving your eyes and hand together to draw the edge of the shapes you see.  Be sure to turn away so you can't see the paper.  Peeking is allowed, but only to replace your pencil if it goes astray.

Follow those edges slowly with your eyes.  Your pencil should move with your eyes.  This is a slow process, so don't move your eyes ahead of your pencil.  Feel your pencil move.  Do not erase.  If your line is crazy, simply pick up your pencil, replace it along the edge where it "went wrong"  and draw it correctly.  The secret is to look at your subject 90% of the time and at your paper less than 10% if at all possibly.  The onion may have lots of edges...the skin may be torn, the top may be gnarled, and the bottom may have root tendrils.  All these edges are meant to be explored and followed with your eyes and your pencil.

What does this accomplish?  It makes a confident line.  It will reveal nuances of detail which you would not see otherwise.  Your drawing may end up looking something like this:

Though far from perfect, this drawing has captured the torn quality of the edges on the papery outer shell of the onion.

If that's all the time you have for today, then Congratulations!  You've completed another drawing.
If you're a glutton for punishment or hungry to learn as much as possible, then follow along to Step 3. It's time to do it again!
______________________________________________________

Step 3- Reposition your onion and draw it again. Use the same Blind contour technique and beginning in the central portion of your paper, draw the onion again.  Remember, SLOW is key.  Fight the urge to speed up and make something up.  When my eyes get ahead of my hand, that's what happens. More often than not, when I make things up, they often are wrong!

Since we are drawing more than one onion, shapes may overlap. Your pencil may go off the paper.  Don't worry! Enjoy the process and if you're like me, you will find more and more detail becoming apparent to you as you slow down to take it in.

When the second drawing is done, you again have permission to stop.  However, if you want to complete the entire lesson, then one more onion drawing is required.

Step 4:  Reposition your onion again.  Beginning on the right side of the paper, find a good edge and draw your object slowly with your eyes and hand moving in concert.  When you're done you may have a drawing that looks like this:

Confusing lines make it unclear who is in front and who is behind. 

Step 5:  Now it's time to get our your eraser. I hear you cheering...it's about time right?!    

When multiple shapes are next to one another, often one is in front of the other.  It's time to make a decision.  With 3 shapes, you need to decide who is in front and who is behind.  Erase the lines that are confusing.  

I decided to let the central onion be in front, and erased the overlapping lines from the right sided onion.  Now it looks as if the right sided onion is behind the central onion.

Step 6- After erasing, you can think about adding some finishing touches to your drawing.  Details you might have missed can be added now.  In the end, you may end up with something like this.  I added the little tag on the onion, and a few of the lines that flow vertically around the onion.  I tried to continue to not look at the paper, looking long enough only to place my pencil, then turning my gaze back to the onion.  

Voila! You are done for the day...your drawing is complete.  

If you're enjoying this drawing challenge, be sure to subscribe to my blog.  The place to do so is along the right edge of my website's home page.  You can also share it with your Facebook friends if you want to encourage others to join us.  I'll see you here tomorrow with another drawing idea for you! 

Let me hear from you! I read every comment and it means a lot to know you are out there reading.  Post your photos on my Facebook or instagram page with the #30daydrawingchallenge, #learntodraw and we can follow one another's progress...

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons in all media

Myrtle Beach, SC

rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist

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30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 2

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 2- 

Continuous Contour Line Drawing

Finding Edges: How to determine what to draw first?  My initial step for almost every drawing is to look for edges.  One way to sensitize our eyes and see the edges is to really look for them.  Minding the edge of our shapes is what we will be taking care to do as we take our first few steps of this plunge into drawing...perhaps this guy should have had a few lessons of this sort before he stepped out!

Let's jump right in!

Day 2 Assignment: Continuous Contour Line Drawing

Part A:  Draw a Continuous line Contour drawing of an object you love.

How to Make a Continuous Line Contour Drawing:
A Continuous Line Contour drawing is simply an outline of the edges of your item done with a line that is continuous.  It makes sense right?  Avoid sketchy line work.  Make a confident line...even if it's wrong it the appearance of confidence will make it look artistic.

What to draw?  Maybe it's your cup of coffee in the morning.  Maybe it's a small item you have on the shelf.  Just make it something you have feelings about...preferably something with a little story. Choose your object, whether its your paint brush or your favorite pair of glasses, and draw the edges of it's contours using a continuous line. 

Be sure to draw it on a new sheet of paper (not on the back of your last drawing!!!)

This is my best hint for success:  Draw VERY SLOWLY.  Try to make your pen move at the same speed as your eyes. (yes I want you to use a pen again!) Don't get ahead of your pen with your eyes...keep looking at the place you are currently drawing.  When you stop looking at your object to look at your paper, be sure to STOP your pen.  All too often we quit looking, move ahead with our pens, and start making things up.  When I do this, invariably I make an inaccurate mark.  Only draw when you are looking at your object. Move around the edges and note where other edges intersect.   

Once you have chosen your object- Carefully and SLOWLY draw it in the top ½ of your piece of paper. (we will save the bottom half for part B)

Draw it with your eyes concentrated on the thing you are drawing and NOT looking as much at the drawing on your paper.  Make yourself look at the thing you draw 90% of the time and at your paper as little as possible.  Try not to pick up your pen.  If you make a wrong turn, then make another line that is more correct.  Those wrong turns will probably not be as obvious when the right lines come along.

I used a continuous line contour drawing in permanent pen as the foundation for this piece. If you look closely you'll see a line underneath the top of the right lens.  This is a line that was drawn at an incorrect angle as I was looking at my glasses.  When I realized the error, I just picked up my pen and drew a new line.  Do you see how unimportant the incorrect line is once the finished drawing is complete?  So don't be scared!  Mistakes are not fatal. 

Your drawing will not look perfect, but it will have character and be what I'd call Arty-farty.  A perfect drawing might be accurate, but can be dull.  Contour Drawings are never dull, often I find that Arty Farty renderings are more fun to look at.  The inaccuracies lend a sense of the artist's hand to the final product.

Part B:
Create an intersecting frame for your object.  Have the frame descend below the drawing and either write an explanation of what makes that object so important, or use a few words to help your object tell a story.  I decided to let my glasses illustrate the idea of the subject for this lesson.

If you want to add color, you can do so with watercolor or colored pencils.  (I did mine with watercolor). 

If you're enjoying this drawing challenge, be sure to subscribe to this blog!  You can share it to your Facebook friends if you want to encourage others to join us.  I'll see here tomorrow with another idea for you!

Let me hear from you! I read every comment and it means a lot to know you are out there reading.  Post your photos on my Facebook or instagram page with the #30daydrawingchallenge, #learntodraw and we can follow one another's progress...

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons in all media

Myrtle Beach, SC

rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

How to Draw- Day 1 of 30 Day Drawing Challenge

Today begins a 30 Day drawing challenge.  It should keep you busy and sharpen your drawing skills as well as your artistic vision.  If you wonder how to draw, then here is my answer...JUST DO IT!  Don't say..."I'll try. " Commit to getting better by practice!  There is no intellectual way to draw better.  There is no substitute for digging in and doing it.  Just like Yoda says, "There is no try...do or do not"...or something like that.  Here's the clip:

If You Really Want to See the World...Draw It!

I really believe that if we really want to "see the world" the best way to do that is to try and draw it.  When we draw, our ability to really "see" becomes sharper and more sensitive. If you're like me, then you'll find yourself looking at things and thinking, "How would I draw that?"  or How might I capture that?".  

I will post 30 days of drawing suggestions.  I am going to limit this 30 days to drawing.  If you draw with a water-soluble ink, pencil or crayon, and want to enliven your drawing with some water or watercolor, you have permission.  Any painting will be for extra credit...and I'd suggest you use a good watercolor sketch pad if that is your plan.  Regular sketch pads will break down if they get too wet.

My favorite sketch pads are Moleskine and Aquabee Super Deluxe pads (they have a maroon cover).  Once you get a pad and a drawing instrument, then you'll be ready to go...

Aquabee Super deluxe sketchbooks on Amazon

Moleskin sketchbooks

Have fun and make this 30 days a commitment to yourself.  When I made the commitment, it was one of the best gifts I ever gave myself as an artist.  And, it's a gift that keeps on giving!  I plan to do it along with you this month, and expect that I'll get even better at drawing as a result. I hope you'll end up feeling as if you gave yourself a tremendous gift after you get finished.  =)

Please comment here so we can keep up with one another over the month.  If you share photos with me, I'll try to include them in the blogs.  If you think anyone else would care to join us, you can include them by sharing the blog from my website to your Facebook page or via email.  

Happy drawing!!!

Day 1

Part A-  

Your first assignment is simple.  Draw your shoe.  My friend Kathie George began her 30 Day drawing challenge this way, and I think it's a great place to begin.  (BTW- she has a fantastic blog you should also follow =)  

This first drawing is important because it becomes a record of where you began.  Don't stress over this, and limit your drawing to about 5-15 minutes.  Most importantly, use a pen.  Using a pen automatically makes us attend to what we are doing more carefully.  When we know we can't erase, we somehow change our approach and look a little more carefully.  I think looking carefully is always a good thing, so take these few minutes and draw that shoe your wearing.  

As you do...note the inner voices that begin to speak to you in your head.  We all have them, and just take note of what they might be saying to you as you draw.  Try not to judge this drawing or the thoughts you have...your first efforts will be a little rusty and judgments need to be reserved till late. I know it's really hard to look with kindness at your own efforts!  Most of us are our own worst critics.  

When you finish, then proceed to part B.

My shoe- I used a Zebra Gr8t Gel black pen in my Aquabee Super deluxe Sketchpad .  I got tired of making hatch marks, so, I used a wet brush to spread the ink out a little and quickly cover more ground.  Beneath the drawing, I made note of some of the things that Negative Nellie was whispering in my ear as I drew...

Part B- 

Now that you've drawn your shoe you can say, "Whew! Day 1 complete!"  

It might be interesting for you to note what negative or positive comments were swirling around in your head as you drew.  I have a Negative Nellie that likes to inject herself on my artistic efforts sometimes.  She is extremely insecure and judgmental.  I often have to tell her to pipe down, and make extra effort to look for things I like about my work to counteract her negative input.  Kathie George has a whole committee in her head that she calls the "IBSC" or ("Itty Bitty Shitty Committee").  Isn't that funny?! Whether you have a Negative Nellie or a whole committee weighing in negatively about your work, we all deal with this phenomenon. We all need to overcome it with positive thinking.  

I made note of a few of the thoughts that were coming to mind as I drew my shoe.  I listed them below my drawing here...

I believe drawing can be taught.  I believe drawing can be practiced and that you WILL improve the more you do it.  Art is craft, and craft takes practice in order to gain mastery.  

Keep this in mind as you look ahead to tomorrow and our next assignment.  Till then, congratulate yourself on beginning this journey.  I'll meet you here again tomorrow.

Let me hear from you! I read every comment and it means a lot to know you are out there reading.
Post your photos to my Facebook page- Rebecca Zdybel- Artist and use #30daydrawingchallenge, and #learntodraw for instagram and twitter.

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons in all media

Myrtle Beach, SC

rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+