30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 26- Free Draw

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 26- Free Draw

Day 26 of our 30 Day Drawing Challenge will be a chance to draw in your own way, with your own choice of tools.  I've given so many options over the course of this challenge.  Today you can try something again that you enjoyed, or take something that was difficult and practice it another time.  Perhaps you could combine ideas from a few different days...

©Rebecca Zdybel

For my example above, I again used the Tombow Marker 947 which I recommended you purchase.  (If you would like to get one, it's around $5-6. Here is a link:  Tombow 947 Marker- Amazon)  I then formatted with a frame and added words for content.

For this example, I searched Google for a quote about orchids.  
Then I included it as part of  my sketch.
Contour Drawing with Tombow 947 Marker and Watercolor. ©Rebecca Zdybel 

Here are some more ideas:

• Bring Balance and Content to your sketch with words...as I have in some of these sketches. For some examples of great fonts you might use follow this link:  30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 13- Find a Favorite Font
• Create a vignette version of your image or soften the background around your image.  Here's the link that explains how to do it:  30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 17- How to Vignette
• Think about formatting your image after drawing it by creating a frame that contains or intersects your image in an interesting way. Part of learning how to draw, is learning how to present your drawings and compose your work. These little drawing tricks are very helpful, but they need practice!  
• Frames, words, and a little pop of color can add pizazz and lend composition to a solitary image.  Kind of like dressing it up or putting on makeup.  Your drawing may be inherently good looking, but it may look better with a little sumpthin' sumpthin' (that's how we say it down here in the South). I explain this concept more fully here: 30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 12- Draw, Format, Paint

Notice how the tape pattern on the brush handle is repeated in the background frame.
The curves of the lettering are also repeated in the curved edges of the frame.  This repetition brings harmony and improves the design of an otherwise simple sketch.  ©Rebecca Zdybel

Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy the meditative and personally rewarding aspect of making time to draw.  When you do, you will really see what's in front of you.  My time spent on art is always enriching, and I hope your time spent on this challenge ends up making you feel the same.  I'll be back with another challenge for you tomorrow...

Don't forget to send me your drawings! rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

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Here are some photos of fellow challengers' sketches...

Elegant Writer markers in various colors.  Nice vignette in the background!  

Zentangle is addicting...and when they turn out this well you can see why! Here's a link to my lesson on How to Zentangle from Day 20: http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/2015/05/30-day-drawing-challenge-day-21_21.html

From Day 26- Draw a Teacup.  Beautifully done!

Happy Drawing!

I'll look forward to seeing what you do in your "free" time today. Don't forget to send me photos of your drawings =)

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons: Drawing, Watercolor, Acrylic, Collage, Mixed 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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 25- Draw a Teacup

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 25- Draw a Teacup

This sketch was done initially as a contour drawing with Tombow 947 Water-soluble Marker. Watercolor and permanent black marker also used. 
 Note the color in these shadows!  ©Rebecca Zdybel 

Guess what we are going to draw on Day 25 of our 30 Day Drawing challenge?  

That's right, a teacup.  

I've been asking a lot of you throughout the course of this challenge.  After trying lots of new things, a bit of review might be time well spent. You've earned a day where you get to make some choices in how you will draw.  Today I am only going to suggest the subject matter.  The method you use will be up to you.  

This sketch was done from life with only a Tombow 947 marker.  I had afternoon tea at a lovely Tea Room here in Venice, FL and took the opportunity to record the moment with this sketch.  So fun!  ©Rebecca Zdybel

I like to collect old china teacups, and lately I've been enjoying drawing them as well. We all probably have teacups somewhere in the cupboard, though yours may not look like mine.   Your assignment for today's drawing challenge is to find a teacup and draw it.  I want you to use all your new superpower drawing skills!  They are now becoming more finely honed with each passing day, so I'm giving you freedom to channel them...here's some thoughts:  

• Think about bringing color into your shadows.  If you use your Tombow marker again today, it will already impart a bit of color if you make it run with a wet brush.  The same would be true of other water-soluble drawing materials. 
• Consider whether you want to create a contour drawing of your subject or how you wish to approach it. (both of my sketches here began with contour drawings).  
• Perhaps you'd like to use continuous line contour, begin with a Toned Ground or take a photo and draw it upside-down.  If you're not familiar with these approaches, then you can refer to these previous lessons by following these links: 
• 30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 9- Upside down drawing
• 30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 7- Drawing on a Toned Ground
• 30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 10- Continuous Line Contour Drawing
• 30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 11- Drawing Rounded Forms
• What drawing tool will you use?  Tombow markers, Elegant writer, Pencil or perhaps some other new favorite drawing tool.  Use this lesson as an excuse to try something you've not yet tried, or to pull out something you know and love.  Whatever you choose will be perfect!
• Will you simply draw, or will you possibly add watercolor or mix drawing tools together in the sketch?  You decide.

When you finish your sketch, photograph it and send it my way so we can share the fun.  Here are a couple of nice sketches from challengers that have recently come my way: 

Day 24- Tombow Marker Sketch

Day 23- linking shapes with shadows

Enjoy your practice and I'll be back tomorrow with another fun challenge to get a fire lit under your sketchbook... or something like that ;-)

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons: Drawing, Watercolor, Acrylic, Collage, Mixed 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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 23- Linking Shapes with Shadows

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 23- Linking Shapes with Shadows

Linkage is a design fundamental that describes the process of bringing unity to a piece of art by building connections.  Connections bring harmony and balance and all kinds of good design qualities to your work.  These connections can be made in many ways, but actual physical linking of shapes isn't always possible or may not make sense in your composition.  This is where shadows can play a very convenient role!

Designing better shapes is something we should all be thinking about.  Linking shapes is a really great way to achieve this.  For example, it's often a good idea when possible to take a series of repetitive small shapes and bring them together with connecting shapes.  This can create larger and more interesting shapes, or bring variation to what would otherwise be simple repetition. Again, this is a role that shadows were born to play!

Shadows can be anything from short and stubby to long and lean.  They can go in any direction.   They can GROW if needed to fill gaps.  They can also have color!

(We explored Color and Shadows in Day 21 of our 30 Day drawing challenge- Here's the link in case you missed it: 30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 21: Shadows/Color )

For all these reasons shadows are the perfect means for designing better shapes and creating linkage within your work.

An example of how you can GROW shadows to connect otherwise disconnected shapes ©Rebecca Zdybel 

Today's Challenge: 

Step 1: Draw 3-5 disconnected shapes using a contour drawing and ink.  I love clothespins as a subject, but you can pick anything (toothbrushes, brushes, pencils, crayons...etc.)

Hint: Leave gaps here and there in the contours of your objects to allow for color to visually flow in and out of the shapes and allow for a sense of bounced color from shadow to object. 

Step 2: Use shadows to connect your shapes and form a unified drawing.  Watercolor, watercolor pencils, or watercolor crayons would be a great to use in order to create colored shadows, but colored pencils or markers could also work well. 

Note that my shadows are not realistic, but they serve to connect my shapes together and create linkage.  They also provide a cool complementary color to the warm oranges of the clothespins.  

Step 3: Send a photo of your final result to me:   rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Have fun with this drawing and file the idea away for future compositions when you sketch!  As we learn to draw, these little tricks of the trade can make our work so much better, and they are not that hard.  You just need to spend a little time digesting them. =)

Here are some drawings from the sketchbooks of more fellow Drawing Challengers:  

These all illustrate a very great danger in going down the Zentangle path...IT'S ADDICTIVE and very meditative...and BEAUTIFUL when done like these drawings demonstrate. Wow!  If you missed that lesson, it's available following this link. If you go there beware of the risk of instant addiction! 30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 20- Zentangle

I'm already looking ahead to later this week.  I will be breaking out my Tombow marker in burnt sienna color -947 for a sketch or two during the final couple of weeks of this challenge.  If you would like to get one, it's around $5-6. Here is a link:  Tombow 947 Marker- Amazon

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons: Drawing, Watercolor, Acrylic, Collage, Mixed 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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+