[image_with_animation image_url=”9488″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] This is the third part of a multi day series, sharing work by my beginning figure drawing classes. Many of these students have never taken a drawing class before, nearly all of them are new to figure drawing.
Rather than learning one style, we study a different approach every session. We’ve done straight line measures, site sizing, envelopes, kites, mass shapes, shadows, gestures, contours, volume, cross-hatching, and more. Today I’m posting a few of the silly ones. These are blind contour line drawings. The point with these is not to learn accurate proportions. Instead, blind contour line drawings teach us how to focus, and notice details. The line work gets more interesting because the artist is exercising intensely active curiosity in their subject for the duration of the drawing.
A drawing is a record of our focus.
Also, these drawings are silly, and silly is good.
[image_with_animation image_url=”7052″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] What’s the difference between a monotype and a monoprint? Although these two terms are used interchangeably, there is a big difference between one and the other. A monotype is a single printed image which does not have any form of matrix. A monoprint has some form of basic matrix. When making monotypes, …
Hey there. I wanted to send out a little personal thank you about V. Notes, this unusual and personal blog series of thoughts and ideas related to art. Initially started as a way to give my painting students more information outside of class, V. Notes now has over 1,000 readers. Many subscribers are part of …
This is the second in a three-part series on Scott McClellan, head of ceramics at the Seattle Artist League. While the first explored the weighted forms and grounded presence of his pots, this post moves into the logic behind the motion—how McClellan builds structure from chaos, makes space for noise, and turns repetition into a …
Beginner’s Drawings That’ll Knock Your Socks Off (Part 3)
[image_with_animation image_url=”9488″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] This is the third part of a multi day series, sharing work by my beginning figure drawing classes. Many of these students have never taken a drawing class before, nearly all of them are new to figure drawing.
Rather than learning one style, we study a different approach every session. We’ve done straight line measures, site sizing, envelopes, kites, mass shapes, shadows, gestures, contours, volume, cross-hatching, and more. Today I’m posting a few of the silly ones. These are blind contour line drawings. The point with these is not to learn accurate proportions. Instead, blind contour line drawings teach us how to focus, and notice details. The line work gets more interesting because the artist is exercising intensely active curiosity in their subject for the duration of the drawing.
A drawing is a record of our focus.
Also, these drawings are silly, and silly is good.
Enjoy.
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[image_with_animation image_url=”7052″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] What’s the difference between a monotype and a monoprint? Although these two terms are used interchangeably, there is a big difference between one and the other. A monotype is a single printed image which does not have any form of matrix. A monoprint has some form of basic matrix. When making monotypes, …
A note about V. Notes
Hey there. I wanted to send out a little personal thank you about V. Notes, this unusual and personal blog series of thoughts and ideas related to art. Initially started as a way to give my painting students more information outside of class, V. Notes now has over 1,000 readers. Many subscribers are part of …
Scott McClellan: Cut, Crash, Repeat
This is the second in a three-part series on Scott McClellan, head of ceramics at the Seattle Artist League. While the first explored the weighted forms and grounded presence of his pots, this post moves into the logic behind the motion—how McClellan builds structure from chaos, makes space for noise, and turns repetition into a …
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