Because Chinese Emperors wore yellow. What??? Pencils are yellow because the emperor wore yellow. Long long ago in China, a complicated system of social rank began to develop, and it developed with color codes. As early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), social hierarchy emerged to be graded by costume color. Over generations, this system …
Take a bit of string and drop it on the floor until you like the shape it makes. Decide which way is up, and crop the composition so the string intersects with the edge of your drawing on 3 sides. Draw the spaces around the string (the negative space). Feel free to use an eraser …
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
Before there were art supply stores, people made art. Before there were pencils, there were sharpened mineral rocks. Before there were brushes there were clumps of grass and twigs and fur. Today’s drawing is “No Art Store Tools.” You can use paper, but no pencils. Ink is fine, but no pens. So what now? Lots! …
Drawing A Day, Day 18
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Why Are Pencils Yellow?
Because Chinese Emperors wore yellow. What??? Pencils are yellow because the emperor wore yellow. Long long ago in China, a complicated system of social rank began to develop, and it developed with color codes. As early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), social hierarchy emerged to be graded by costume color. Over generations, this system …
SAL Challenge Day 2: String Theory
Take a bit of string and drop it on the floor until you like the shape it makes. Decide which way is up, and crop the composition so the string intersects with the edge of your drawing on 3 sides. Draw the spaces around the string (the negative space). Feel free to use an eraser …
Online Anniversary Show: Bold Abstracts
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
Anti-Art Supplies
Before there were art supply stores, people made art. Before there were pencils, there were sharpened mineral rocks. Before there were brushes there were clumps of grass and twigs and fur. Today’s drawing is “No Art Store Tools.” You can use paper, but no pencils. Ink is fine, but no pens. So what now? Lots! …