30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 9- Upside Down Drawing

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 9- Upside Down Drawing

Drawing is not the same as form, it is a way of seeing form.


Edgar Degas

I know, I know...you're thinking what in the world? But trust me, this is a great technique for getting your mind out of things and learning to trust your eyes. I constantly amaze myself with my ability to make things up as I draw.  I think I'm looking, but so often I don't really see, and my hand keeps going, and then....things get all muddled up. Relationships of objects aren't right, and proportions get skewed.  I'm guessing that maybe you can relate...

What's the answer?  It may surprise you that my answer is often to turn my subject upside down.  Crazy as that sounds, it works, and it's way easier than drawing on my head!



Materials you'll need:
Pen of your choice (yes, I'm feeling demanding again)
Paper
The drawing below:
Draw using  this image or
Print it out and turn it upside down from this site http://www.gramilano.com/2011/10/two-quirky-ballerinas-strike-a-pose-at-the-frick-collection/

Draw the ballerinas by Picasso by looking carefully at the drawing and the relationship of lines to one another, and to the edge.  Try to not label anatomical features as anything but shapes and lines with direction.  You can talk to yourself, and you can look at your paper (see how nice I am?).

Hint:  for the outer contours of the figures, think about the "negative shapes" that are formed by the edges of the figures and the edge of the paper.  See how far you've come?  You actually know what I'm talking about when I discuss negative shapes now. =) Draw those shapes and you'll be on your way to correct placement and proportions.

Have fun with it...it's upside down and it's a wacky image anyway, so there' s no big risk in tackling today's challenge.  When you're done it'll look something like this:

Thanks for sending in some of your drawings from your arduous efforts at drawing over the last week.  Think about it, we are almost ⅓ of the way to completion already!  Are you feeling any dawning awareness?  Are you gaining insight?  Feel free to share it here or via email.

For those of you who are participating, look at these examples of real work from previous days of the challenge, sent in by real people just like you.  I especially love the recorded "thoughts while drawing" of the shoe! lol  If you send me your images prior to the end of the challenge, I'll include them in future blogs. 

Keep drawing and I'll see you with another challenge to keep you on the path toward 30 days of Drawing and improving!!!

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 13- Find a Favorite Font

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 13- Find a Favorite Font

You can't do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh. 
John Singer Sargent

I love letters!  I think they are an overlooked art in today's era of computers and texting.  It's almost criminal to think that kids are not being taught how to write cursive and develop their ability to write with style.  Beautiful lettering can improve a simple drawing and give it content and meaning.  Greeting card manufacturers make their millions based on this simple idea...take a thought and put it together with a picture and people will want it. 

When I look at people's sketches and art journals, often the sketch is good, but poorly executed lettering can take away from the drawing.  This doesn't have to happen. Until we look at lettering as art, we may miss the opportunity to write with artistic style. Today I'm going to help you do some thinking and some playing around with letters. =)

Based on this idea, I want you to take on the challenge of looking for a personally appealing font. Look for one you could adopt as your favorite.  I was amused to see that the font above is actually a continuous line font.  I thought it might be fun to share, since most of you tried to do a continuous line drawing on Day 10 (In case you missed it, here's the link:  Day 10 of my 30 Day Drawing Challenge- Continuous Line ).  

If you want to keep an art journal, this little exercise may be something to do more than once...after all you may want to mix up your lettering every once in a while. 

There are so many fonts out there...if you Google "fonts" you'll find an abundance of them.  If you don't feel like going to that trouble, here are a few you can try to practice.  You get to choose!

Materials you might use for this challenge: 

• pencil, pens, markers, colored pencils, elegant writer marker, crayons, watercolor...use your imagination!
• paper

Step 1- Pick out a font and draw the letters.  Think of each one as a drawing.  If the letter is enclosed in a box (as the one above) you can use the negative shape around the letter to help you form the shape correctly.  

Step 2- Embellish your alphabet with color!  If you use the elegant writer marker, then be aware it is not permanent and will bleed when water touches it, forming green and pink coloration.  If you dab it once it's wet, it will become more pink.  Test the Elegant writer with water on a test sheet prior to using on your drawing. It's really fun, but takes some practice.  

Step 3- When finished, take a photo and send it to me.  I would love to see the fonts you come up with!

Hint:  Keep an area on your paper dry if you want it to remain white when using watercolor or water-soluble markers/pencils. The pigment from watercolor or any other water-soluble mark makers will only travel where the water takes it.  Dry paper acts as a dam and prevents the color from moving there.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours! ;-)

I saw this font at Hobby Lobby in wooden letters, and liked it so much I took photos of them on the shelf.  People must have thought I was crazy, but I still love them and here they are all on one page.  I used an elegant writer to draw the contour of the letter and then took a wet brush and wet the OUTSIDE of the letters to make them pop. After it dried, I added more ink and reinforced shadows, and then took a wet brush and smeared them again.  Hint: when using the Elegant writer, have a kleenex in your hand at all times for lifting...the ink can get a bit crazy, but it's worth the effort. 

PS- for tomorrow, we will be using our elegant writer markers.  If you don't have one, you can substitute watercolor pencils or other water soluble markers (but they won't be as fun )

Keep up the good work...we are almost half way through our 30 days of Drawing!  I'll be back tomorrow with another challenge. If you're enjoying this challenge, share it with your friends =)

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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 12- Draw, Format, Paint

 30 Day Drawing challenge Day 11- Draw, Format, Paint

Drawing is putting a line around an idea.


Henri Matisse

How to Format Your Drawing:

A frame makes every picture look better, don't you think?  I always equate matting and framing my work to why we women wear make-up...even naturally pretty people look better with a little make-up.  The same is true for sketches or paintings...put them in a frame, and somehow a good piece of art will  look that much better once you frame it.

Today's assignment will have to do with this same phenomenon.  Today you will put a frame around whatever you draw.  In the sketch below, I used words to form a frame around my subject.  I then painted with watercolor to make it colorful and fun.  Today you will also have the challenge to frame your sketch, and bring a little color to your drawing with either paint, pencils, or whatever you choose to use.

Struggling with lettering?  Look for fonts you like online:  Google "fonts" and see if there is one you like...it may come in handy for another day's lesson!  ;-)

Materials for today:
Pencil or pen (your choice)
paper that can handle watercolor or paint
watercolors, watercolor pencils, or colored pencils

Step 1:
draw a simple object. Think about leaving gaps in the contours of your drawing to allow for shapes to merge (for example, in this instance, my object and the shadow merge to form a more interesting shape)
Step 2:
Create a frame that intersects your object, but lets the object "break out" of the frame here or there.
Step 3:
Add lettering if you feel it will add to the format of your drawing
Step 4:
Paint or color in your drawing.  Look for ways to make your drawing more interesting by repeating colors or moving colors through your piece.
Step 5:
Photograph your drawing and send it to me! I'm enjoying receiving your work =)

so cute!

so brave! obviously no cheating, and yet I still feel "onions"

nicely done!

adorable!

Happy Drawing!  I'll look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow!

ps- for tomorrow, you may use the elegant writer markers, watercolor pencils, other markers or colored pencils

If you haven't purchased your black Elegant Writer pen yet, then run out and get one.  I'd like to use it for Day 11's lesson.   Here's a link to Amazon:    Elegant writer- Black extra fine point

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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 11- Rounded Forms

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 11- Drawing Rounded Forms

The straight line is ungodly. 
Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Shapes can be difficult to form when they are rounded.  Think about the folds of garments, facial contours, fruit, pitchers, petals, leaves...the list of rounded forms is long.  I thought I would share a simple thought today that really helped me understand how to create rounded forms.

• Value Transitions are Crucial
• Gradual = Round

First let's talk about value.  What is it?  This is a simple term that refers to light and dark and does not necessarily have anything to do with color.  If something is dark value its obviously darker than whats around it.  The opposite is true if something is lighter value.  The degree of difference between adjacent values or "transition between values" is something called "value shift".

To create a rounded contour, the "value shift" or transition between the values must be gradual.  

Voila! It's that simple.

• Whenever you want a rounded form, no matter what the color is, the value must change GRADUALLY.  The rounder the form, the more subtle the value shift will be.  
• A steeply rounded form will have quicker value shifts and a flatter rounded form will shift more slowly.

How easy is that?!  Ok, now that we know about value shifts and rounded forms, this is your assignment:

• Find something round to draw.  I did this drawing of a sphere.  You can use it if you'd like, but there's plenty of rounded things in the world to draw.  Use your imagination!  Ideally drawing from life is great, but sometimes the lighting in a photograph can make things a bit easier.  Setting up your own still life or using a photo will be fine for this lesson.

My drawing of the sphere...very gradual value transitions are key!  Your drawing stump (tortillion) or finger can easily smudge the graphite and create that smooth and gradual change of value that will read as "round".

One final note or hint:  At the edge of a rounded shape, there is an important shadow that you'll need to find:  It's called the TERMINAL SHADOW and marks the receding edge of a rounded form.  You'll see it even along the brightly lit edge of a rounded form.  If you look at my drawing, you'll see it.  In a relative way, the edge will be darker.  Draw what you see, and you'll be in good shape, but now that you know about terminal shadows, you'll know to look for them. =-)

Materials I would suggest for this lesson:

Graphite soft lead pencil (2B, 4B, 6B)
White Paper
Plastic and kneaded eraser
Paper Drawing stump or tortillion (kleenex or finger can serve the same purpose)

Step 1-  You may begin with a toned ground if you think it might be helpful.  As we saw in previous lessons, this can provide a shortcut to the middle values.  However, you may approach it any way you'd like.

Step 2- Find your highlight(s).  Begin by making the highlight your lightest value and let everything relate to that value as you move along.  Value is relative, so for the purposes of this lesson, work on white paper.

Step 3- Mind the transitions of value and note the terminal shadows at the receding edges of your rounded forms.  Where they disappear and round away out of sight, you will do well to include a terminal shadow, even if you don't really see one.  ;-)

Enjoy this drawing time and know that you're not alone in taking on this challenge.  I look forward to connecting with as many of you as possible in June when my classes resume.  It will be fun to compare notes and share thoughts on this experience!

In the meantime, check out a few of the great drawings your fellow challengers are sharing:

I just love receiving these from each of you!  Keep them coming and keep up the great work!  

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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 10- Continuous Line Drawing

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 9- Continuous Line Drawing

How did your upside down drawing go?  I hope you found out the happy surprise that most of us do when trying this exercise.  I believe that when the brain recognizes something, the visual processing centers shut down and your brain uses it's processing for other things. When we look at something upside down, our brains don't automatically quit looking, because they are not sure what they are seeing and stay engaged in order to figure it out.   Isn't it amazing how much better we do when we get out of the business of seeing what we "think" should be there, and actually just draw what we see? 

Today's Drawing Challenge is called Continuous line contour drawing.  The name basically says it all...it's a contour drawing which explores the edges of shapes using a continuous line.  

I'm going to ask you to do the same drawing again.  If you can't stand that idea, you have permission to do a different line drawing if you must.  However, this time I want you to leave your pen on the paper and not pick it up!  It's going to be the honor system, but try not to cheat.  Picasso was known for these kind of continuous line drawings and they remain some of his most recognizable images.  If you're lucky, maybe yours will become one of your favorites!  

Materials:  

Pen

Paper

Image (you can use one of these Picasso drawings)

Step 1- Look at your image closely and decide where you want to begin your line.  This will be a continuous line once you start, so remember to keep it moving and leave it on the paper if you stop.  If you go astray, back up your line and correct it from the point where you went astray.

Step 2- If there are shapes which are absolutely not connected you may leave a gap or an open edge. You may also pick up your pen to get to those shapes and THEN make a continuous line to form that shape.  (For example: this may be needed to form the eyes of the female portraits above.)

Keep drawing and tomorrow I'll see you with another challenge to keep you on the path toward 30 days of improving your Drawing Skills!!!

Here are a few examples of drawings from some of you who are participating in the challenge...keep the photos coming, it's so nice to keep in touch with what you are doing.  =)

Negative shapes- with additional detail (Wow!)

Toned ground Figure- Now THAT's a head of hair! =)

Day 8- Photo reference on Toned Ground . An Ambitious attempt to draw a Rembrandt- well done!

Day 7- Drawing on Toned ground- with additional color. Such nice shadows!

Photo Reference on Toned Ground- Day 8 Such expressive eyes!

Well done!  

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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 8- Photo reference on Toned Ground

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 8- Photo reference on Toned Ground

“Drawing is the root of everything, and the time spent on that is actually all profit.”—Vincent van Gogh, The Hague, 3 June 3, 1883, to Theo van Gogh

Interior of a Farm with Two Figures March-April 1890, Saint-Rémy Lead pencil, 254 x 330 mm. Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, Amsterdam

I love to hear encouraging words from great masters. It's not that misery loves company...well ok, maybe it IS that misery loves company.  Somehow its comforting to hear that great artists struggled, thought deeply about their art process, and arrived at the same conclusions as me.  If you are wondering whether the time you spend on drawing is worth it, I am here to tell you that Vinnie and I assure you it is!  Keep on keeping on, and you'll be better for it.  Even if you are a painter, drawing is never a waste of time.

The drawing I did yesterday, is often the way I prepare to paint.  I map out values and have this sketch and photo references in front of me as I work.  My drawings provide a "simplified" version of my image and overall value pattern of light and dark. I can also play around with the values here and make sure that they work.  Painting from black and white allows me to get loose with my color choices.  Color photo references help me with color and detail.  So even if you're a painter, perhaps these techniques will be of use. 

Today we are going to reinforce our learning from yesterday by working on a toned ground again.  If you forgot how to prepare a toned ground, I've included the directions again here today.


This time, we will draw from a photo reference of our own choosing.  It's open season!  Here's what you'll need:  

A pencil or graphite stick with 2B, 4B, or 6B lead (a soft pencil like a carpenter's pencil will also work)  
a drawing stump, tortillion, your finger (I presume you may have a couple of those) or paper towel
good plastic eraser or kneaded eraser
drawing paper 
Your photo reference. 

Step 1. Take your paper and draw a rectangle the size you would like for your drawing to be.  Then place your paper on a smooth surface (if you do this on a textured surface, then texture will show).  If you have craft foam or a stack of newspapers or magazine, it may help to put your paper on that.  A sketchbook will do very nicely.  Turn your pencil lead on it's side and try to smear graphite all over the surface of the rectangle on your paper without making a lot of lines, just smear the graphite on without digging into the paper.  

Step 2. Take your drawing stump/tortillion, kleenex, paper towel or your finger and smear the graphite around within the rectangle to make a smooth uniform coat of graphite on the surface. It should smear easily and right away.  If it doesn't then, try another pencil with a softer lead.  When you have filled in the rectangle with a uniform coat of graphite, you will have what is known as a "toned ground" ready for your drawing.  It will look something like this.  

Toned Ground- here is my sketchbook with my 6B graphite lead on its side to the left.  It's so wide that I don't have to make many marks to cover the page.  My drawing stump or tortillion is on the right along with a kleenex which is also a good thing to use to smear the graphite around.

Step 3. Now take  your photo reference and draw your contour lines right into the toned surface. This will become your middle or light value. What's so great about his surface is the ability to make corrections.  If you goof and something isn't right, just erase it and smear a little more graphite into the area you are correcting.  Then draw it again.  Repeat as necessary. It doesn't have to be complicated...just pick something  you are interested in.
Step 4.  Now look for dark values, or shadows.  Take your graphite pencil and lay those darker values in.  Where you see light shapes, you can erase.  Work your way through your drawing and add darks or erase as needed.  This forgiving surface is a great way to jump start the path to creating a sense of light and dark. 

   

The Bell tower at San Fedele in Tuscany where we will be staying on my
EAT PAINT COOK TOUR of TUSCANY this Oct. 3-10, 2015.
There's still room if you'd like to join us ;-)

I changed the angle from my photo reference so I can show the bells peeking out of the tower.  Now the angles need a bit of adjustment to correct the perspective.  It will be easy to erase and make the changes on the toned ground.

Step 5.  When you're done, take a look, take a photo, and feel free to smile when you see how great it looks.  

If you haven't purchased your black Elegant Writer pen yet, then run out and get one.  I'd like to use it for Day 11's lesson.   Here's a link to Amazon:    Elegant writer- Black extra fine point

Here are some photos from a student who did yesterday's lesson. Nice! Send yours to me via email at rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com.  If I receive your photo during the challenge, I'll post it in a future blog for all of you to share.

Happy drawing.  See you tomorrow!

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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ 

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 7- Drawing on Toned ground

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

My subject for today-orchids

Vincent Van Gogh wrote a lot of letters to his brother Theo.  They chronicled his journey as an artist and often indicated that this talented artist struggled with his methods and approaches ...think about it!  It didn't come easy.  His work now sells for hundreds of millions of dollars, and yet he was digging deep and noting that each new drawing, each new painting helped him see personal progress.  He was special, but I don't think what he went through is unusual.  I'm sure that your commitment to this challenge will also pay off when you complete this 30 days.  

Up till now in our 30 Day Challenge, we have been concentrating on Line drawings.  These are important, but today I want to talk about shading and shadows.  Shadows breathe life into a drawing.  Lines can be interesting and form the skeleton of a drawing, but shadows provide the muscle and bring vitality to the simplest sketch.  

Today I'm going to show you an easy way to give a sense of shadow and light to your drawings.

What you'll need:  

A pencil or graphite stick with 2B, 4B, or 6B lead (a soft pencil like a carpenter's pencil will also work)  
a drawing stump/tortillion, or any of the following: kleenex, your finger (I presume you may have a couple of those) or paper towel
good plastic eraser or kneaded eraser
drawing paper 
Here is a photo of my favorite drawing pencil for value sketches.  It's a Cretacolor Ergonomic pencil with a 6B lead. 

Note: "B" type lead is soft. Higher numbers mean the lead is softer.  

Step 1. Take your paper and draw a rectangle the size you would like for your drawing to be.  Then place your paper on a smooth surface (if you do this on a textured surface, then texture will show).  If you have craft foam or a stack of newspapers or magazine, it may help to put your paper on that.  A sketchbook will do very nicely.  Turn your pencil lead on it's side and try to smear graphite all over the surface of the rectangle on your paper without making a lot of lines, just smear the graphite on without digging into the paper.  

Step 2. Take your drawing stump/tortillion, kleenex, paper towel or your finger and smear the graphite around within the rectangle to make a smooth uniform coat of graphite on the surface. It should smear easily and right away.  If it doesn't then, try another pencil with a softer lead.  When you have filled in the rectangle with a uniform coat of graphite, you will have what is known as a "toned ground" ready for your drawing.  It will look something like this.  

Toned Ground- here is my sketchbook with my 6B graphite lead on its side to the left.  It's so wide that I don't have to make many marks to cover the page.  My drawing stump or tortillion is on the right along with a kleenex which is also a good thing to use to smear the graphite around.

Step 3. Now take a flower or some kind of object you have sitting around the house and feel like drawing.  I took a plastic orchid arrangement.  Draw your contour lines right over the prepared toned ground.  This will become your middle or light value. What's so great about his surface is the ability to make corrections.  If you goof and something isn't right, just erase it and smear a little more graphite into the area you are correcting.  Then draw it again.  Repeat as necessary. Once you have your sketch on the paper it may look something like this. It doesn't have to be complicated...just pick something easy for this first time.  (unlike me! In fact, after doing this exercise, you can use my orchid photo, but I might suggest a simpler flower or if you're not experienced at drawing.  Try something easy like your spray bottle or a salt shaker.)

Step 4.  Now look for dark values, or shadows.  Take your graphite pencil and lay those darker places in.  Where you see light shapes, you can erase.  Work your way through your drawing and add darks or erase as needed.  This forgiving surface is a great way to jump start the path to creating a sense of light and dark. 

Looking at this photo of my sketch, I realize I have not captured the shadows in the back behind the plant.  Since this surface is so forgiving, I will simply lift out the light areas and leave the shadows...

Contour drawing on toned ground, with additional darks and lifted lights using an eraser.

Step 5.  When you're done, take a look, take a photo, and feel free to smile when you see how great it looks.  Smile extra big when you think about the cool new technique you just learned.  Once you get to smiling, maybe send the picture to me! Here are some drawings from those of you who have shared...

Looking good!  I'd love to see more, and I will keep them anonymous.  Sharing the journey with others is fun. I will try to share more of  these photos as I receive them. 
Tomorrow its time to do something with a photo of your choosing. You may have one lying around that you'd like to draw.  Look around and find that photo...Tomorrow will be the day!

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/

Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+